Okay, for any of you who have been reading for awhile, you’ll know that I have uber-picky eaters at my house, namely my husband and my son. So imagine my surprise when I made this Chipotle Chocolate Chili for the first time last year and both of them ate it up. Willingly. And then they had more. And then my husband told me that this was THE chili recipe he’d been longing for the whole time we’d been married. So imagine his surprise when I told him that this was no ordinary chili–there’s a rather unusual ingredient that you’d think would be gross, but it adds a depth and complexity to the flavor of the chili that makes it taste as though it’s been simmering all day. Luckily for you, it’s more like 30-40 minutes. Which is totally doable. The super-secret ingredient? Unsweetened chocolate. Wait! Come back! Have we led you astray yet? I didn’t think so. Hear me out…
Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Saute onion, garlic, bell pepper, and ground turkey until meat is cooked through.
Add salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, and unsweetened cocoa powder.
Add the tomatoes, beans,
and beef broth.
Chipotle Chocolate Chili
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6-8
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 2 15-oz. cans diced or crushed tomatoes
- 2 14-.5 oz. cans kidney beans, drained
- 1 15-oz. can beef broth
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle chilies)
- 1/2 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, grated or chopped
- 3–4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Sour cream, chopped green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese for topping
Instructions
Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Saute onion, garlic, bell pepper, and ground turkey until meat is cooked through.
Add salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, and unsweetened cocoa powder. Add the tomatoes, beans, and beef broth.
Nutrition
- Calories: 244kcal
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 1188mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 56mg
Questions & Reviews
Made this last night to use up some chipotles I had opened. My husband was incredibly skeptical when I told him I was using a “new” chili recipe because he regularly requests my “regular” chili. As soon as he took a couple of bites he said this should be my new “regular” chili recipe. Delish & thanks!
This was delicious and easy to make! Haven’t tried a recipe I didn’t like! You guys are ah-maze-ing!
This is Cincinnati Style Chili! I live in Cincinnati, so I can get it on every corner – i’m sure it’s slightly different than what you’ve made here but here you either love Skyline or Goldstar – one has chocolate, the other has cinnamon! DEE-LISH!!
I decided to try this chili a couple of weeks ago and I thought it came out great. But the best compliment I got on it was just when my sister — who normally hates chili — told me she kept thinking about how good it was and asked if I would make it again!
Since it was a cooking Light recipe, do you have the nutrition info for this recipe?
Jamie, I tweaked it so much that I don’t think the original CL nutritional info will be relevant at all. There are lots of sites that calculate nutrtional info, though–try googling spark people recipes.
kristennw–Yep, very freezer-friendly! Most soups are, just be careful of the cream-based ones or ones with bread/dumplings/noodles in them.
I am excited to try this recipe but am curious how spicy it is with the chipotle sauce. My husband has a very low tolerance for spice.
I would just add a tiny bit at a time to taste- you can control the spice that way. I have a low tolerance myself!
Do you think this would freeze ok?
Hi, Kim! You can either use 2 15-oz. cans or 1 28-oz. can. Hope that helps!
Does anyone know how big a can of diced tomatoes to use? I only have giant cans in my grocery store, but the pic doesn't look that big.
Made this last night (minus the chipotle sauce) and ohhmygoodness!!! I normally stay away from ANYTHING with ANY kind of bean… but this was absolutely incredible!!! Best comfort food ever!!
can you use chipotle powder or do you need the salsa/sauce?
Yes, I also could not find Chipotle Chilis and didn't know that you could use the sauce from chipotle peppers until I came home and read the comments to this recipe. I live in Utah and went to FIVE stores before I found a small can of chipotle sauce (at Smiths). I am excited to make this tonight!!
I'll admit, I was skeptical…Chocolate? Chipotle?And I was proven wrong. This recipe was so amazing, I don't know what else to say, other than YES! YES! Perfect. Can't wait to have the one and only cup of leftover chili for lunch tomorrow!
Oh My Gosh!! Delicious! I would definitely make this for a cook off. I used ground beef (because that's what I had on hand.) I also couldn't find same chipotle salsa showed in photo. I used chipotle in adobe sauce. It was pretty thick but I got as much sauce as I could to come out. Everyone loved it. I served it in bread bowls and a green salad on the side! My only complaint is that I didn't make a double batch!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! for this site.
So i made this halloween night for dinner and i so dont know what i did wrong but mine came out way spicy hot. our mouths were on fire. any suggestions? also the only change i made is switchin out the ground turkey for ground beef instead. and i also was only able to get the chipotles in adobo. (do you think that did it?) Thanks!!
Can this recipe be made in the crock pot? If so, what adaptions do I need to make? I want to make it tonight for dinner, but won't actually have time at dinner time!
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Thanks!
Vanessa–I normally can't find that brand, either–I just got lucky that time! The peppers in adobo sauce works great, you just want the sauce that's surrounding the peppers.
I went looking for the Chipotle salsa you pictured here and only could find Chipotle peppers in Adobo. I'm guessing this is not the same thing. What aisle are you finding your sauce on? I looked in the Mexican Food section.
This is the chili I have been waiting for too. I love chipotle stuff and everyone loved it. THanks!
Just made this tonight and it was really good! My husband said it’s a keeper. It will definitely have to replace my usual chili recipe. Thanks!
We just had this for dinner with the naughty cornbread. YUM! Even my picky 3 year old ate it. Well, after I pureed it. Baby steps. I’m a huge wuss for spice, though, so I only put a tiny bit of chipotle sauce. Just the chili powder gave it plenty of kick for my weak tastebuds! Thanks for another great one!
I just made this for dinner tonight, along with the naughty corn muffins (cake :)) My suggestion would be to only use half a can of the chipotle sauce if you want your younger kids to eat it. It was very spicy, but good nonetheless.
I tried this last night and it was a hit with my family. I reviewed it over on my blog:
http://thegoodshiplollipop.blogspot.com/
Thanks!!
CHOCOLATE!!!
Sara – I really can’t think of a better “secret ingredient”.
mmmmmmm. . . looks delicious!
Am I the only one not having a chili cook-off?! Maybe I need to host one at my house, lol.
Chili is sounding very yummy today- and I agree that chocolate adds the perfect flavor (hello- what does chocolate NOT add the perfect flavor to?)
I am with Erika, I am going to be using this for our wards Chili cook off. And we are having it on Halloween!
I am definitely going to try this. I already have my chili recipe for this year’s cook off, so maybe this will be my secret weapon next year!
Love that secret ingredient! I’m going to try making some of this in my slow cooker.
That looks way yummy. I’m always on the lookout for new chili recipes! My family loves chili. Thanks again for another “recipe to try” added to my list!
I am soooo trying this! We have a chili cook off next week for our ward Halloween party, and I’ve been looking for a good recipe that’s original, and I think I just found it!!! Thanks! Ü