Chipotle Chocolate Chili

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…

 The bones of this recipe come from Cooking Light. However, the consensus of the online reviews were that there was waaaay too much chocolate in the chili–they felt it tasted muddy and bitter. So when I made it, I kept that in mind. And then I started tasting and adding and simmering and adding some more. Until I got it right. And it’s so, so right.
I’m betting there are some chili cook offs in your future, so give this twist on an old classic a shot! And don’t be afraid to change things according to your personal tastes–that’s part of the magic of chili!

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.

Add all of the chipotle sauce from a small can of chipotle chilies.
Heat to boiling and then reduce to a simmer (uncovered), stirring occasionally, until thickened as desired (I like it about 30-40 minutes). If desired, add some chopped chipotle chilies. Add 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar. Chop or grate 1/2 ounce of unsweetened baking chocolate
 and add a little at a time until desired richness is reached. If necessary, add more red wine vinegar to cut the sweetness of the chili. This is where you can play around a little with the flavors.
When thickened and seasoned as desired, serve with chopped onions or green onions, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Chipotle Chocolate Chili

5 from 33 votes
I’m betting there are some chili cook offs in your future, so give this twist on an old classic a shot! The chocolate adds just the right amount of depth and complexity.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings6 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground turkey lean
  • 1 onion, large 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
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 can chipotle chilies in Adobo sauce
  • ½ oz. unsweetened baking chocolate grated or chopped
  • 3-4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • Toppings: sour cream, chopped green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese

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.
  • Add all of the chipotle sauce from a small can of chipotle chilies. Heat to boiling and then reduce to a simmer (uncovered), stirring occasionally, until thickened as desired (I like it about 30-40 minutes). If desired, add some chopped chipotle chilies. Add 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar.
  • Chop or grate ½ ounce of unsweetened baking chocolate and add a little at a time until desired richness is reached. If necessary, add more red wine vinegar to cut the sweetness of the chili. This is where you can play around a little with the flavors.
  • When thickened and seasoned as desired, serve with chopped onions or green onions, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Notes

  • The nutritional information was calculated without the use of toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 42mg, Sodium: 283mg, Potassium: 399mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 1437IU, Vitamin C: 27mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 3mg
Course: Main Courses, Soups, Stews
Cuisine: Latin
Keyword: Chipotle Chocolate Chili
Calories: 168kcal
Author: Kate Jones
Cost: $10
Did You Make This Recipe?Snap a picture, and hashtag it #ourbestbites. We love to see your creations on our Instagram @ourbestbites!
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Meet The Author

Sara Wells

Sara Wells co-founded Our Best Bites in 2008. She is the author of three Bestselling Cook Books, Best Bites: 150 Family Favorite RecipesSavoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites, and 400 Calories or Less from Our Best Bites. Sara’s work has been featured in many local and national news outlets and publications such as Parenting MagazineBetter Homes & GardensFine CookingThe Rachel Ray Show and the New York Times.

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Questions & Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    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!

  2. 5 stars
    This was delicious and easy to make! Haven’t tried a recipe I didn’t like! You guys are ah-maze-ing!

  3. 5 stars
    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!!

  4. 5 stars
    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!

    1. 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.

  5. kristennw–Yep, very freezer-friendly! Most soups are, just be careful of the cream-based ones or ones with bread/dumplings/noodles in them.

    1. 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.

      1. 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!

  6. Hi, Kim! You can either use 2 15-oz. cans or 1 28-oz. can. Hope that helps!

  7. 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.

  8. 5 stars
    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!!

  9. 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!!

  10. 5 stars
    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!

  11. 5 stars
    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.

  12. 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!!

  13. 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!
    [email protected]

    Thanks!

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 5 stars
    This is the chili I have been waiting for too. I love chipotle stuff and everyone loved it. THanks!

  17. 5 stars
    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!

  18. 5 stars
    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!

  19. 5 stars
    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.

  20. CHOCOLATE!!!

    Sara – I really can’t think of a better “secret ingredient”.

    mmmmmmm. . . looks delicious!

  21. 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?)

  22. I am with Erika, I am going to be using this for our wards Chili cook off. And we are having it on Halloween!

  23. 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!

  24. Love that secret ingredient! I’m going to try making some of this in my slow cooker.

  25. 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!

  26. 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