Award Winning Chili Recipe. A combination of my Kansas family chili recipe with some unique additions. In the end you’e got a beef, pork, sausage, bean chili recipe which became an award winning chili recipe in Colorado.
This is what one would officially refer to as “hauling out the big guns”. I’m sharing my award winning Chili Recipe.
About five years ago, I won 2nd Place with my chili recipe in a Douglas County Chili Cook-off down in Castle Rock. I had to come up with a name for it when I entered. Since it was somewhat like my Dad’s “Chili Soup” that he used to make when I was growing up, but then again nothing like my dad used to make, I decided on “Toto, I Have A Feeling We’re Not In Kansas Anymore Chili”.
What makes this recipe different and delicious? You see, I’m a big Italian Sausage fan and just couldn’t resist throwing some into my family version. With the wonderful mix of spices in this chili recipe, it doesn’t over power and seems to blend right into the mix. The usual suspects, pinto beans are present, but I also added in kidney beans for additional texture and color.
The key to any successful soup or stew recipe is good quality meat and spices and a long perking simmer. There’s always packets of chili seasoning you an buy at the store, but why not concoct your own. This recipe includes a great spice combination for a rich flavored bowl of chili. I’m particularly proud of adding smoked paprika. I always like a little sweet, so this recipe contains a bit of brown sugar.
And then there’s some red wine.
Sprinkle with some grated cheddar and chopped cilantro, and serve with warm flour tortillas, saltine crackers, or even corn chips. Dig in.
And back to those spices. I can’t stress enough about quality here. I hope you’re fortunate to have a local spice shop to purchase fresh-ground ingredients. I’m lucky that I have Savory Spice Shop It’s a locally owned mom and pop operation that specializes in providing all things spice.
Savory Spice Shop in Historic Downtown Littleton
Savory Spice Shop grinds scores of spices weekly, I practically live in that place. Always support local.
With that said, let’s make some championship chili. This one feeds an army.
Award Winning Chili Recipe
I hope you give this award winning chili recipe a try. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating.
Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes. And if you have a favorite award winning chili recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
More Beef Chili Recipes:
- Anthony Bourdain’s New Mexico Style Beef Chili
- Chipotle Bison Chili with Lime Crema
- Bourbon Beef and Bean Chili
- or make a Burrito with that left over Chili, Chili Burrito Recipe
The biggest reward a cook can have is hearing from fans.
Award Winning Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground sirloin
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage bulk
- 2 whole onions chopped
- 2 jalapeno pepper seeds and stems removed and minced
- 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 8 garlic clove chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 Tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 Tablespoon Mexican oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 California bay leaves
- 1 1/2 cup Merlot Wine
- 28 ounce can chopped tomatoes fire-roasted is good here
- 28 ounce can Pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 14 ounce can Kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 Cup water
- 1 teaspoon Better than Bouillon beef bouillon
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Heat a large dutch oven over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil.
- Add sausage, onion, sirloin, pork, jalapeno, green bell pepper and garlic.
- Cook 8 minutes or until sausage and beef are browned. Add chili powder and next 10 ingredients (through bay leaves) and cook 1 minute stirring constantly.
- Stir in wine, tomatoes and drained beans. Dissolve bouillon in water and add to chili. Add more water if necessary for consistency.
- Cover and cook on low for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Uncover and cook on low for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaves.
- Serving suggestions: grated cheese, saltine crackers, flour tortillas, corn chips, fresh chopped onion, thin sliced radishes.
Notes
Nutrition
For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links.
Award Winning Chili Recipe … It’s What’s for Dinner.
Like Cornbread with your chili? Take a look at this recipe, you’ll swear there’s pudding in the mix:
Super Moist Jalapeno Buttermilk Cornbread
And speaking of Chili – Take a look at this recipe, the most popular on my site, which is also an award winning Green Chili Recipe:
Hatch Green Chili, Colorado Style
First this sounds great! But we don’t drink wine what do you suggest? Also I cannot load the older comments?
Thanks
Katherine
This is an awesome chili recipe; however, what about the 1 Cup of water, and the Beef Bouillon listed in the Ingredients section – but not in the instructions? Thanks for any help.
Hey, new web design, I like it!
The chili recipe sounds like a winner (well obviously, it won)
Thanks Chris. I’m loving reading your comment so early this morning. Making me smile. 🙂
I’m totally digging your chili recipe, how could it be bad with wine? I checked out the spice shop…love the chile selection! I checked out the spice shop and I’m intrigued by the tomato powder.
So sweet of you to share your recipe. Loaded with flavor and the pic is amazing! Pinned for my drool recipes to try!!
Like Highlands Ranch Foodie on facebook.
First thing to catch my eye is the thai green curry blend…. I probably will have to go back and purchase some!
Liked you on FB!
I would love to try Sumac, powdered because I’ve never heard of it and would love to use it to flavor some meat or rice dish!
I’ve always like you ;).
The Aji Amarillo chile powder sure looks interesting. I’ve been using the paste, but I could see where the powder would add a bit of zip to a lot of dishes.
Your chili sounds great – I haven’t made any in ages. Oh, how I would love a store like that near to me!
Great job and congratulations on the chili! And, this is a blast from the past – I haven’t thought about that shop in years! My sister-in-law and brother must still go there. I remember they had the best dip mixes! Oh my gosh – I forgot all about that. Seems like there was a bacon dressing that was out of this world. I used to live in Littleton, and Englewood and Aurora. Thanks for sharing your award winning recipe!
And I liked you on Facebook!
First of all, thanks for that killer chili recipe! WOW! is all I can say.
I went over to the spice shop and got carried away with the extracts. That’s what I’d love. Saw several there I wanted.