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Bold Game Day Chili

A close-up of a bowl of hearty game day chili topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, and chopped green onions.
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A hearty, crowd-pleasing chili perfect for game days, tailgates, or any gathering. This recipe is designed to be made ahead and kept warm for hours, with options for customization.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lbs ground beef (80/20)
  • 2 large yellow onions, chopped
  • 2 green bell peppers, chopped
  • 2 red bell peppers, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (12 ounce) bottle dark beer (like stout or porter)
  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more, to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: 1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped

Instructions

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain off excess fat.
  2. Add the chopped onions and bell peppers to the pot. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Add the crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans.
  5. Pour in the beer and stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and black pepper. If using, add the chopped baking chocolate.
  6. Bring the chili to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. For best flavor, simmer for 2-3 hours.
  7. If serving for a game day, transfer the chili to a slow cooker on the “warm” setting to keep it hot for hours.
  8. Serve with your favorite toppings.

Notes

  • To keep chili warm safely for extended periods, maintain an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) or higher. A slow cooker on the warm setting is ideal.
  • This chili freezes well. Let it cool completely, then portion into freezer-safe containers or bags. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
  • Consider a chili bar with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, jalapeños, avocado, and tortilla chips.
  • For a beanless version, omit the beans and increase the ground beef by 1 pound.
  • Adjust cayenne pepper for your desired spice level.
  • This recipe is great for meal planning and can be made a day or two in advance. The flavors meld and deepen overnight.
  • The calories per cup will vary based on toppings, but a basic serving is approximately 400-500 calories.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kingscook.com/game-day-chili/