Dutch Oven Awesome Chili
If you’re looking for a hearty and meaty chili recipe that is great on its own or topped on a dog, then this Dutch Oven Awesome Chili is for you.
The Best Chili Recipe Ever
When I was in high school, my dad Dean and I decided we wanted to develop our own chili recipe. After many tweaks and batches, this is the recipe we settled on. You can tell I was in high school by the name I gave it…awesome!
This is a special recipe to me because I got to spend time with my Dad, one on one. As a dad now, I know this bonding experience means just as much to him as it does me.
I make this chili every Halloween; it’s now a tradition with my own family.
And this Dutch Oven Awesome Chili is award winning too.
I entered this recipe in a chili contest at work back in 2005 and won 1st place. Since then, I tease my Dad that when I make Awesome Chili, the name changes to Award Winning Awesome Chili whereas when he makes it, it’s only Awesome Chili.
No Garlic Chili Recipe
Yes, you read that correctly. There is no garlic in this recipe. Garlic and I have a very stressful relationship.
Even though garlic and I don’t get long, I will occasionally cook with it, but this recipe was developed without any and I’ve left it that way. It’s still delicious, I promise.
If you find not having garlic in chili to be against your religion, please add some. You can add 4 cloves or 2 tsp granulated garlic.
How to Make Dutch Oven Awesome Chili
First off, this is a thick and hearty chili; really chunky and less like stew.
I want to be up front so no one gets mad at me when you make this and it’s done cooking: there is not as much liquid in this recipe as in other chili recipes you might have made.
Once you have all your ingredients, including measuring out the spices, this recipe goes pretty quick-ish.
Heat the Dutch oven on medium-high and crumble in the ground beef.
Add the onions and bell peppers once the beef is in. Mix well and cook.
You don’t have to fully cook the ground beef through at this stage; it will get completely done in the process of making the recipe.
Once the beef has sufficiently browned and the onions and peppers have softened, drain off the renderings. Even thought I used 93% lean ground beef, it produced ample renderings with 3 pounds of meat.
After the renderings have been drained, it’s time to add the seasonings.
Tips for adding spices
To avoid clumping, don’t add them all at once. Put the Dutch oven back on the burner over medium heat.
Do a little dance and sing “sprinkle and stir,” “sprinkle and stir,” and “sprinkle and stir” until they’ve all been incorporated and mixed in well.
There is nothing worse than biting into a luscious piece of meat only to be greeted by a choking amount of chili powder.
Pour in the salsa then the tomatoes. I had already reduced the heat to medium but you can go to low. Tomato products hitting the hot pot can spit and HURT.
Gently fold in the kidney beans. Like your real kidneys, they’re fragile.
They will break apart if they are roughly stirred in.
Just remember how much it hurt when your brother would kidney punch you growing up…oh, he didn’t, just mine then?
Well it hurts and it hurts the beans if you’re too rough. So just hear your mom’s voice in your head, “no rough-housing” while you’re incorporating them.
Increase the heat up to medium-high, or even high and bring it to a boil. Now, I put the lid on at this stage because, well, I don’t like scrubbing my walls. The splatter is real my friends and it will make a mess.
Once this awesome chili has its boil on, reduce the heat to medium-low, allowing it to maintain a low simmer. Let it simmer away for 30 minutes or so, but stir it occasionally.
How to use up leftover Dutch Oven Awesome Chili
If you have leftover chili and want a new way to enjoy it, here are 4 ways to use it up.
- Skillet Nachos
- Potato Boats with Chili, Green Chiles, and Cheese from The Complete Savorist
- Chili Cheese Dog Skillet Bake
- Chili over Spiced Roasted Cauliflower from The Complete Savorist
Dutch Oven Awesome Chili
Equipment
- 5 qt. Dutch oven or larger
Ingredients
- 3 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 2 bell peppers diced
- 2 tbsp chile powder
- ¼ tsp cumin
- 1½ tsp salt
- 1½ tsp black pepper
- 2 cups salsa
- 29 oz stewed tomatoes 2-14.5 oz cans
- 16 oz dark kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 16 oz light kidney beans drained and rinsed
Optional Garnishes
- cheddar cheese shredded
- sour cream
- green onions sliced
Instructions
- Heat the Dutch oven over medium-high heat
- Crumble in the ground beef; stir.
- Stir in the onions and bell peppers; mix well.
- Cook the beef until it has browned and the vegetables have begun to soften.
- Drain off all the renderings.
- Return to the heat and incorporate the spices while stiring.
- Add the salsa and stewed tomatoes, mix well.
- Gently fold in the kidney beans
- Bring to a boil over medium-high or high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to a low simmer
- Allow to simmer for 30 minutes, the chili will thicken and the liquid will be absorbed.
- Serve with any of the optional garnishes and enjoy.
Nutrition
This post has been updated from its original May 16, 2017 publishing with new content, clarified recipe card, and new photography.
I would love to get this pot
I love this Dutch oven a lot! It’s Lodge’s new line called Blacklock, you would be very happy with cooking in it.
He went bonkers over all the meat! Awesome recipe!! Thanks!!!
Can you slow cook the chili all day like I would a slow cooker? I have a lodge Dutch oven and like it so much more than my Nina crock pot
Absolutely, you can definitely slow cook the chili.
Just one clarification needed on the recipe- it says 14.5 oz stewed tomatoes , then next to it says 2 14.5 oz cans??? I want to make it for 4 people.
Thank you.
You will need 29 oz total stewed tomatoes which is 2, 14.5 oz cans.
It was a hit tonight !!! They liked how hearty it was !! Thx for sharing
Awesome!!! So glad it was a hit! Thank you for sharing.
Hello Ned I’m fixing to make this Chili recipe today, it sounds delicious.
That’s awesome, Steve! Can’t wait to see how it goes for you! Happy cooking! 🙂
I know the recipe calls for a 5 qt dutch oven….If I have a 3.5 qt, think it’d do the job or should I halve it and make two batches? Either way – can’t wait to try. Thanks!
Great question! You’ll definitely want to half it and make two batches. Can’t wait to see how it turns out for you! If you remember, take a picture and tag me on social media?
What type of salsa do you recommend? Chunky, blended, mild, spicy?
Great question! Use your favorite salsa or whatever you have on hand. If you’d like the chili to be more spicy use a hot salsa.
I’m going to use this recipe in a chilli cook off at our local municipal. Using venison instead of beef and going to slow cook on my charcoal smoker with a mix of apple and cherry wood. Thank you for the hearty recipe!
That sounds fantastic!! Can’t wait to see how it turns out for you! Using venison sounds delicious!
How do you handle the acid from the tomatoes affecting the seasoning of the iron?
Great question! To start with, I make sure I have seasoned my cast iron really well. I use a product called BuzzyWaxx and you can find it on my store: https://www.dutchovendaddy.com/store/ the next thing I do is not let the chili sit overnight in the cast iron. These two things have enabled me to keep a good solid seasoning on my cast iron when cooking with acid food.
Great recipe. Made the chili at a cub scout campout and everyone really enjoyed it.
Loved the flavors in this chili – perfect comfort food!
Enjoyed this for dinner tonight and it was a hit all around the table! Easy, hearty and delicious; my new favorite recipe, indeed!
There’s nothing like a hearty chili, and it was so good in the Dutch oven! Thanks for a great recipe, definitely saving to make again!
This was so hearty and delicious! Thank you so much!
This chili was amazing and had a really good flavor. I especially enjoyed this recipe because I enjoy the flavor of dark kidney beans with all of those spices.
Of all the ways I’ve made chili, I never thought to do it in a Dutch oven! This recipe was perfection. Reminded me of my mom’s which is exactly how I love it. Right amount of spices, right amount of beans. Thanks for an amazing chili!
Loved it for dinner last night. Great recipe, and we didn’t miss garlic at all with all the other great flavours in it!