STORMY WEATHER CHILI WITH CHOCOLATE
on Feb 21, 2026
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Made from ground beef, canned beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, and spices, this chili is deliciously rich and satisfying thanks to a piece (or two) of dark chocolate.
Cozy Chili with Chocolate is the perfect meal to make when you’re homebound this winter. Dark chocolate adds a deep, rich complexity, similar to a mole sauce.
It’s only slightly sweet and brings just the right amount of depth. You don’t necessarily taste chocolate, but you’ll get a subtle nod to it in every bite.
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As for the other ingredients, they are pretty conventional for chili: ground beef, onion, garlic, lots of spices, canned tomatoes, beef broth, and canned beans.
Chili is one of those wonderfully customizable meals, so feel free to add in bell peppers or even sweet potato if you’re looking for more heartiness. Stay warm and enjoy!
Key Ingredients for Ground Beef Chili with Chocolate
Chili is meant to be simple. Many of these ingredients you likely already have stored in your pantry or freezer for a winter day like today. Here’s what you’ll need.
- Ground Beef: This makes a lot of chili, so you’ll need two pounds of ground beef.
- Onion and Garlic: If you don’t feel like pulling out the cutting board, you can swap in onion powder and garlic powder. I won’t tell!
- Spices: Chili powder, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon give this chili all the cozy vibes. Cinnamon is an unexpected ingredient that adds so much warmth.
- Tomato Paste: Concentrated tomato paste helps thicken up the chili.
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Pin It- Canned Tomatoes: You’ll need both fire-roasted diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes here.
- Chipotle Peppers: If you’re a fan of subtle heat, two chipotle peppers in adobo or a can of chipotle peppers will do the trick! This is optional, but a nice addition if you can handle the heat.
- Beef Broth: This adds moisture, but also a savory, heartiness that you just can’t get from anything else.
- Coconut Sugar and Molasses: To balance out the spiciness and savoriness, a bit of coconut sugar and molasses is used.
Ingredient Tip
Don’t sweat if you don’t have coconut sugar or molasses ingredients. You could add a touch of honey or brown sugar instead for a similar flavor profile.
- Beans: Yes, I’m the kind of gal who likes beans in her chili! A can of kidney and pinto beans amps up the protein and provides a nice textural contrast to the ground beef.
- Dark Chocolate: Is this unconventional? Maybe. Is it delicious? Yes! I used @hukitchen simple dark chocolate.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Beef Chili with Chocolate
To start, heat about 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking into pieces as it cooks.
Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. I use a dry paper towel to soak up any extra fat. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, chipotle peppers, beef broth, coconut sugar, and molasses, and bring to a slow boil.
Reduce to a simmer, and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Add the drained and rinsed kidney and pinto beans and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Serve with toppings of your choice, like crushed tortilla chips or dairy-free sour cream. I highly recommend putting a square of chocolate in each bowl for added richness and a fun surprise. Enjoy!
More Cozy Chili Recipes:
- Slow Cooker Turkey Pumpkin Chili (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)
- Breakfast Chili Ground Beef Sweet Potato Hash
- Chuck Roast Chili
- Loaded Veggie Salsa Verde Chicken Chili
STORMY WEATHER CHILI WITH CHOCOLATE
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- Salt and pepper to generously season
- Avocado oil to sear
- 1 large onion, diced (or 1 tbsp onion powder)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- (1) 14.5 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- (1) 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, from a can of chipotle peppers (optional)
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- (1) 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- (1) 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
For Serving:
- Add 1 square of dark chocolate to each bowl of chili (I used Hu Kitchen)
Instructions
- Heat about 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking into pieces as it cooks.
- Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients (tomato paste, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, chipotle peppers, beef broth, coconut sugar, and molasses), except for the beans, and bring to a slow boil.
- Reduce to a simmer, and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Add the beans and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
- Serve with toppings of your choice. I highly recommend adding a square of chocolate to each bowl. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
