Southwestern Black Bean Chili is an easy and hearty chili that will warm you up on a chilly day.
I was craving chili one night, so I thought I'd make my favorite Chasen's Chili recipe.
But, instead of kidney beans, or even pinto beans all I had was black beans...
and what was that sitting next to it? a can of corn...
oooo, and maybe some chocolate to amp up the earthy flavor...
And the next thing I knew I had a lovely Southwestern Chili.
Chocolate in Chili
What?! Chocolate in chili? Chocolate is for dessert not a savory dish!
Not in Latin America where chocolate originated. Cacao is not naturally sweet, the sugar (and often milk) is added after processing.
Mole (pronounced mo-lay) is a delightful savory dish of chicken in a rich chocolate sauce. Mexican Hot Chocolate is chocolatey and spicy with just a hint of sweetness to balance the flavors, unlike our overly sugared drink.
You can learn more about using chocolate beyond dessert in this Washington Post article.
In this recipe, the chocolate helps balance the spices and gives the chili a nice earthy undertone. You can opt for a lightly sweetened dark chocolate, or chose unsweetened cocoa powder.
Ingredients for Southwestern Chili
The ingredients are all easy to find:
ground beef - or turkey or pork, I usually use 4-7% fat
canned black beans
corn - canned, frozen or even fresh if you have it
canned diced tomatoes - or crushed or whole tomatoes broken up
yellow onion - or white
olive oil - or other cooking oil
spices: garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, salt
dark chocolate - sweetened or unsweetened chocolate or a tablespoon of cocoa powder
How to Serve Southwestern Chili
My favorite way to enjoy this is with some cornbread and a salad.
Top it with sour cream, chopped onions, grated cheese, or black olives.
Serve it with saltine crackers, tortilla chips or corn chips.
Or scoop some on top of hot dogs or fries.
More Chili Recipes from #OurFamilyTable
Chili is a classic American stew which, like most recipes, has hundreds of variations. Here are a few to try from some of my favorite bloggers:
Best Chili Recipes
- Best Homemade Chili Dog Sauce from Jen Around the World
- Chili con Tres Carne from Hezzi-D's Recipe Box
- Copycat Empress Chili (Cincinnati Style) from Palatable Pastime
- Frito Pie from Art of Natural Living
- Jambalaya Chili from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Chili from The Spiffy Cookie
- Southwestern Black Bean Chili from That Recipe
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Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Β½ onion (chopped)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cans 15 ounce diced tomatoes
- 2 cans 15 ounce black beans
- 1 can 15 ounce corn
- 1 ounce dark chocolate
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- salt (to taste)
- cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- In a stock pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Cook onions until translucent.
- Brown ground beef, drain of excess fat if needed.
- Add remaining ingredients and simmer until thick, about 30 minutes.
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Until next time, happy eating!
~Audrey
Marilyn
Thank you for hosting. I love sharing with your readers and always find inspiration here. Have a blessed week! #OverTheMoon #ThursdayFavoriteThings
Amy
Thank you for hosting the party. Have a Happy Halloween!