• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
That Recipe
  • Recipes
  • Members
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Members
  • Subscribe
  • follow the fun

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Members
    • Subscribe
  • follow the fun

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Courses with Meat

    That Recipe is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program. This site contains affiliate links to various websites, including Amazon.com. Purchases through these links help support this blog at no additional cost to you. read more

    Chili Con Carne with Chocolate is a Rich Hearty Meal

    October 20, 2019 Filed Under: Beef and Lamb, Main Courses with Meat

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Hearty meaty Chili con Carne with a secret ingredient - chocolate! The chocolate balances out the acidity of the tomatoes and deepens the overall flavor of the chili.

    Chili con Carne with Chocolate may sound like an odd combination, but the chocolate adds a depth of flavor you didn't know your old chili recipe was missing. 

    top down view of chili con carne with chocolate in a bowl

    Yes, this recipe adds chocolate to beef chili.

    Chocolate does amazing things for beef recipes such as this Spicy Chocolate Marinated TriTip or even chicken like in this Slow Cooker Chicken Mole.

    No, I haven't lost my mind. It does not taste like you added a candy bar to your chili.

    Unsweetened chocolate gives these dishes an incredible earthy rich flavoring. Most people won't even realize that it is chocolate that is giving it the extra layer of flavor.

    Don't overdo it though, a little bit of baking chocolate or a tablespoon or two of cocoa goes a long way.

    Serving Suggestions for Chili with Chocolate

    Like all chili recipes, it is best when served with cornbread, preferably made in a cast iron skillet.

    Our family table logo

    Game Day Chili Recipes

    • 6 Can Chili by Our Good Life
    • Chili Con Carne with Chocolate by That Recipe
    • Classic Chili with Beans by Sweet Beginnings
    • Easy Book Club Chili by Art of Natural Living
    • One-Pot Chili Mac by Cheese Curd In Paradise
    • Roasted Garlic Turkey Chili by A Day in the Life on the Farm
    • Slow Cooker Turkey Chili by Karen's Kitchen Stories

    We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you're at it, join our Pinterest board, too!

    Chili Con Carne with Chocolate

    top down view of bowl of chili
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 small onion (peeled and finely chopped)
    • 1 medium bell pepper (seeded and chopped)
    • 2 cloves garlic (peeled and finely chopped)
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 32 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
    • 16 ounce can red kidney beans (drained)
    • 1 ounce baking chocolate
    • 2 tablespoons chili powder
    • Pinch crushed red pepper (more or less to taste)

    Instructions
     

    • In a stock pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion, pepper and garlic until onion begins to turn translucent.
    • Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink.
    • Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about one hour.
    • Serve with cornbread and your favorite chili fixins.

    More Main Courses with Meat

    • garlic parmesan chicken wings
      Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings are an effortless flavor packed appetizer
    • calzone on a plate
      Triple Meat Calzones Homemade Pizza Pockets
    • cashew chicken lettuce wraps
      Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps an Easy Healthy Meal
    • Spiral sliced ham on a plate with text overlay "orange stuffed spiral sliced ham"
      Orange Stuffed Spiral Sliced Ham Delicious Holiday Twist

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Wendy Klik

      October 20, 2019 at 6:15 am

      Adding cocoa to chili does add a great flavor. Your version sounds wonderful

      Reply
    2. Karen

      October 20, 2019 at 2:14 pm

      I'm going to have to try that! After all, mole has cocoa in it, so why not?

      Reply
    3. Cheese Curd In Paradise

      October 21, 2019 at 7:47 pm

      I love the simple ingredients and the baking chocolate in this recipe! It sounds rich and delicious!

      Reply
    4. Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng

      October 24, 2019 at 8:17 pm

      I have heard of chocolate in chicken mole before but never in chili. But that makes sense when you think about it. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    5. Christie

      December 30, 2019 at 7:24 am

      Chocolate adds such a rich and delicious flavor to chili. I grew up on Skyline Chili and LOVE mole everything. Can't wait to try this one.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    audrey humaciu in kitchen

    Welcome

    I'm your hostess, Audrey, an avid "maker" that believes home made is better.

    Whether it's cooking, crafting, gardening, home décor, even blog design, I love getting my hands dirty and trying new things... even if I make a mess in the process.

    Discover more about me →

    Halloween Recipes

    • chicken breast cut into a hand on a plate of tomato sauce with text overlay "creepy monster hands"
    • homemade candy corn overflowing a container with text overlay "homemade candy corn"
    • cream cheese wonton bats on a plate
    • collage of Halloween recipes with text overlay "25+ Creative Halloween Party Recipes"

    See more Halloween Recipes→

    tablet with ebook on display and text overlay "Seasoned with Love: 60 seasoning mix recipes from around the world"

    Member Only Content

    Get access to members only content for FREE!

    collage of recipe guides

    Join today

    * indicates required
    /* real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups */

    Intuit Mailchimp

    follow the fun

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy/Disclosures
    • Cookie Notice
    • Copyright Notice

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 ThatRecipe

    Manage Cookie Consent
    We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
    Preferences
    {title} {title} {title}