Award-Winning Chili made with beef and beans in a rich sauce is loaded with amazing flavor! Perfect for tailgating, game day, or when you’re feeding a crowd. Simmered for hours, it’s comfort food at it’s BEST.
This post is updated from it’s original published date of January 2014.
Last weekend, I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride! I had chopped, cooked, and tasted chili for several days. The reason? I’d entered a Chili Challenge sponsored by our local Farmers Market. It’s a great event that brings together vendors with community partners and all money raised benefits the market. I had two great partners, Charles Sheppard from Sir Charles Gourmet BBQ Sauces and Tommy Neese from Neese’s Country Sausage so I was feeling pretty good about going up against some formidable competitors.
During my prep week, I’d made several different batches of chili and called on a few special taste testers to weigh in on my recipe, and thank goodness, they knew what they were doing! The days were flying by and then, finally, on Thursday night, everything came together and I had the recipe perfected. Friends…all that hard work paid off – we WON!
I am thrilled to share this award-winning recipe with you! It might look complicated but I can assure you it’s not.
Ingredients For This Recipe
- Ground Beef
- Hot Breakfast Sausage
- Chili Powder
- Poblano Pepper
- Celery
- Onion
- Garlic
- Salt and Pepper
- Concentrated Tomato Paste
- Crushed Tomatoes
- BBQ Sauce
- Spicy (Hot) BBQ Sauce
- Beer
- Beef Stock
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Honey
- Dark Red Kidney Beans
- Black Beans
Readers Love This Chili
Chef D, January 2018
Melissa, March 2018
Alice, October 2019
Don’t Forget The Toppings!
This hearty chili is great with all kinds of extra toppings. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Shredded Cheddar or Pepper Jack Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Fresh or Pickled Japapeños
- Hot Sauce
- Chopped Green Onions
- Tortilla Strips
- Chopped Red Onion
Can You Freeze This Chili?
You sure can! Just like my Creamy White Chicken Chili, this recipe is easy to freeze. After making the chili, let it cool then place it in a freezer-safe container with a lid. You can also put it in freezer-safe bags. Fill the bag, seal, and lay flat on a baking sheet. Once the chili freezes in the bag, it can be stored upright to save space in the freezer.
What To Serve With Award Winning Southern Soul Chili
- Sour Cream Corn Bread
- Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits
- Garlic Knots
- Quick And Easy Beer Bread
- Cheese Grits Casserole
- Instant Pot Garlic Herb Rice
Let me know if you make this recipe! You can rate it below, leave me a comment, or snap a picture. Just tag me on Instagram at #asouthernsoul
Award Winning Southern Soul Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb hot sausage
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1/2 poblano pepper – chopped
- 2 stalks celery – chopped
- 1 medium onion – minced
- 2 tablespoons garlic – minced
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 4 oz tomato paste – canned or from tube
- 1 16 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup your favorite BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 cup your favorite Hot/Spicy BBQ sauce
- 12 oz lager Beer
- 1 cup beef stock
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
- 2 cans (15oz) dark red kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 1 can black beans rinsed and drained
Instructions
- In an extra-large stockpot or cast iron skillet, brown ground beef and sausage.Â
- Add chopped vegetables, except garlic, and cook until meats are cooked through and vegetables are tender.
- Lower heat to medium.Â
- Add chili powder, tomatoes, tomato paste, and BBQ sauces to the pot, mixing well. Scrape any bits from the bottom of the pot. Cook for about 15 minutes stirring often.
- Stir in beer, beef broth, minced garlic, Worcestershire, vinegar, and honey. Stir to blend ingredients.
- Simmer for about 1.5 hours stirring frequently allowing chili flavors to marry. If sauce gets too thick, add water in 1/4 cup amounts.
- Add beans and cook another 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste for seasoning and adjust.
- Serve with garnishes and extras Рsour cream, scallions, grated cheese, hot sauce, jalape̱os, hot cornbread.
Notes
- This recipe can be finished in the crock pot. Make chili sauce and put mixture in crock pot . Add beans and cook on low for 4 hours.
- Chili freezes well. Allow to cool, put in zip lock bags and lay flat in freezer for storage.
- You may purchase Sir Charles Gourmet BBQ Sauce from The Extra Ingredient in Greensboro, NC by calling toll free ~ 800-528-3618.
This post may contain affiliate links.
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Tracy Davis
I attempted to make this chili before I got your recipe and I used pinto beans (my husband's favorite) and it was great with the Neese's sausage. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on the win!
Donya Mullins
THANK YOU, Tracy! I think it's gonna be good with just about any kind of bean. I used the red beans, since they are traditionally used in chili then added the black beans. I LOVE pinto beans so I'm sure it was delicious. Thank you for your kind works on our win!
Have a great weekend!
XO,
~Donya
Bel Smith
Hi! Stopping by via Let's Get Social Sunday! Following and would love if you followed back!
Bel
http://journeysaremydiary.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4668237
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch)
I love it when I see a title that includes the words "award winning chili". I've gotten so many good recipes. I agree, chili recipes can seem so complicated due to the line up of ingredients, but they're usually pretty easy. And you now what I'm loving about yours? Worchestershire sauce. note to self next time I make Chili. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Unknown
What can I substitute for the lager beer?
Unknown
This looks great, but what can I substitute for the lager beer?
Heidi M
So, you don't drain the fat off of the meat before adding the rest of the ingredients?
Genny Kemp
I made this tonight! It is so good. However, i did just brown the meat and stick it all in a crock pot and put it on low for 5 hours instead of all the stove top work. I also added chipotle peppers to give it that extra smokey flavor. 🙂 thanks for the amazing recipe!
Angela
Hi! I'd love to make this for a party I'm hosting on Sunday. I won't have time to order the Sir Charles Sauces. What ingredients are key that I could just add individually? Also, how much do you think this makes? I'm hosting 20 adults, should I double it?
Thanks!
Donya Mullins
Oh my gosh Angela – I just saw your comment. It actually landed in my spam box. Just for the record, you can use your favorite BBQ sauce ( a regular one, not sweet) and then the rest of the ingredients are pretty straight forward. If you are feeding 20, I would double the recipe. If you have any left over, just know that it freezes well.
Hels
You mention hot sausage. Do you mean sausage meat or spicy sausage meat? Thx
Donya Mullins
Sausage meat that comes in a package in the section of the grocery where you buy breakfast meats. I used the "hot" version.
Thanks
~Donya
Professor'sWife
What can I use instead of Beer?
Donya Mullins
Thanks for stopping by. I would use a chicken or veggie stock. It works great! Let me know how it turns out.
XO,
~Donya
Soni M
Hi there, thank you for the recipe. I have been needing to make a good chili for a long time! All my chilies have not been very good. So going to give this a shot. What brand of chili powder would you recommend? Please let me know. Thanks again!
Donya Mullins
Get whatever grocery store brand you like. The key is just make sure it's fresh! Let me know how it turns out – I'd love to see a pic.
XO
-Donya
Leslie
Hi,
I live in Charlotte, and no one sells that BBQ sauce. Is there another brand you recommend?
Donya
Leslie, you can use whatever BBQ you like. Adding the BBQ sauce, no matter what brand is important ~ it gives the chili an extra zing!
Thanks for stopping by.
XO,
~Donya
Michelle
I’m making a pot tonight. Waiting to add my beans?
Donya
Hey Michelle. I hope you liked the chili! It sure is cold here so it’s time to make a big pot.
XO,
~Donya
D-Chef
Absolutely best Chili recipe I’ve ever personally made. Big hit with my wife. Thank you!
Donya
THANK YOU! Wow, that is some kind of comment and I am just beside myself with happiness. I’m so grateful you found A Southern Soul and hope you’ll keep hanging out with us.
XO,
~Donya
thesimsfreeplaygiveaways.top
Crock Pot Chili and sweet southern cornbread is the perfect meal to come home to. Not only is this recipe easy but it packs so much flavor!
Melissa Woodson
We had a chilli cook off at work, and won best overall chilli using this recipe. Everyone raved about how great it was. We used sweet baby Rays bbq sauce, and Yuengling for the lager.
Donya
Oh my goodness, Melissa! I just screamed and did a happy dance. This is such a great story and I hope you don’t mind that I shared your quote on Facebook. I love hearing about how my recipes turn out and this is a WINNER! Let’s keep on cooking together.
XO,
~Donya
SFW
Someone asked this question back in 2015 but there was no reply…. Do you drain the fat from the browned ground beef and sausage?
The instructions go directly to adding in the veggies to cook. Just wondering since there is a good bit of fat from the ground beef and sausage. Thanks …
Donya
Hey there. Depending on the amount of fat left in the pan, you can drain most of it off. Thanks for the reminder, cause you don’t want too much fat in the pan. Let me know how it turns out!
XO,
~Donya
Genny
This is the best chilli I have ever made thank you!!
Donya
Thanks, Genny!
I’m so glad you made it and like it. You’ve made my day.
~Donya
Alice
I made this recipe for my office’s chili cook-off and I won!! Finally too.. I’ve done so many different recipes that I thought I would never win. This one was hands down the winner because I’m a winner now lol. ‘ve been looking for a crowd pleaser and this one is it. Perfect amount of spice. Thank you for sharing.
Donya
WHAT? WOW and CONGRATULATIONS!!
This is so great and I’m honored. It sounds like you “killed it” woman. Way to go, Alice. I’m so glad you are part of the SS family.
Have a great week!
~Donya
Cynthia weaver
Hey Donya,
I love your website and have been following you for a while. I want to make your chili but when I clicked on the website to get the BBQ sauce, I don’t think they sell it anymore. I did not call them but listed Sir Charles BBQ Sauce in their search and under the food links and it doesn’t come up. Any ideas where I can get this in Nashville, TN? Oh, congratulations on the win!!! I don’t doubt it because your recipes are super! Thanks for sharing them. Blessings, Cynthia
Bethann
I love to make chili and have used various recipes over the years. This is by far the best one. The flavors in this chili are amazing … all the ingredients really come together to make the PERFECT chili. Will never use another recipe for chili in my life!
Donya
Thank you so much, Bethann!
I am thrilled you like the recipe.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend,
~Donya
George Hardy
I learned the hard way that you should be careful about the BBQ sauce. I used Newman’s Own, which is real high in sugar. It made the chili too sweet. Next time I will choose a souce with much less sugar and I believe that the chili will be great.
Donya
I hear you, George. Sorry that you had to go through this with the sauce. Yes, use one with not so sweet and you’ll be in business.
Keep me posted!
Have a great weekend,
~Donya
Scott Rehrauer
In the ingredients it lists BBQ sauce but in the instructions there is no mention of bbq sauce
Donya
Hey Scott.
I adjusted the instruction to state BBQ sauce instead of just sauce. I hope this helps.
Have a great day!
~Donya