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The Best Chili recipe starts off with beef and beans in a rich sauce is loaded with amazing flavor! That’s perfect for tailgating, game day, or when you’re feeding a crowd. Simmered for hours, its comfort food at its 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. And 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 The Best Chili
- 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
Last But Not Least…
I love hearing from you, so please leave a rating and a comment if you don’t mind. And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and tag me with a photo.
Award Winning Southern Soul Chili
Equipment
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.
- Add chopped vegetables, except garlic, and cook until meats are cooked through and vegetables are tender.
- Lower heat to medium.
- 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 – sour cream, scallions, grated cheese, hot sauce, jalapeños, 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.
Love Comforting Soups, Stew, And Chilies?
17 soup, stew, and chili dishes are packed into one collection that’s sure to become your go-to all fall and winter. I’ve also included 11 “what to serve with soup” recipes to make the ultimate comfort food meal.
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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
Mia Ponticorvo
Great recipe. Changed it up a bit by adding my Italian influence, nduja sausages along with unsliced Italian sausages. Tastes amazing! Thanks for the recipe!
Donya
Hey Mia!
Yay I’m so thrilled you liked it and made it your own! Thanks for the support!
~Donya
CC
Great chili, my only modification was adding a hot Georgia pepper whole, but removed before serving. Even my pickie brother loved it.
Donya
WOW! I love it, CC!
Thank you for the rating and I’m thrilled your brother loved the chili. It’s always fun when things like that work out.
Have a wonderful day!
~Donya
Chelsea Shea
Hey! This looks delicious, however I can’t have red meat–how would it taste with sub of Ground Turkey and turkey sausage? Thanks so much in advance.
Donya
Hey Chelsea.
Yep, you can sub out for turkey. I think the chili will turn out great. Keep me posted!
Have a wonderful weekend,
~Donya
Tommy J
Just wondering how important the sausage is to the recipe. Would it be not as good with just double the beef? I have family members that don’t eat pork.
Donya
Hey Tommy.
Sure, you can double the beef and the recipe will work out great. Thank you so much for the great rating!
Enjoy,
~Donya
Andrea
This was really good! We used a caroline bbq sauce and it was a little tangy, next time I’d use something a bit more smokey as I think it would be better flavor profile. We did make one change because we doubled the recipe and didn’t have two lbs of ground beef we used one of ground bison and it just turned me from beef to bison, I’ll never make chili with just beef again. I’d recommend anyone to use some bison in there and to be very selective in the bbq sauce you use.
Donya
Hey there Andrea!
Thank you so much for your kind words, I’m glad you liked the recipe! If you’re not a fan of the vinegar based Carolina BBQ sauce, you should give my “Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce” a try, it’s nice and sweet but it adds a great flavor profile to the Chili. Also, adding the bison sounds like a great idea, I’ll have to try it! Thanks for your comment, I hope you have a great day!
~Donya
Christine
Donya, another hit recipe! Thank you so much! I made it, refrigerated it, and WOW, next day even better!
Donya
Hey there Christine!
Thank you so much for your phenomenal rating and your kind words! I completely agree, this Chili makes for fantastic leftovers, I am so glad you enjoyed. Thank you so much for your support, I hope you have a phenomenal day!
~Donya
CHRISTINE
FANTASTIC CHILI RECIPE!!! Thank you, Donya! Best chili ever! Followed your recipe and the results were great!
Donya
Hey there Christine!
Wow! Thank you so much for you sweet words and this phenomenal rating, I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! This Southern Soul Chili is always a hit, and if you enjoyed this recipe, you should check out my Homerun Hot Dog Chili. Thank you for your support, have a great day!
~Donya
Annie
Wondering if you can share the recipe for those corn biscuits in the picture?
Donya
Hey there Annie!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe and your fantastic rating, that’s a great question. I do not currently have a corn biscuit recipe on my site, but I do have a Southern Style Cast Iron Corn Bread recipe that I’ll link below. Thank you for your support, I hope you have a great day!
https://www.asouthernsoul.com/southern-cornbread-in-cast-iron/
~Donya
Annie
Thanks Donya, made your chili recipe- hands down the best and a crowd pleaser. My nephews ask for this every time the come to visit.
Donya
Hey there Annie!
Oh my goodness, that truly warms my heart to hear, I am so happy that you and your family have enjoyed this recipe! If you like this recipe you should check out my Bloody Mary Chili recipe, it’s just as delicious but it has a bit of a different flavor combination. I really appreciate your kind words and your support, if you ever have any questions feel free to reach out!
~Donya
Lydia Broom
We had a college wide chili cook off and we WON with this recipe!! We used andouille sausage and added various spices with love. This recipe is AMAZING. We also served it with home made cheddar jalapeño corn bread…absolutely the best thing I have ever made.
Donya
WHAT? WOW!! Lydia, you have made my day.
Congratulations on the win, and I’m thrilled to be a little part of all this happiness. The combination of the chili and the corn bread sounds delicious. I am over here just smiling and giggling at how awesome this is.
Thank you so much for sharing AND for making my chili recipe.
❤️
Carey
Thank you so much for this phenomenal chili recipe! I just won our church chili cook off with it today.
Donya
Hey there Carey!
WOW! Oh my goodness you’ve made my day! That is absolutely incredible to hear, I am so glad that everyone enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much for your support, it means the world! If you ever have any questions about a recipe, please don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya
Darla
Thank you for the great chilli recipe!! Made this for our fair days chilli cook off and won first!!! Cooked it the night before and threw it in the slow cooker. The only thing I found was it was a little watery… if you know what I mean… not as thick as I usually make, wonder if it’s because I finished it in the slow cooker.. but still came out first! And hubby loves it too so it will take place of his long time mothers recipe that I’ve been making.. thank you!!
Donya
Hey there Darla!
My goodness, reading this comment has made my day! I am so happy to hear that y’all enjoyed this recipe and won first place, that’s incredible! Thank you so much for your kind words and your great rating, I really appreciate your support. If you ever have any questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!
~Donya
Annemarie
Going to try this tonight, getting hungry just reading it, and I just had breakfast!
Donya
Hey there!
I am so happy to hear you’re going to give this recipe a try! I might be a little biased but I really do think it’s the BEST chili recipe out there. If you have any questions I’d be more than happy to help, I hope you enjoy!
~Donya