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Home » Blog » Recipes » Main Dish

Award-Winning Southern Soul Chili Recipe

by Donya Mullins 125 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

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This post may contain affiliate links.

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.

Award Winning Southern Soul Chili in a bowl with cheese and served with cornbread muffins is comfort food at it's best!
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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!

Southern Soul Chili in stock pot is comfort food at it's best.

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
Southern Soul Award Winning Chili in a stock pot with ladle and jalapeno peppers.

Readers Love This Chili

“Absolutely best Chili recipe I’ve ever personally made. A big hit with my wife. Thank you!“

Chef D, January 2018

“We had a chili cook-off at work and won the best overall chili using this recipe. Everyone raved about how great it was. We used sweet baby Rays bbq sauce and Yuengling for the lager.“

Melissa, March 2018

“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. I‘ve been looking for a crowd pleaser and this one is it. Perfect amount of spice. Thank you for sharing.”

Alice, October 2019

Award Winning Southern Soul Chili with cheese, parsley and corn bread muffins.

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.

Award Winning Southern Soul Chili in a bowl topped with cheese and served with cornbread muffins.

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
Bowl of Award Winning Southern Soul Chili with corn bread muffins.
4.83 from 28 votes

Award Winning Southern Soul Chili

Author: Donya Mullins
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Print Pin Rate
My award winning chili, made with a very special sauce.

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb hot sausage
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • ½ 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
  • ½ 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 ¼ 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.
Bowl of Award Winning Southern Soul Chili with corn bread muffins.
Did you make my Award Winning Southern Soul Chili?I’d love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @asouthernsoul, and use the hashtag #asouthernsoul!
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2 images for Pinterest of Southern Soul Award Winning Chili.
Award Winning Southern Soul Chili image with cornbread for Pinterest.

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.

17 soup and stew recipes for the ultimate fall and winter meal
Donya with A Southern Soul

Meet A Southern Soul

Hey, there! I’m Donya and welcome to A Southern Soul. I love to cook and entertain with easy to make recipes and simple ideas that make people feel special. Read More

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Dano

    March 12, 2023 at 6:41 am

    I have been trying for years to win our club chili cook off. I followed this recipe exactly. I used Kraft bbq original and sweet and spicy as well as Yuengling lager and I WON last night hands down! Four entries and three judges. I couldn’t believe it had no tomato sauce! Very unique flavors. WOW!

    Reply
    • Donya Mullins

      March 13, 2023 at 9:34 am

      Hey Dano! Congratulations and I’m so happy for you. Thank you for the outstanding rating.
      ~Donya

      Reply
  2. Joyce Scaturro

    February 27, 2023 at 1:26 pm

    THE BEST CHILI I HAVE EVER HAD!!!

    Reply
    • Donya Mullins

      February 27, 2023 at 2:49 pm

      Thank you! You’ve made my day. Thank you also for the terrific rating.
      ~Donya

      Reply
  3. TC

    February 26, 2023 at 12:31 am

    Just won first place for overall chili and first place for spiciest chili with this recipe!! Thank you!

    Reply
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Donya with A Southern Soul

Meet A Southern Soul

Hey, there! I’m Donya and welcome to A Southern Soul. I love to cook and entertain with easy to make recipes and simple ideas that make people feel special. Read More

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  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

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