The Best Homemade Chili Recipe
If you’re looking for the ultimate homemade chili, this first-place chili recipe from the TikTok Chili King is your answer. Rich, smoky, perfectly spiced, and packed with flavor, this homemade chili is perfect for family dinners, game day, or even a chili competition.
With a secret ingredient that elevates it above the rest, this homemade chili recipe is designed to impress and satisfy.
Table of Contents
Why This Homemade Chili Stands Out
This homemade chili is not your average bowl of beans. Here’s why it wins every time:
- Uses bacon grease for deep, smoky flavor
- Combines hot breakfast sausage and ground beef for hearty richness
- Features fire-roasted tomatoes and green chilies
- Includes a secret flavor boost: sweet jalapeño chili jam
- Simmered to a thick, competition-ready consistency
This is truly a homemade chili recipe that tastes like it came from a professional cook-off.
Ingredients
Meats & Base
- 5 slices bacon
- ½ lb hot breakfast sausage
- 1 lb ground beef (85/15 recommended)
Vegetables
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
Beans & Tomatoes (optional beans)
- 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 can black beans, lightly rinsed
- 1 can kidney beans, lightly rinsed
- 1 can fire-roasted diced hot green chilies
- 1 can mild fire-roasted green chilies
Flavor Enhancers
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1½–2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1–1½ tablespoons sweet jalapeño chili jam (secret ingredient)
- 2 cups bone broth (adjust as needed)
Spices
- Homemade chili spice blend (to taste)
How to Make
1. Cook the Bacon
Cook bacon in a large pot until crispy. Remove it and leave the bacon grease in the pot for flavor.
2. Sauté the Vegetables
Add diced onion and red bell pepper to the bacon grease. Cook until softened. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
3. Brown the Meat
Add breakfast sausage and ground beef. Break up the meat and cook until fully browned.
4. Add Spices
Sprinkle in your chili spice blend and stir to let the flavors infuse the meat and vegetables.
5. Add the Secret Ingredient
Stir in sweet jalapeño chili jam. Start with 1 tablespoon, then increase to 1½ tablespoons for a balanced sweet-heat flavor.
6. Build the Chili
Add fire-roasted diced tomatoes, beans (optional), green chilies, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce.
7. Adjust Consistency
Gradually pour in bone broth until your chili reaches the desired thickness.
8. Simmer
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and rich.
9. Finish with Bacon
Chop the cooked bacon and stir it back into the chili just before serving.
Tips for the Perfect Homemade Chili
- Let the chili rest 10–15 minutes before serving for deeper flavor
- Avoid over-thinning; thicker homemade chili is more satisfying
- Beans are optional for a more traditional chili
- Sweet jalapeño chili jam balances the heat and adds a gourmet touch
If you enjoy hearty, flavor-packed comfort food like this chili, you may also love bold dinner recipes such as Steak Frites with Cowboy Butter, which pairs perfectly with rich, savory flavors.
Final Thoughts
This homemade chili recipe is the perfect blend of smoky, meaty, slightly sweet, and spicy flavors. Whether you’re cooking for your family or entering a competition, this award-winning homemade chili is guaranteed to impress.
If you want a homemade chili recipe that tastes like it came from a professional cook-off, this is it.
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