When the weather starts to get cold, all I want to eat is slow cooked and hearty meals. This chili recipe is one of my favorites. I watched Nigella Lawson make it on the Today show years ago and it has been my go-to chili recipe ever since. While the title may alarm you, you cannot tell that their is chocolate in the chili. It just adds a little something that you cannot put your finger on.
I love this recipe because I can put it together in minutes and then it goes in the oven (or you could transfer it to a slow cooker) for a few hours. When the times rolls around to get the chili on the table, the kitchen has been cleaned up, the table is set, I’ve folded a few loads of laundry, and I have sat on the couch for a bit flipping through Us Weekly. We do not need to share that last bit though, we want people to think that we slaved.
This recipe makes a ton. I mean a lot. So either half it like I did here (I am including the full recipe below) or freeze half for another time. It also is one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day. If you are making it for a party, definitely make it a day ahead of time and just reheat it when you are ready to serve.
1 1/4 pounds chorizo
3 1/4 pounds boneless beef cut into chunks (I buy stew meat)
3 onions
3 garlic cloves
1 long red chile
1/4 cup vegetable oil
seeds from 3 cardamom pods
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon dried pepper flakes
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup ketchup
4 (15 ounce) cans red kidney beans
3 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 cup water
salt and pepper
I was lazy this day and put the onions and garlic in the food processor.
In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the onion, garlic, and red chile until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the cardamom, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and pepper flakes.
Cook the onion and spice mixture for a minute or two. Take the chorizo out of the casing and add to the pot.
Add the beef and cook until it starts to brown.
Add the beans, tomato paste, ketchup, diced tomato, and water. Bring the chili to a boil.
Once the chili comes to a bubble, add the chocolate chips. Stir the chips in until they melt. Cover the pot and put in a preheated 300 degree oven. Cook the chili for 3 more hours. Give a taste and check to see if you need salt and pepper.
Top with cheese and cilantro.
Nigella’s Chocolate Chip Chili
Nigella's Chocolate Chip Chili - It might seem weird to add chocolate chips to chili, it doesn't taste like chocolate at all, it just adds depth. I've won chili cook offs with this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 pounds chorizo
- 3 1/4 pounds boneless beef cut into chunks (I buy stew meat)
- 3 onions
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 long red chile
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- seeds from 3 cardamom pods
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon dried pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 4 (15 ounce) cans red kidney beans
- 3 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup water
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Put the onions and garlic in the food processor.
- In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the onion, garlic, and red chile until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the cardamom, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and pepper flakes.
- Cook the onion and spice mixture for a minute or two. Take the chorizo out of the casing and add to the pot.
- Add the beef and cook until it starts to brown.
- Add the beans, tomato paste, ketchup, diced tomato, and water. Bring the chili to a boil.
- Once the chili comes to a bubble, add the chocolate chips. Stir the chips in until they melt. Cover the pot and put in a preheated 300 degree oven. Cook the chili for 3 more hours. Give a taste and check to see if you need salt and pepper.
- Top with cheese and cilantro.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0 Total Fat: 0g
43 Comments
Is this spicy? I’m working on the kids to get them to like chili, so I’ve had to be pretty bland lately.
I’m curious about the chocolate. Usually my secret ingredient is adding a can of enchilada sauce. I’m going to have to try this one.
Not really. If you are worried about spice, leave out the red chile. I do sometimes when my children will be eating it as well.
bree, this sounds delicious! i always make turkey chili (https://elizpaige.tumblr.com/post/1407283395/so-there-was-this-alan-jackson-song) as my go to and my “secret ingredient” is honey — i guess that little something extra sweet is the key! i’m definitely going to consider this recipe next time i’m looking for something warm and filling for a sunday full of football 🙂
honey would be great in chili. I never would have thought to add that.
You had me at chocolate.
lol.
Hi,
I am really loving your blog. So glad I found it.
My son isn’t eating meat any longer.
Can you suggest to me how to modify this recipe? I have used soy chorizo in things before and it was fine but you don’t get as much fat from it so the consistency isn’t always perfect.
Thanks so much and happy holidays!
I answered this in the above comments, but you are right to add bit more oil. Chorizo adds fat and flavor, so you will need to add more heat and more oil. I will try it myself and see what happens.
Sounds great!
We’ve used chocolate in a meat dish once or twice before (Giada does that sometimes). This would be perfect during a cold Indiana winter!
Yes it would. I know exactly which Giada recipe you are talking about, it is for short ribs. They are fabulous.
How would you suggest making this vegetarian?
add more chiles for heat and add a few different kinds of beans. You will also probably need to add a bit more oil for cooking also.
Bree, I love your website and totally admire you style and photography. Simple, yet crisp and clear through every post. A perfect blog in every sense. Fabulous job with your step-by-step detailing too. They are inspiring.
I am huge fan of Nigella Lawson and had to try this recipe. To suggest a vegetarian version, since I am vegetarian myself, I use soy nuggets. They have a meaty texture and go well with these recipes. I hope that helps Erin too. 😀
Thank you so much, that is such a nice thing to read.
This sounds delicious; Love slow cooked meals.
me too, I love to eat them and to make them.
Sounds interesting! I love chili, I love your blog, and I love Nigella so I guess I’ll have to give it a try!
you will not be disappointed!
This sounds so unique and I bet the chocolate gives a great depth to the flavor. I’ll definitely have to give this a try.
Chocolate chip chili? What an interesting ingredient! Worth a try!
You cannot taste the chocolate, but it does something to it.
If I don’t have an oven-safe pot, do you think I can keep this at a simmer on the stovetop for a few hours instead?
Absolutely. Just give it a stir every now and again.
Bree,
I made this last night for a party, and it was a HUGE success. Thanks for posting it and making it so easy. I couldn’t find chorizo at my grocery store, so I bought “Chourico” a Portuguese sausage. It seemed to work well, but I’m hoping to find the real chorizo next time. Where did you get yours?
Thanks for this recipe!
I got mine at Whole Foods, but most store carry it. I have also used hot Italian sausage and it has tasted wonderful as well.
I love chili! Perfect for a cold night! You should really consider submitting this to Recipe4Living’s Champion Chili Recipe Contest! It looks delicious!
Maybe I will. Thanks for the suggestion.
This recipe sounds delicious and I can’t wait to try it! Quick question – the recipe calls for cardamom seeds and ketchup, but you do not mention using them. Are they not needed? Also, do you suggest using semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips?
Thanks for noticing this, I’ll go in and fix it. The cardamon goes in with the spice mixture and the ketchup goes in with the tomatoes. I use semi-sweet or anything dark that I have around.
I may have missed it but when is the best time to add the oil? Thanks Bree, love your site!
Add a bit when you cook the sausage. Sorry if I left it out.
Nigellas recipes are really great and Your version of the recipe looks brilliant.
I need to try it 🙂
thanks! I love Nigella.
Hi – if I am to half the ingredients, does the cooking time stay the same?
Thanks
Most likely, I would check it about 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time.
I am really interested in making this recipe but when reading the directions when do you add the ketchup and the cardamom seeds?
You can add it in whenever you want, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll edit this recipe to add them in. Thanks for letting me know.
If I’m doing full recipe for a party how many do you think it feeds?
6-8.
metric required please?
You are more than welcome to put in a metric converter. That is what I do when I need to make something cup/metric
I noticed Nigella’s original recipe only used 2 teaspoons of cumin, as opposed to 2 tablespoons. I’m guessing the extra cumin would change the flavour quite a bit.
It’s most likely a typo, but I always go heavy on the cumin and rarely measure when I make it. I’ve made this about 1000 times!