I have made lots of chili recipes but this one by far is my favorite.  The flavors are just so good.  This calls for 2 pounds of ground beef, but we ended up doing one pound of beef and one pound venison.  Ben always has deer meat on hand and it is actually really lean and good for you so we sub that often for red meat.  The original recipe calls for this to be made in your crock pot but the few times I have made I made it on the stove in a big pot.  This will save for a few days.  It is perfect to serve a crowd too because it makes a big batch! Enjoy!

T H E  B E S T   B E E F  C H I L I 

adapted via Half Baked Harvest

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 small onions diced finely

4 garlic cloves minced

2 pounds ground beef

2 poblano peppers seeded and chopped

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon paprika

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

2-3 cups chicken broth

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 8oz can tomato paste

2 bay leaves

1 can dark red kidney beans

cheddar cheese, green onions, jalapenos, sour cream, and avocado for toppings.

In a large Dutch Oven heat olive oil and sautee onions about 5 minutes.  Add in garlic and cook one minute.  Add in ground beef and cook until browned.  Add in cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, salt, cayenne, paprika and stir all together.  Add in poblanos, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, kidney beans, chicken broth, and bay leaves.    Let simmer and cook about an hour or two.  This can also be made in the crock pot.

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I would like to mention this recipe comes from Half Baked Harvest- if you don’t follow (@halfbakedharvest) them or read their blog you should.  Their recipes are outstanding and their food photography is just gorgeous.  I have raved about their cookbook many times but if you don’t have it, I highly recommend it.

Half Baked Harvest Cookbook

Also this is the pot I use whenever I make soups or chili.  It was a wedding gift and I still love and use it 10 years later.  The quality is great and it is very similar to LeCreuset.

Dutch Oven