Description
This Sweet Italian Sausage Chili is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring a blend of sweet Italian sausage and ground beef simmered with bell peppers, beans, and rich tomatoes. Perfect for a comforting meal that’s easy to prepare on the stovetop, it offers a satisfying balance of spice and sweetness complemented by a variety of seasonings and optional toppings like cheese and sour cream.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1/2 pound ground beef
Vegetables
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Canned Goods
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
Liquids
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup beef broth
Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Cook the Meat: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sweet Italian sausage and ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon as it browns. Cook until meat is browned and no longer pink. Remove excess fat if necessary.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the chopped onion, green and red bell peppers, and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until the vegetables soften and become fragrant.
- Add Tomatoes and Beans: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, tomato paste, and beef broth. Mix everything until well combined.
- Season the Chili: Add chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to evenly distribute the spices.
- Simmer: Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chili thickens and the flavors meld together.
- Serve: Ladle the chili into bowls and serve hot. Add optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions to taste.
Notes
- Substitute hot Italian sausage if you prefer a spicier chili.
- Use turkey sausage for a leaner alternative with lower fat content.
- This chili is excellent for meal prepping and often tastes better the next day as flavors deepen.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
