Hi friends! Hope you are not as frozen as we are!

While the temps we’re getting in Raleigh may not be considered cold by northern standards, it’s definitely record-breaking cold here! This morning it was 13 when I woke up…..13. And that’s not including the wind chill which lowered it to 3!

Seriously running out of sweaters. -Note to self: Do yo’ laundry-

Cold, snowy weather outside and sick people inside call for one thing…CHILI.

Here’s how I make mine, it’s a little sweet with some nice heat at the end 🙂 Oh, and it only takes one pot. #disheswin

Cold Weather Chili

Ingredients

• 4 strips bacon – chopped into pieces
• 1 lb ground beef (we used ground bison for this recipe)
• 1 bell pepper – diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper -diced (totally optional, leave the seeds in for extra spice or take them out or don’t use the jalapeno)
• 1 red onion – diced
• 15 oz can kidney beans -or whatever bean floats your boat
• 15 oz diced tomatoes
• 3 oz tomato paste
• 3 oz. whiskey or scotch or bourbon – whateva you got
• 2 big squirts of BBQ sauce
• 1 tbs chili powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 0.5 tsp cumin

Note: The spice measurements are estimates since I am a horrible food blogger and throw things in as I cook without stopping to measure them

Directions

1. Heat a med./large heavy bottomed pot until hot. Throw in the bacon pieces and let them cook. It’s gonna seem like a lot of bacon, but there is no such thing as too much bacon.
2. When the bacon is 80% done to your liking, add in the ground bison/beef/turkey/chicken/whatever and brown the meat so it is fully cooked. – 5 min or so depending on the meat. This is also a great time to add those spices we talked about earlier.
3. Add in the diced veggies (pepper, jalapeno, and onion) to the pot and let cook for 3 min.
4. Drain and rinse the kidney beans and throw those in the pot too along with the whole (juice and all) can of diced tomatoes. Stir to combine everything and then add the tomato paste, whisky, and BBQ sauce. I added 2 squirts of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce cause that’s what we had, but your favorite sauce (as long as it’s not vinegar or mustard based) will taste great!
5. Mix everything together and don’t burn your tongue on the spoon as you lick it. Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low and go watch Game of Thrones or something so that chili can simmer and those flavors can get to know each other.
6. Serve with your favorite chili toppings!

Serves: 4-5 hungry adults

I topped mine with sour cream, cheddar cheese, and some green onion. Other popular toppings include everything but the kitchen sink.

I only have a picture of the chili after I smothered it in toppings because yeah. Oops.

Let me know if you give this a try!