Easy Dutch Oven Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is chili better in a Dutch oven or crockpot? ›

For making great chili, it's a tie between the Dutch oven and the multi-cooker in slow-cook mode. Each requires some tweaking in the cooking methods, though. The Dutch oven chili had the best aroma, heat, and flavor, but it looked less than appetizing due to its dry texture.

Elevate with Extra Flavor

Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight.

A Quick Note About Cast Iron

You can even use metal utensils or cook acidic chili in it with little to no ill effect. For more on care and maintenance, check out our guide to cast iron.

What's The Best Size Dutch Oven For Chili? This recipe needs a minimum of a 5-quart Dutch oven. If you are cooking for a few people, it's best to opt for a 5 or 6-quart Dutch oven.

Dutch Ovens are way more versatile than Slow Cookers. Not only can you make stews like you could in a Slow Cooker, but you can also bake bread, build a pasta sauce, sear meat, sauté vegetables, and plenty more.

A cup of strong, brewed coffee will work wonders for your pot of chili, imparting a deep, roasted flavor that will make the chili taste like it simmered away all day long. For maximum flavor, reduce the coffee along with a blend of tomato paste, aromatic veggies and spices like we do in our Spicy Vegetarian Chili.

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

What foods Cannot be cooked in cast iron? ›

Allowing your chili to simmer for a long period typically enhances its taste, making the wait well worth it. The slow bubbling process allows the various components to blend seamlessly. The spices especially gain from extended cooking times, as they release their robust flavors into the dish more effectively.

Chili is perhaps the ideal slow-cooker dish because its flavor improves with a long, slow simmer. This makes a big batch, perfect for a cold-weather get-together, but if you're making it for a smaller group, the leftovers freeze well.

If you tend to do lots of cooking in the oven or like to roast large meat dishes or oblong roasts, we suggest an oval shape. According to Elrod, “Oval Dutch ovens offer more flexibility for baking, roasting, and braising. The oval shape allows space for whole chickens, whole fish, meat on the bone, and larger roasts.”

The best way to make chili: Dutch oven

The unique heat retention of a Dutch oven results in ultra flavorful and tender chili. The stove top Dutch oven chili combines the best of both worlds: the speedy ease of the one-pot Foodi and the flavorful tenderness of the slow cooker.

Sure, there are plenty of other amazing chili recipes that are cooked on the stovetop, like beef and bean chili or white chicken chili. However, many of the ingredients in traditional chili (like onions and garlic) and dried spices (like chili powder and cumin) develop excellent flavor thanks to low-and-slow cooking.

The Dutch oven is the master of the stovetop. Since it's basically a wider, heavier version of a stockpot, it's a good pick to simmer broth or cook up big batches of beans. The cast iron core can get hot enough to quickly sear chunks of meat and brown veggies.

While incredibly popular in home kitchens, Dutch ovens really aren't common in restaurant settings, beyond serving dishes.