3 Bean Sweet-Heat Chili
There's a sweetness that complements the spices in this 3 Bean Sweet-Heat Chili, and what better way to get these homemade flavors all married together than in the Instant Pot!
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I so enjoy a hot, steamy bowl of chunky chili on a cold, wet day or any day, for that matter. Especially if it's got black beans in it! This chili doesn't disappoint. It even goes a step further with a touch of sweet heat and an added bonus of 3 different kinds of beans. What's not to love?
The sweetness in this chili comes from chunks of red bell pepper, sweet potato, stewed tomatoes, and a good shot of rich chocolate syrup. Yes, that's right, chocolate syrup! I was introduced to this surprising little ingredient from a friend while making chili in my kitchen one day. I learned how the sweet chocolate syrup takes the sharpness out of the tomatoes and enhances the spices even more.
So, Plug in Your Instant Pot
Or set your favorite chili-cooking pot on the stove.
If using the Instant Pot, press the "simmer" button to brown ground pork and beef together, along with onions, celery, and peppers. When cooking on the stove, brown these ingredients and follow the remaining instructions to simmer slowly until you achieve the delicious sweet heat of chili.
Continuing in the IP
When almost browned, add garlic, seasonings, diced sweet potatoes, and stewed tomatoes, chopping the tomatoes into smaller pieces. I use the end of a spoon or a meat chopper like this one from Pampered Chef.
The last step before setting the Instant Pot on high for thirty minutes, or covering the pot on the stove to simmer slowly, is adding water, the chocolate syrup, and these beautiful beans.
📖 Recipe
3 Bean Sweet-Heat Chili
A quick and easy spicy instant pot or stove top chili with 3 beans and a few sweet and surprising ingredients!
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 10 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chuck beef or venison
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 cup chopped onion
- ⅔ cup chopped celery
- ½ cup chopped red bell pepper
- 1 cup peeled and diced sweet potato
- 4 garlic cloves, pressed
- 4 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons Taco seasoning
- 1 ¼ teaspoons sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more
- 4 14.5-ounce cans sliced stewed tomatoes
- 1 cup water
- 1 ½ tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 1 15-ounce can black beans
- 1 16-ounce can dark kidney beans
- 1 16-ounce can pinto beans
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Turn on the Instant Pot to simmer and brown the ground meats with the onions, celery, and red pepper until the meat is pink and not thoroughly browned.
- Then add the sweet potatoes, garlic, seasonings, and the tomatoes, breaking the tomatoes up into small pieces with the end of a spoon..
- Add the remaining ingredients, stirring well to combine.
- Seal the lid and press the chili setting button to cook for 30 minutes on high.
- After the pot signals that the cooking is over, let the pot release the pressure naturally or wait 10 minutes and release pressure manually.
- Serve with favorite condiments and side dishes.
Stove-Top
- Brown meat with onions, celery, and pepper in a large pot.
- Add sweet potatoes, garlic, seasonings, and tomatoes, chopping up tomatoes with the end of a spoon.
- Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for at least 1 hour on low heat.
- Serve with favorite condiments and side dishes.
Notes
Adjust cayenne pepper to suit your spice needs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Simmering/boiling
- Cuisine: American
What to serve with this 3 Bean Sweet-Heat Chili?
There are so many sides and condiments that go well in or beside chili. This Iron Skillet Cornbread is one of them. It's easy and has that homemade taste you can't get from a boxed mix.
Let me know how you like this chili recipe, and what's your favorite condiment to eat with it. I love hearing from you!
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Hi there, could i use Nutella instead of chocolate syrup? I know it'll be creamier but that may not be a bad thing, no?
Hmmm, I don’t know about that. I do know that there’s something about the sweetness of the syrup and the chocolate flavor that goes well with the acidic flavor of the tomatoes. You can try it in a smaller amount of chili for a sample taste, maybe.