Rick’s Famous Chili

Name: Rick’s Famous Chili
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 20 servings
Cuisine: Tex-Mex, American
Ingredients: 1 lb Bacon; 0.5 cup Chili Powder; 2 cups Diced Onion; 56 oz Diced Tomatoes; 32 oz Hickory Barbecue Sauce; 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning; 61 oz Kidney Beans; 3 lb Lean Ground Beef; 58 oz Tomato Sauce; 2 oz Unsweetened Chocolate; 2 lb Vegan Spicy Sausage

Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪Soup 🍲 Tex-Mex 🇺🇸🇲🇽American High-Protein 💪Comfort-Food

Rick’s Famous Chili brings bold, meaty layers from ground beef, spicy sausage, and smoky bacon, simmered with tomatoes and kidney beans. Hickory barbecue sauce and a hint of unsweetened chocolate add depth and a subtle sweetness that rounds the heat. Perfect for game days, potlucks, or a cozy weekend dinner when you want a robust, crowd-pleasing bowl.

Prep30 mins
Cook2 hrs 30 mins
Serves20
DifficultyMedium

1

In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, combine the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, the onion, and the Italian seasoning.
2

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook and stir the bacon until slightly crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain it on a paper towel-lined plate, then stir it into the tomato mixture. Drain any remaining grease from the skillet.
3

In the same skillet over medium heat, cook and stir the sausage until browned, about 10 minutes. Drain it on a paper towel-lined plate, then stir it into the tomato mixture. Discard any remaining grease from the skillet.
4

In the same skillet over medium heat, cook and stir the ground beef until crumbly and browned, about 10 minutes. Drain it on a paper towel-lined plate, then stir it into the tomato mixture.
5

Stir the barbecue sauce and chili powder into the tomato mixture; taste and adjust the seasonings. Stir in the kidney beans and the chocolate; simmer until the flavors are well blended, about 2 hours.