Easy Dutch Oven Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it okay to make chili in a cast iron Dutch oven? ›

Dutch Oven Chili Recipe. This stovetop Dutch Oven Chili is hearty, rich, and full of flavor. The bacon, chipotle peppers, and adobo sauce add a delicious smokiness. This recipe will work with an enameled or cast iron dutch oven.

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. And the longer it sat, the thicker it got.

Traditionally, we expect a robust, spicy base, meat and/or beans, perhaps some bonus veggies, and a thick, rich consistency. Unlike soups, which are brothy, or even bisques, which are creamy yet thinner, chili is meant to be more stew-like; it's a definite stick-to-your-ribs creation.

Raw cast iron needs to be seasoned to make it nonstick and rust-resistant, while enameled Dutch ovens are somewhat nonstick and protected out of the box. High-quality enamel coatings are expensive, which is why enameled Dutch ovens cost more than their standard cast iron counterparts.

The cast iron pot/dutch oven is great for chili. It should be well-seasoned, so you won't get corrosion due to tomatoes in any significant way. The reason why it's suited so well is that it retains heat, so browning meat (esp for chunked instead of ground), initially, works well.

And while there are plenty of sizes to choose from, like oval Dutch ovens, or shallow Dutch ovens, Cimarusti prefers the classic Le Creuset 5.5-quart Dutch oven. “The attention to detail is just great,” he says. If a Michelin-starred chef uses one everyday, it's worth adding to your kitchen.

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.

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

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.

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.

Not only will tomato paste add a tangy flavor to the dish, but it will also act as a thickening agent. For this purpose, you can use homemade or store-bought tomato paste. Add 1 can of the paste to your pot of chili, stir the mixture, and let it cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes.

Add cornmeal: Cornmeal absorbs excess liquid, so adding a tablespoon of it to your pot of chili will thicken the final result. Allow the chili to simmer for about ten minutes after you add the cornmeal.

The answer is yes, tomato sauce can thicken chili. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using tomato sauce to thicken chili. First, tomato sauce is not as thick as some other thickeners, such as flour or cornstarch. This means that you may need to use more tomato sauce to achieve the desired thickness.

No matter the style or size, any Dutch oven will open up endless recipe opportunities. Create beautifully braised meat, pot roasts, hearty beef stew, healing chicken soup, or the creamiest mac and cheese. Use it like a slow cooker, a bread cloche, or a pot for frying.

Can a Dutch oven be used as a slow cooker? The short answer: absolutely! But with a few adjustments to your slow cooker recipe. To use an oven as a substitute for a slow cooker, you'll need to make a few tweaks to the temperature, cook time and even the amount of liquid you'll need.

Simply preheat your cast iron skillet on the bottom rack of the oven before you add your sourdough. Place your bread, either on a baking stone or cookie sheet on the middle rack, and then pour boiling water into the skillet. A word of caution here – you are working with a very hot oven and very hot water.