Featured Recipe: The Ultimate Game Day Chili Warm Up

January 6, 2013

Bold, flavorful chili is the ultimate game day grub, offering hearty portions to feed a hungry crowd and personalized toppings to suit every palate. For a delicious twist to your go-to, wow guests with a hearty, versatile pork-based chili with layers of savory flavor.

Smoky ingredients are all the rage, with fire-roasted tomatoes, bacon and chipotle peppers on the rise in restaurant menus across the country. Give this delicious trend the home-cooked treatment with Smoky Pork, Bacon and White Bean Chili, a simple recipe that takes only 20 minutes to prepare and can be conveniently made in the slow cooker.

With this versatile recipe, it’s easy to add a personal touch. Make your hearty chili even more smolderingly smoky by adding finely chopped chipotle chiles (from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce) along with the onion. Or, to amp up the heat, add a dash of cayenne pepper powder along with the chili powder.

To round out the meal on game day – or any day – serve with warm corn tortillas or corn bread and a refreshing side salad with radishes and cilantro. Prepare a topping bar with sour cream, roasted tomato salsa, sliced avocadoes, scallions and shredded Jack cheese.

Smoky Pork, Bacon and White Bean Chili

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Makes: 6 servings

8     ounces bacon, thick-cut, (5 or 6 slices), cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips
1     large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 1/2     pounds pork loin roast, cut into 3/4-inch dice
2     tablespoons chili powder
1     tablespoon smoked paprika
2     14 1/2-ounce cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes
1 1/2     cups water
2     15-ounce cans cannellini beans, (white kidney) or other white beans, drained
Salt
1/2     cup sour cream, (optional)
2     scallions, thinly sliced (optional)

In large saucepan or small stockpot over medium heat, cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.

Add onion to bacon fat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high, add pork, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in chili powder and paprika. Stir in tomatoes (with juices) and water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until pork is tender, 35 to 45 minutes.

Stir in beans and about 2/3 of bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 10 minutes. Add salt to taste.

Comments

One Response to “Featured Recipe: The Ultimate Game Day Chili Warm Up”

  1. carnivore on January 6th, 2013 1:43 am

    Good thing the super bowl is on a Sunday and not meatless Monday, or someone might get arrested for making this chili.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News