Game Day Chili (no beans, optional pasta)
My game day chili has no beans and an optional addition of pasta. It's thick with a little kick of spice and a hint of sweetness from honey. Each bite has the perfect balance of flavors. Whether you're cooking it up for a football game or enjoying a cozy night at home, you'll love every bite!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 of a yellow onion (diced)
- 16.4 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth (or stock)
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp chili powder (salt-free)
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 tsp raw honey
- optional - 1/3 cup small shell pasta
Instructions
- Add ground beef and diced onion to a medium-sized pot and cook over medium-high heat until beef is fully cooked about 6-8 minutes.
- Use a spoon or stainless steel masher to break the hamburger into small chunks while it’s cooking.
- When the beef is cooked, strain out any excess liquid/fat. Discard or save in the fridge for later use. Set the pot with cooked beef aside for now.
- Pour canned diced tomatoes into a blender and blend on high until the chunks break down into small pieces, almost smooth. Just a few seconds
- Pour blended tomatoes into the pot with ground beef. Turn heat to medium.
- Add beef broth, tomato paste, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir to combine.
- Turn heat to low-medium and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- OPTIONAL FOR ADDING PASTA: If you want to add in pasta wait until the soup is bubbling then add it in and stir. Cook soup covered with a lid for 10-15 minutes until pasta is tender. Stir occasionally throughout this cooking time.
Notes
Slow Cooker Method
- Place all the ingredients besides the pasta into a slow cooker. You can still use raw ground beef for this method. Cook the chili on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
- If you'd like to add pasta, please do this about 30 minutes before serving. This cooks the pasta without it getting mushy.