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Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili recipe. A healthy chili recipe made with ground beef and ground turkey, and seasoned with bacon, brewed coffee and cocoa powder.

Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili (Paleo, Whole30 option) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

I make chili pretty often, especially this time of year. It’s easy to put together. It’s flavorful. It’s filling. It tastes amazing with avocado and plantain chips. What’s not to love?

However, sometimes you want your chili to be a little different. This lead me to make this Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili.

It’s a delicious healthy chili recipe made with ground beef and ground turkey, and seasoned with bacon, cumin, chili powder, paprika, coriander… oh and brewed coffee and cocoa powder! Yum!

The plethora of seasoning here results in a rich, smokey, sophisticated chili.

It’s certainly not your regular old chili. For starters, the seasoning here is seriously on point. I found myself taking bite after bite from the pot itself because I couldn’t get over how great this chili tasted.

Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili (Paleo, Whole30 option) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

Ingredients needed to make this Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili:

  • bacon
  • onion
  • garlic
  • red bell pepper
  • ground beef
  • ground turkey
  • tomato paste
  • maple syrup
  • cumin
  • chili powder
  • ground paprika
  • ground coriander
  • salt and pepper
  • brewed coffee
  • cocoa powder
  • strained tomatoes
  • chopped tomatoes
  • bay leaf
  • sweet potatoes
  • carrots

I know what you are thinking… cocoa powder in chili?! Coffee in chili?!

Yes!! The flavors here work so well.

I wouldn’t say that you can taste the coffee and cocoa powder very strongly because all of the flavors in this recipe melt and join together.

But you definitely get hints of all of the spices, and how they enhance the recipe.

The whole way that this recipe is made results in an out-of-this-world flavor.

Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili (Paleo, Whole30 option) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

How to make this chili recipe with cocoa powder:

To start, you cook the garlic and onion with bacon.

Then, you add the diced red bell peppers.

After the onion, garlic, and diced red pepper have softened, add the ground turkey and beef and brown.

Then, season the meat with tomato paste, maple syrup, cumin, chili powder, coriander, paprika, salt, and pepper. This part of the recipe smells SOO good.

Note: omit the maple syrup to keep this recipe Whole30 compliant.

Another note: this was my first time cooking with coriander… um why?! I just love how it smells and could taste how it changed the chili.

Next add the brewed coffee, cocoa powder, strained tomatoes, chopped tomatoes, and bay leaf.

Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili (Paleo, Whole30 option) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

Let everything simmer for about 15 minutes. This really lets all of the rich smokey flavors meld together.

But, you need a bit of crunch for chili! Which is where the diced carrots and sweet potatoes come into place. These get added to the chili ( and absorb the flavors like woah), and then the chili cooks for another 30 minutes.

Once the chili is done, you can garnish it as you see fit.

How to serve this chili recipe with coffee:

This chili tastes amazing with avocado on top and plantain chips as well.

Feel free to add beans if you aren’t following a Paleo or Whole30 diet.

I’m also a huge fan of vegan cheese or regular cheese on top. NOM.

I think the idea to make a chili bar is genius. Check out the toppings used in this chili bar.

This Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili tastes amazing on top of eggs for breakfast. It’s also wonderful on top of veggies for dinner. Or on top of a baked potato.

I hope you enjoy this flavorful chili as much as me. 🙂

Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili (Paleo, Whole30 option) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

Other chili recipes you may enjoy:

Apple Sage Turkey Chili (GF)

Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken and Vegetable Chili

A healthy chili recipe made with ground beef and ground turkey, and seasoned with bacon, brewed coffee and cocoa powder.
4.67 from 21 votes

Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili (Paleo, Whole30 option)

Servings: 8 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 3 minutes
Total: 1 hour 13 minutes
Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili (Paleo, Whole30 option) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com
A healthy chili recipe made with ground beef and ground turkey, and seasoned with bacon, brewed coffee and cocoa powder.

Ingredients 

  • 2 strips bacon, cut into small pieces
  • 1 medium yellow onion, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 4 Tbs tomato paste
  • 2 Tbs maple syrup, ( optional- omit for Whole30)
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 1.5 Tbs chili powder
  • 1.5 Tbs ground paprika
  • 1.5 tsp ground coriander
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 cups brewed coffee
  • 2 cups strained tomatoes, canned or boxed ( Pomi is my favorite)
  • 2 cups chopped tomatoes, canned or boxed ( Pomi is my favorite)
  • 1.5 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 5 cups diced sweet potatoes, large dice (this was 2-3 potatoes for me)
  • 2 cups diced carrots, large dice (about ¾ inch wide)

Instructions 

  • In a Dutch oven or a large pot, over medium-high heat, cook the minced garlic, minced onion and the bacon pieces for about 6-8 minutes, mixing often and making sure to scape the bottom of the pan. Reduce stovetop heat to medium. Add the diced red pepper, mix into the onion and garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. The onions should really caramelize at this point, but make sure they don’t burn.
  • Add the ground beef and turkey to the pan, and cook about 6-8 minutes until browned. Add the tomato paste and mix into the meat.
  • Add the maple syrup, cumin, chili powder, paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper to the pan. Mix the seasoning into the meat.
  • Then, add the brewed coffee, cocoa powder, strained tomatoes, chopped tomatoes, and bay leaf to the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium ( or medium-low) and simmer for 15 minutes. Add diced sweet potatoes and carrots. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

Notes

Note: omit maple syrup to make the recipe Whole30.
Note: feel free to add beans if you aren’t looking for your chili to be Paleo or Whole30.

Nutrition

Calories: 322kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 31gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 863mgPotassium: 1304mgFiber: 8gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 19035IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 112mgIron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @perchancetocook or tag #perchancetocook!
Smokey Coffee and Cocoa Chili (Paleo, Whole30 option) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com
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27 Comments

  1. I put cocoa powder in my chili but haven’t tried it with coffee before. What a fun idea! I bet it really enhances the other flavors you have going on in there!

  2. Look at the deep color of this chili! Can’t believe that you used cocoa and coffee in this but I really need to try it soon. Can I have a bowl or two please? =D5 stars

  3. This really sounds like a very interesting combination of ingredients. I like the idea of the coffee and the cocoa. It would add a depth of flavor. I’ll definitely have to try it out.5 stars

  4. It sounds like a great combo for an awesome bowl of chili! Who would have thought? Thanks for the inspiration!

  5. How fun! I have never put coffee or cocoa in my chili!! This looks so delicious! I love chunky chilis and love the carrots you added! I will be making this soon. Of course, hubby will shake his head because there I am again, finding another recipe that adds cocoa! Hehe! I can’t wait!5 stars

  6. I have never eaten cocoa and coffee in my meat of savory dishes yet! I’m really intrigued. I’m going to try soon so saving this for sure.5 stars

  7. I love that you have both coffee and cocoa in this! They’re both such great ingredients for enhancing the depth of flavor in dishes like this. What a comforting dish for a cold winter day!5 stars

  8. I would love to try this. I have recently open myself up to trying new spices and flavoring. I can see how the cocoa might work in this…excited to find out. ?5 stars

    1. I have been looking for a unique chili recipe.  I am so tired of the traditional.  This sounds great!  
      I am a fan of smoke paprika, do you think that will be too much?

      Thanks!

      1. I think it could work. Maybe try adding half the amount and taste it at the end to see if you want to add more! Let me know how it tastes!