This unique, spicy (but not hot) Cinnamon Chili recipe is the perfect chilly night meal! Cinnamon chili is an award-winning family and neighbor favorite! It is the best chili recipe ever. Stovetop or crockpot directions.
Drain and rinse beans, add to crockpot or large soup pot. Brown and drain ground meat, add to crock or soup pot.
While meat is browning, measure out all spices and place in small bowl, stirring to blend. Set aside. Pour diced tomatoes and tomato sauce over brown meat and beans. In same pan you browned meat, over medium heat; add butter, once melted add diced onions and sauté until soft and caramel colored. About 6-7 minutes. Or swap and brown your onions and spices ahead of the beef, cooking the beef in the spices.
Add garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant. Add bowl of spices to the browned onions and garlic, stir around until spices are fragrant. Toss in bay leaf and cinnamon sticks and stir around, remove from heat and pour onion and spice mixture on top of tomatoes. If using, add shredded zucchini, carrots and/or pumpkin puree, mix in well. Empty can of olives into crock along with juices.
Cover and cook on low for 4-8 hours (if longer needed, stir in ½ cup water) or high 4 hours (be sure to add a little extra water). Serve hot with desired toppings. On stovetop, bring to simmer, cover and simmer on low for 2-4 hours.
Video
Notes
Sneak veggies into your dinner by adding shredded zucchini, carrots and even a can of pumpkin, stir it in and nobody will know it's there!Substitutions | Use ground bison, elk, turkey or chicken in place of ground beef. How to Freeze Chili
Cool completely before freezing, if still warm, condensation builds, causing ice, ice and frozen foods = freezer burn!
Freeze in individual sized portions, they make great microwavable portions.
Freeze in freezer baggie, laying flat for optimum freezer space.
Thaw overnight in fridge, heat on stovetop or even on low for an hour or so in slow cooker.
Or line your slow cooker, then freeze directly in the insert. Remove after solid and wrap well, then when ready to reheat, remove liner and plunk back into crockpot and heat on low 2-4 hours.