Smoked Sausage Chili. Simple, smoky and delicious. Forget the ground beef, using smoked sausage instead is my new favourite way to make a hearty chili.
First, let me say, that you do not need to make your own sausages for this recipe. I have used good quality store bought smoked sausage before and the chili was still delicious.
The smokiness is really what you want from the sausages, wherever it comes from. That’s what makes this chilli differently delicious.
Over the last few years I’ve been experimenting with making my own homemade sausages. It’s something that I really enjoy a lot.
There’s something quite satisfying about completing a batch of your own homemade sausages. I love the experimenting to get the seasonings just to my own taste.
And, of course, you can have complete control over the level of salt and fat in them as well. Not to mention having no added preservatives at all!
If you are so inclined, and particularly if you own a KitchenAid stand mixer, the KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment for Stand Mixer with Bonus Sausage Stuffer is a great attachment to own.
I have featured a couple of the recipes here that are suitable to be made into sausage patties, like Homemade Breakfast Sausage and Chorizo Sausage.
Homemade sausages
This summer I’ve been experimenting even further making Bratwurst, Italian Sausage, English Cumberland Sausage and more. I’ve also become quite fond of my backyard smoker over the past few years and made my own smoked sausage this year too.
I normally make at least 10 pounds of sausage at a time and freeze it in about 1 pound packages to use later. I had the last package of my smoked sausage left from the batch. of course, I just had to use them in some sort of recipe to stretch them into a full meal.
Spouse suggested making a very simple, no fuss chili. Instead of using ground beef, use the fully cooked smoked sausage to make the chili. This would letting the smoky flavour infuse throughout the sauce.
Boy was that ever a good idea. I love anything with a smoky flavour and this dinner was really delicious.
The sweet flavour of the vegetables, the hint of molasses, the spices and the smokiness of the sausage all blended together perfectly.
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Smoked Sausage Chili
Smoked Sausage Chili - forget the ground beef, using smoked sausage instead is my new favourite way to make a hearty chili.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 stalk celery, finely diced
- 1 medium carrot, finely diced
- 2 cups plain tomato sauce
- 1 small sweet bell pepper, red, orange or yellow, finely diced
- 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, 3 1/2 cups
- 1 19 oz can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chipotle powder, more or less to taste (optional for extra smoky heat)
- 2 tbsp molasses
- 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced about 1/2 inch thick
Instructions
- In a small dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and carrot and saute until the onions soften but not brown.
- Add the sweet bell pepper, tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, kidney beans, chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder and molasses.
- Mix together well and simmer very slowly over minimum heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the sliced smoked sausage and continue to simmer for about another 15 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
6 servings or moreAmount Per Serving Calories 503Total Fat 30gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 18gCholesterol 46mgSodium 1265mgCarbohydrates 43gFiber 12gSugar 16gProtein 20g
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.
Terry
Tuesday 6th of February 2024
Spouse sounds like one smart cookie! Unfortunately, I'll have to use store bought sausage, as I have neither the equipment, nor place to store it, in order to make my own. Looks like a great recipe!
Ash
Wednesday 21st of February 2018
Made this for supper last night and it was SO good! I added in pineapple, mushrooms and corn as well. Thanks again for another phenomenal recipe.
Margaret
Sunday 8th of November 2015
Hi Barry
For those of us who don't have time to make our own sausage can you recommend something we can get here in town?
Margaret Butt
PS. Coconut cream pie cooling for supper. Yummmmm