Sweet and Savory Slow Cooker Potluck Chili Recipe

Messing with a chili recipe is a sensitive subject, I get it. Dire-hard traditional chili connoisseurs will probably scoff at this sweet and savory slow cooker potluck chili recipe.



If you're willing to step outside the proverbial chili box, this sweet chili recipe is delicious! It has that spicy kick you'd expect from chili but with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate.



This sweet and savory chili recipe has the kick you expect from chili with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate, great recipe for potluck gatherings.

Welcome to the 5th annual 12 Days of Holiday Ideas event, hosted by Shirley of Intelligent Domestications and Erlene of My Pinterventures. Between Nov. 11th and December 6th there will be hundreds of new ideas shared by over 55 Co-host bloggers!



Go here to see our kick-off collection of Holiday ideas as well as all of this year's talented participating DIY and Foodie Blogs.




Unique Sweet and Savory Chili Recipe

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I think this is a great chili recipe to have some fun with at your next holiday gathering. Have a chili cook-off where guests vote between a pot of traditional chili and a pot of this sweet & savory chili.



I've included a free chili cook-off scorecard printable further down in the post. I've also included a printable recipe card as well.


This sweet and savory chili recipe has the kick you expect from chili with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate, great recipe for potluck gatherings.

Do you serve your chili on plates or in bowls? My preference is to use bowls with large soup spoons. This recipe serves six hardy bowls of chili so if your gathering is large, you may want to double the recipe.



When I host potluck buffet-style gatherings, I make things easy for guests by placing cutlery and a napkin inside grab-and-go cutlery pouches.


This sweet and savory chili recipe has the kick you expect from chili with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate, great recipe for potluck gatherings.

What kind of cheese should be served with sweet & savory chili?

Crumbled feta, ricotta, or goat cheese are great to serve with this sweet and savory chili. Grated mozzarella, extra-old white or orange cheddar cheese is also good too.



A big hit with guests is individual serving-size Spicy Cheese Ball Bites and crackers.



What kind of bread is good for dipping into chili?

The perfect dipping bread for chili is sourdough, baguette, French bread, ciabatta, or focaccia. But with this sweet and savor chili recipe, cornbread is a nice option too.


Can I make this potluck chili recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! Follow the slow cooker recipe instructions and keep the slow cooker crock in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Cook according to recipe times.


To make this hefty potluck chili recipe I used a 7-quart crock-pot with a handy warm setting and removable crock.


Sweet and Savory Chili Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
2 cloves finely chopped garlic
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp grated cacao
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried mint
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (19oz) rinsed and drained chickpeas
1 can (14 oz) rinsed and drained kidney beans
2 tbsp honey
Grated cheese for topping



This sweet and savory chili recipe has the kick you expect from chili with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate, great recipe for potluck gatherings.

I used semi-sweet cacao from Mexico and ground it into a powder while still in a semi-frozen state. Semi-sweet dark chocolate or cocoa powder is fine too.



This sweet and savory chili recipe has the kick you expect from chili with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate, great recipe for potluck gatherings.

How To Make Potluck Chili Recipe

Step 1: Cook ground beef, garlic, and onions on medium heat in a saucepan stirring to break up beef, until browned. Drain off excess fat.

Step 2: Stir chili powder, cacao, oregano, mint, cinnamon, and salt into the saucepan.

Step 3: Cook, stirring in spices for about one minute.

Step 4: Stir in tomatoes, chickpeas, kidney beans, and honey, and bring to a boil.

Step 5: Transfer to a preheated slow cooker.

Step 6: Cook on the low setting for 8-10 hours or on the high for 4-6 hours.

Step 7: Sprinkle grated cheese on top before serving (scroll up for cheese suggestions.



See how rich and dark the ground beef mixture looks with the chocolate and spices. The aroma while cooking is divine.



This sweet and savory chili recipe has the kick you expect from chili with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate, great recipe for potluck gatherings.

Should you want to do a chili taste test challenge, I made a fun Holiday Chili Cook-Off Voting Sheet printable that you're welcome to use.



Potluck Chili Recipe Card

As promised, here's the printable recipe card for the sweet and savory potluck chili.



Recipe Yield: 6
Author:

Sweet and Savory Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

Sweet and Savory Slow Cooker Chili

This chili recipe is easy to make in a slow cooker and perfect for potluck gatherings. It has the savory kick you expect from chili with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate!
prep time: 30 M cook time: 8 H total time: 8 H & 30 M

ingredients:

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 2 cloves finely chopped garlic
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp grated cacao
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried mint
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (19oz) rinsed and drained chickpeas
  • 1 can (14 oz) rinsed and drained kidney beans
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • Grated extra old white cheddar cheese

instructions:

How to make Sweet and Savory Slow Cooker Chili

  1. Cook ground beef, garlic, and onions on medium heat in a saucepan stirring to break up beef, until browned. Drain off excess fat.
  2. Stir chili powder, cacao, oregano, mint, cinnamon, and salt into the saucepan.
  3. Cook, stirring in spices for about 1 minute.
  4. Stir in tomatoes, chickpeas, kidney beans, and honey, and bring to a boil.
  5. Transfer to a preheated slow cooker.
  6. Cook on low setting for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
  7. Serve with cheese.
Calories
353.12
Fat (grams)
12.62
Sat. Fat (grams)
4.73
Carbs (grams)
31.21
Fiber (grams)
7.52
Net carbs
23.69
Sugar (grams)
11.59
Protein (grams)
30.07
Sodium (milligrams)
705.27
Cholesterol (grams)
71.96
Created using The Recipes Generator


All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.



Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! If you try this potluck chili recipe, I would love to hear what you think. If you did the chili cook-off idea, I'd really love to hear what the consensus was.



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If you have any questions about this recipe, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!



If you enjoyed this sweet and savory slow cooker potluck chili recipe, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your Potluck Recipes or Slow Cooker Recipes board on Pinterest.




This sweet and savory chili recipe has the kick you expect from chili with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate, great recipe for potluck gatherings. #chilirecipe #sweetandsavoryrecipes #slowcookerchili #potluckchilirecipe #

12 Days Holiday Ideas

Day 1 - Gift Guides
Day 2 - Survival Guides
Day 3 - Holiday Kid Activities
Day 4 - Party Games
Day 5 - Holiday Advent Calendar
Day 6 - DIY Wreath
Day 7 - DIY Ornament
Day 8 - Holiday Printables
Day 9 - Christmas Potluck Recipes (you are here)
Day 10 - Holiday Desserts & Treats
Day 11 - Christmas Breakfast Recipes
Day 12 - Christmas Tree Tour



There are several more potluck recipe ideas below from our talented co-hosts on this leg of the 12 Days Of Holiday Ideas Tour.





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Comments

  1. Your chilli looks mouthwatering, Marie! I love the holiday twist you put on the recipe!

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    Replies
    1. Oh Cyna, it really is mouthwatering. Mr. Frugalista had two helpings when I served it the other day and we had the rest of it last night. 😋

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  2. This sounds wonderful! I love using my slow cooker. Pinning!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Heather! Me too, I find I use it the most around this time of year.

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  3. This sounds delicious, Marie! I'm always looking for good chili recipes so I'll definitely be giving this one a try!

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  4. The Chili looks so good. I love Chili especially at this time of year. Coping down this recipe. I love crock pot cooking too. Set and and forget it! Have a great weekend.
    Hugs,
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you decide to make this chili, Kris, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Happy Thanksgiving weekend and have fun decorating the cottage! xo

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  5. I have got to try this recipe. It looks so delicious.

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    Replies
    1. If you decide to make it, Debra, I'd love to hear what you thought about the recipe!

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  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  7. That sounds absolutely amazing! I don't really like chili usually so I've been experimenting with different recipes trying to find one I like... you had me at chocolate and cinnamon. Pinned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well this definitely doesn't taste like traditional chili so I hope you like this version. Thanks for the pin and if you decide to make it, I'd love to hear what you thought about it!

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  8. The chili recipe has been printed and I'm looking forward to giving it a try! I was going to enter the contests you mentioned in the blog/email - but when I went to the bottom of the page as instructed, is shows this contest was closed in 2019...? Enjoy your emails and all your great ideas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad to hear you're going to give the recipe a try! I'd love to hear what you think. Yes, I originally shared this recipe last December and at the time we had the contest running for the duration of the 12 Days Of Christmas blog hop from our sponsors.

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  9. Marie this looks so good. Perfect time with the cooler weather coming. Might have to make Chili this weekend. Thanks for stopping by the Home Imagined Link Party. I was so excited to see you there. Have a great week.- Meagan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you think so Meagan! We made a pot of it last night and it was so yummy and will enjoy leftovers tonight.

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