We are in the thick of some cold, dark winter days in Ohio. It’s not necessarily a negative connotation, though, if we’re talking about comfort food. Comfort food gives me a sense of coziness, warmth and feels like a layer of protection from the harsh outside elements. Chili recipes are a good staple in our home this time of the year and I have experimented with several varieties: lots of beans, no beans, vegan, and white chicken just to name a few. 

The chili recipe I’m sharing will knock your socks off! It’s delicious and even my food critic of a husband said it was the best he’s ever tasted! The biggest difference between this and others I have tried is the type of beef. The recipe is for steak chili and the meat is so incredibly tender. The base is very flavorful with just a hint of heat.  After trying this you may not go back to making ground beef chili again. The original recipe comes from Damn Delicious, but I altered it and now call it my own. 

If the forecast is calling for cold temperatures and snow, then you might want to grab the ingredients for this one. It’s definitely moved up in the ranks to the front of my recipe card box. Enjoy and stay cozy! 

Steak Chili

-about 2 lbs stew meat diced into cubes

-1 diced red onion

-garlic (I used about 6 medium cloves)

-2 fresh minced jalapeno peppers

-1-14 oz can diced tomatoes

-a couple of fresh tomatoes (I had a few plum and a regular that were on my counter. You can either roughly chop them or leave them whole for a little more chunky texture.)

-1- 8oz tomato sauce 

-chili powder (I used about 2 ½ TBS)

-A shake or two of Italian seasoning

-2-15 oz can of beans, drained and rinsed (I chose 1 dark red kidney and black but use what you like!)

-kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

1.Season meat with salt and pepper then brown in a Dutch oven with a little olive oil.

2.Add onion, garlic, and peppers until they just soften.

3.Stir in the canned tomatoes, sauce, fresh tomatoes, and chili powder. Make sure all the ingredients are covered with liquid. If not, add some beef broth, more sauce, or water depending on what you have on hand.

4.You can either cook it low on your stovetop or pop it in your oven at 250 degrees for about 1 ½ hour with a cover. When the meat is fork-tender, stir in the beans and cook for another 10-15 min. Serve with your choice of topping; sour cream, any kind of cheese, or green onions. It’s so tasty and you only have one pot to wash! Enjoy!