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I’m a big fan of chili because it is comes together quickly and is easy to customize to ingredients you have on hand. My husband is a huge fan of smoked paprika and I’ve always loved adding it to chili in small amounts to add a little extra flavor. For this recipe, I decided to add a bit extra to make the flavor more pronounced. We loved it so I figured I should share it! If you don’t like smoked paprika, then you can simply omit it for a regular chili recipe.

You can make this recipe easily in just about 20-30 minutes if you’re in a rush, but if you have extra time on hand, then you can let it lightly simmer for up to a couple hours to really enhance the flavors. Keep in mind, if you do a long simmer, then you will want to add more broth.

Ingredients

Ground beef or turkey – the protein.

Onion, garlic – for delicious flavor and immune-boosting benefits.

Black beans – to add bulk to the chili as well as extra protein and fiber.

Crushed tomatoes – for classic chili flavor. You can use diced tomatoes if desired, but I like the texture that crushed tomatoes gives. If diced tomatoes are all you have on hand, then no problem, just use those! If desired, you could chop them up further before adding to the chili.

Broth – as needed. You’ll add this at the end if you need extra liquid.

Spices – you’ll use chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. This combination creates a savory, lightly smoky flavor that’s unique and delicious.

Method

Preheat a pot to medium high heat with avocado or olive oil. Add the diced onion (and bell pepper if using) and sauté for about 5 minutes, until the onion is translucent.
Add the minced garlic and sauté a couple more minutes.
Add the ground turkey or beef and sauté, breaking it up as it cooks. Cook until there’s no more pink, and add 1 tsp salt as well as the chili powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
Once the meat is cooked and the spices are incorporated, add the black beans, crushed tomatoes, and diced green chiles. Season with an extra 1/2 tsp salt or more to taste, mixing everything together. If desired, incorporate 1/4-3/4 cup of broth. Taste test and adjust seasonings to taste. It should have a mild smoky flavor from the smoked paprika, but add more if desired.
Serve as desired and enjoy!

Modifications

Add diced veggies of choice such as bell pepper.
Add one (4.5oz) can of green chiles.
Add an extra teaspoon of chili powder for more flavor.
Add more smoked paprika for a stronger smoky flavor.
Adjust the broth according to your preference / needs. Just start small and go from there, as you can always add more.
Let it simmer (covered) for a couple hours to create a well-rounded, stronger flavor.

How to get the right texture for chili

Most people enjoy a thick chili, so if that’s you, then remember: It’s always better to add too little broth at the beginning (or none at all), because you can always add more. Always remember: Start small and add from there.

If you find that your chili isn’t as thick as you want, then add flour to it. You can use any flour you want, such as wheat flour, white flour, cassava flour, arrowroot flour/starch, or oat flour. It’ll help absorb some of the excess moisture and thicken it up. And keep in mind, a little bit goes a long way, so you may need to use less than you think. Even 1 tablespoon may be enough to get the texture you’re looking for, so start small and go from there.

How to simmer it for hours

If you are looking for an extra flavorful chili, then you can either add more spices to taste, or you can allow the chili to lightly simmer for a couple hours (covered) for the flavors to strengthen. If you do this method, then either keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t dry out, or just add extra broth from the start. For this recipe, if I were going to let it simmer for a couple hours, I would add 1 1/2-2 cups of broth. If it’s there’s too much liquid by the end, then mix in a tablespoon of flour to thicken it. Add more as needed, but a little bit goes a long way, so start small at first and go from there.

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I hope you love this Smoked Paprika Black Bean Chili! Please be sure to leave a comment and review because it helps my website more than you know. I truly appreciate your support!