One way to make a long-term Keto diet go down easier is to Keto-ize your old favorite recipes. I mean, duh, right? Now that we are Keto veterans, in-it-to-win-it for the third time (!), I’m more interested than ever in making sure my old favs can still be enjoyed without guilty thoughts and can be modified for Keto and keep their greatness.
Dad’s Keto Chili
Chili has been a mainstay of DRB since the beginning. We started with a cookbook version, tweaked and tried variations over several years, tried our hand competing at a chili cookoff, and now are looking at Dad’s Chili with a fresh eye for its Keto potential. Lose the beer and hold the beans, and you’re most of the way there. Here’s the good news—there’s no need to sacrifice any flavor to make great Keto chili. Try out the recipe and see for yourself.
Note to Dads
This is a great family dish. There are ways the kids can help, or they can just enjoy the goodness and help you build your rep as a dad does wonders in the kitchen. There’s plenty of flavor and nutrition for non-Keto-istas, who can amp up their servings with tortilla chips or corn bread crumbled on top.
Dad’s Keto Chili
Low-carb, meaty, delicious.
Servings 12 servings
Calories 381kcal
Equipment
- 1 Dutch oven or other large pot You'll need a five-quart minimum capacity.
Ingredients
Foundation
- 1 lb ground beef When we make a special dish with meat, we always use something from our Butcher Box delivery. Ask us about BB.
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 large yellow onion
- 2 stalks celery
- 1 large green bell pepper
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
Flavorings
- 3 tbsp Dad's Chili Spice Mix 2 tbsp chili powder, 2 tsp dried oregano, 2 tsp dried coriander, 1 tsp dried cumin, 1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper. Or. 2-3 tbsp packaged taco spice or to taste.
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 16 oz salsa Use your favorite salsa-in-a-jar or fresh from the deli.
- 3 cups chicken bone broth, stock, or broth Bone broth is our rich and tastiest choice since we've ditched the beer in this recipe.
- 1 tsp Konjac flour Wait, what? Make friends with this.
- 2 packets Stevia in the Raw® sweetener Or more, if you need it. Sweet is great; sugar is not.
Garnishes per serving
- 1 tbsp green onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp sour cream On Keto, it's full-fat sour cream all the way!
- 1/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese Make sure it's sharp or extra sharp white or yellow cheddar.
Instructions
Building the foundation
- I create a "Cajun holy trinity" (look it up) of onion, celery, and green bell pepper as my foundation. In your Dutch oven, sauté diced onion, celery, and pepper together in butter and olive oil —1 tbsp each—for 5-7 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring often and sprinkling one-half teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Don't let them burn, just let them get very soft and translucent. When they get this way, add minced garlic, stir in, and cook for another minute. Then, remove the mix with a spider or slotted spoon to a bowl, leaving behind as much of the liquid as you can.1 large yellow onion, 2 stalks celery, 1 large green bell pepper, 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- Add the meat(s) to the hot pan, breaking the big chunks into tiny bits and stirring frequently. Increase heat if necessary to get a good sizzle going. Sauté until there's no pink left and little areas of browning are starting to show. You are trying to boil off the water in the meat and produce a bit of charring for flavor.1 lb ground beef, 1 lb ground pork
Building the flavor
- Start by adding back the vegetables and lowering heat to medium.
- To build flavor, add these ingredients in this order, stirring in each one thoroughly: spice mix, tomato paste, salsa, Stevia, and chicken broth and/or water to completely cover the mixture.3 tbsp Dad's Chili Spice Mix, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 16 oz salsa, 3 cups chicken bone broth, stock, or broth, 2 packets Stevia in the Raw® sweetener
- Cover your pot and simmer 2 hours, stirring things up every half-hour. Then, remove the lid and check the thickness. If too thick, add a little broth or water. If too watery (more likely), continue to simmer with the lid off for 30 another minutes. Check again. Repeat till it looks the way you like it. Turn off the heat and let your chili rest for 20 minutes. It's been under a lot of pressure. Evenly sprinkle the Konjac and stir in. It needs a few minutes to activate. Check the thickness and add more only if really needed. A little Konjac goes a long way. Too much…you don't want to know.1 tsp Konjac flour
Garnish and serve
- I use a half-cup ladle to serve the chili into bowls. A half-cup with garnishes is plenty for me, but maybe not for you. I love to garnish with a large pinch of finely diced green onion, about a quarter-cup of shredded sharp cheddar, and a dollop (whatever that means to you) of full-fat sour cream. This is just heavenly. And remember, however good it tastes now; it will be better tomorrow. Hasta mañana!
Notes
First, my suggestion is to try and follow this recipe exactly at least once and then modify it to your heart’s content. I say this because here on DRB, we love experimenting and rarely do a dish exactly the same thing twice. But this chili as Keto-ized was so good, I think you’ll be happy with it.
Second, having urged strictly following the recipe, I think that 2 lbs of any combo of meat or other protein source—like Beyond Meat product—is totally fine. After all, even on Keto, flavor reigns supreme. I used half-and-half high-quality ground beef and ground pork, but in past chilis I’ve used ground chicken, ground turkey, and ground lamb in combination with another meat or alone. Ground goat, anyone?
Third, I highly recommend adding the Stevia sweetener which elevates the taste to another level. I love Stevia in the Raw® packets for cooking and even baking. They always add and never detract, unless you use too much.
Finally, know that any of the chili recipes here on DRB are always better the second and third days! Be patient and you won’t be sorry. Oh yeah, and it freezes really well in a tightly-sealed container.
Bonus: For the less than fully committed, add a cup of frozen corn at the end of cooking and heat through before adding the Konjac thickener. This adds even more flavor and a nice texture bonus and won’t absolutely destroy your good Keto intentions, especially if control your portion.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 1240mg | Potassium: 618mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 639IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 2mg
