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Black Bean Chili with Bacon is quick, cheap, and super cozy. It's a little bit smoky and full of healthy fiber plus the protective prosperity energy of black beans. It's an excellent one-pot winter dish.
We're in that in between time after Christmas where lots of people are still off work and time seems to stand still a little bit. Ideally, you get to stay home, all warm and cozy with people you love. I know that's not the reality for so many people, but it's what I'm always wishing for myself. Just a few quiet moments before the start of the year when we all have to return to reality.
And for me, the ultimate comfort is a pot bubbling away on the stove emitting the smell of something delicious. Whether that's a soup using up holiday leftovers like this ham and potato soup or a big pot of chili that's just going to get more flavorful with each passing day, I know of a bowl of whatever is simmering will make me feel loved.
What makes Black Bean Chili so awesome?
This Black Bean Chili starts with a base of bacon, so right away, we're off to a good start. It adds a bit of a smoky flavor to the pot that olive oil just can't beat. Onions and garlic go in next, along with chicken stock and tomatoes with chillies for a bit of heat. And we're using canned black beans here, so this doesn't actually take all day.
Once all those flavors have had a chance to marry, we finish things up with a squeeze of lime juice for a bright pop. I like to top this with green onions, plenty of cheese, and sour cream. If you want to up the heat factor, you could also add a dash of your favorite hot sauce. Otherwise, this is a fairly mild chili. And in my opinion, no bowl of chili is complete without crunchy tortilla chips for added texture.
Magickal properties of black beans
Beans in general are often associated with magic and divination. In ancient cultures, beans were thought to contain the souls of the dead. They continued to be linked with wisdom and ancestors. Shelling beans can bring prosperity. Beans are corresponded with the planet Mercury and the element of air.
Black beans in particular are said to help you jump hurdles and make important decisions. During the Roman festival of the dead, black beans were used to ward off ghosts. That makes sense since the color black is known for protection. (Sources: Shirley Two Feathers & Rachel Patterson)
How to make Black Bean Chili
This is a pretty laid back affair. Add some chopped smoky bacon to a pot and let it cook until crisp around the edges. The add in some chopped onion followed by garlic. When the veggies are soft, add some chicken stock, scraping up any brown bits off the bottom of the pan as you do this. Then we'll continue to build flavor with a bit of ketchup and Worcestershire sauce along with chili powder and cumin.
The we add in some canned black beans, give it a stir, slap a lid on, and let it simmer away. You really only need 10-15 minutes. Give it a taste to adjust your seasonings, hit it with a splash of lime juice, and start building your bowl. I like to do a layer of tortilla chips in the bottom, followed by the chili, then give it a scattering of cheese, and green onions. Finally, you've gotta have a dollop of sour cream.
Keep your cauldron bubbling with something delicious and cozy this winter. Make this Black Bean Chili with Bacon, and it'll be extra awesome.
Looking for more awesome chili recipes? Try some Chili with Gnocchi or some Cornbread-Topped Chili Mac.
PrintBlack Bean Chili with Bacon
Black Bean Chili with Bacon is quick, cheap, and super cozy. It's a little bit smoky and full of healthy fiber plus the prosperity energy of black beans. It's an excellent one-pot winter dish.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southwest
Ingredients
- 5 slices bacon
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup chicken stock
- ¾ cup petite diced tomatoes with chiles
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1-½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 cans black beans, drain, not rinsed
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Scallions for topping
- Shredded cheddar cheese for topping
- Sour cream for topping
- Tortilla chips for dipping
Instructions
- Place a large pot over medium high heat, and cut your bacon into small pieces with scissors right over the pot. Let the bacon cook until it just starts to get crispy around the edges.
- While the bacon is cooking, chop your onion and garlic. Add the onion to the pot and give it a stir. Cook for about five minutes or until the onions start to soften. Add the garlic and stir. Cook for about a minute or until you start to smell the garlic.
- You'll probably have some lovely brown bits on the bottom of your pan by now. Add about half of your chicken brown, and scrape the bottom of the pan with your spoon to get all that flavor into your chili. Add the rest of the broth, the tomatoes and chiles, ketchup, Worcestershire, chili powder, and cumin, and stir it all together. Finally, stir in your beans.
- Adjust the heat so that you have a lively simmer, and allow everything to cook together for about 10 minutes. Come back and taste for seasoning, then add salt and pepper as you like. Turn the heat off, and give it a squeeze of lime juice.
- Scoop your chili into a bowl, top it with your favorite toppings.
Keywords: chili, black beans
Rich G. says
Great recipe. Loved the fact that the flavor came from bacon and there was no other meat added. Love ground beef and can tolerate ground turkey, but this recipe need neither. Only had pepper coated bacon and when I do this recipe again I will cook the bacon to it is all the way crisp (the way I like my bacon). Used Rotel(r) for the tomatoes and chili. Otherwise didn't change a thing. Very good over rice or straight in a bowl with toppings of cheder chesse and sour cream. Will go into the chili rotation. Thanks
★★★★
Renee says
I'm glad you liked it. I can't get Rotel in the UK, otherwise, that's what I'd use as well.