Chili Seasoning

This best Chili Seasoning recipe is a perfect mix of chili powder, ground cumin, ground oregano, bay leaves and cocoa powder.  It’s a delicious combo of ingredients that makes a rich and flavorful chili your whole family is sure to love.

Homemade chili seasoning has a better combination of flavors than the store-bought packets. And if you’re watching your sugar and salt intake, making your own homemade seasoning blends is a better way to go. 

We keep things pretty simple with our chili seasoning recipe with only 5 ingredients. The combo of flavors in this chili seasoning mix makes the best tasting chili!  It’s the same chili seasoning recipe that we use for our White Bean Turkey Chili.

Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe Ingredients

The ingredient measurements that are listed below in the recipe card are intended to be used with 1 to 1-1/2 pounds of meat. Whether you make chili with ground or shredded beef, turkey or chicken, this homemade chili seasoning recipe is a keeper!

• Chili powder (we like to use Gebhart chili powder)
• Ground oregano
• Ground cumin
• Turkish bay leaves
• Unsweetened cocoa powder

Variations

• Sprinkle in 2 teaspoons of chipotle chili powder if you want to add a smokey flavor.
• If you aren’t adding fresh garlic to your chili, then add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder to the mix.

How To Use Chili Seasoning

To make a great tasting chili, you’ll need 3-4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 1 chopped onion, 2-3 cloves minced garlic, 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (including the juice), 1 8-ounce can no salt tomato sauce, 1-1/2 pounds meant (ground or shredded beef, turkey or chicken), 4 cups of broth (chicken or beef), 3 15-ounce cans beans (small white, pinto or kidney) or 1-1/2 cup dried green lentils, homemade chili seasoning, salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. 

When making chili, you’ll stir in the homemade chili seasoning with the cooked meat, onions and garlic – then, you’ll add the canned tomatoes, sauce and broth and let it all simmer.

1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven. Add meat and cook for 3-5 minutes breaking it apart as it browns. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. 

2. Add more oil to the pot if needed, then stir in the onions and sauté for approximately 7-10 minutes until tender and the onions turn golden in color. Add garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes.

3. Add the meat back to the saucepan.

4. Stir in the chili seasoning.

5. Add canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and chicken broth.

6. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally.

7. Add the beans to the chili and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes.

8. Serve with chopped cilantro, cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.

Cocoa Powder In Chili

Adding unsweetened cocoa powder to chili mellows the acidity of the tomatoes and it enhances the deep rich flavors of the chili. Don’t worry, you won’t taste the flavor of cocoa powder in your chili at all!

How Much Cocoa Powder In Chili

For a pot of chili that will feed between 6-8 people and uses 1-1/2 pounds of meat, use 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder. Make sure it is unsweetened cocoa powder!

Looking For More Seasoning Recipes?

• Homemade Ranch Seasoning
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Cinnamon Sugar
• Best Shawarma Seasoning

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Yield: 6 servings

Chili Seasoning

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

This best Chili Seasoning recipe is a perfect mix of chili powder, ground cumin, ground oregano, bay leaves and cocoa powder.  It makes a rich and flavorful chili that your whole family will love.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons Gebhart chili powder 
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground oregano
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 Turkish bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

1. Stir in the spices and unsweetened cocoa powder to a pot with the cooked meat, onions and garlic.
2. Add canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and broth. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally.
3. Add the beans to the chili and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 19Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 117mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.