An Amazing Chili Recipe

This weekend we made a chili that was literally the best that I have ever had!  Before it warms up outside, go for it! It's well worth the effort! I've listed the actual recipe and then marked how we changed it a little.  I would have included a picture, but we ate it too quickly!  Yum...Yum...Yum! 

Chipotle Chili with Blue Cheese Crumbles (6-7 servings)

1 1/2 lbs. extra lean ground turkey

1/4 cup A-1 sauce

Olive Oil Spray

1 cup chopped onion (any type, we used 1/2 c - white 1/2 c - red)

28 0z. can of diced tomatoes

8 oz. can low sodium tomato sauce

2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped

1/4 cup chili powder

1 Tbsp. light or dark brown sugar (we used light)

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

15 oz. can of dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed (we wanted extra beans so we added an additional can of "great northern" white beans)

salt and pepper 

reduced fat blue cheese crumbles  

Mix turkey and A-1 sauce in a medium bowl until just combined.  Lightly mist a large nonstick saucepan with spray and place it over medium-high heat.  When pan is hot, put in the turkey and the chopped onions.  Use a wooden spoon to break the turkey into hearty chunks.  Continue cooking, stirring often, until the ground turkey is no longer pink inside, 4 to 6 minutes.  Add the diced tomatoes (not drained!), tomato sauce, chipotle peppers, chili powder, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.  Stir until combined, then cover the pan and turn the heat to low.  Simmer for at least two hours, stirring occasionally.  Add the beans and continue cooking, uncovered, stirring occasionally until the beans are hot, about 5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  When serving, add blue cheese crumbles on top.  

Our only cooking modification was that I made the mistake of throwing in the beans prior to the time it was supposed to simmer.  Obviously the beans could not cook for 2 hours without coming apart.  Simmering for only 40 minutes was the perfect amount of time!  (Plus, we didn't have to wait as long to try it!)

Also, despite the amount of chili powder and the two chipotle peppers, the flavor is not too spicy.  It was just right! 

Last note, you don't have to use Blue Cheese crumbles if you would prefer to use Cheddar, but the Blue Cheese makes it dance in your mouth... it is the perfect combination and I would have never imagined it!  Please give it a shot! 

Hope you enjoy!