Sweet and Smoky Bacon Chili

I looooooove sweet and smoky, or sweet and spicy, or sweet and smoky and spicy all together! This Sweet and Smoky Bacon Chili will leave you coming back for more. It’s got just enough sweet from the sweet potatoes, just enough spicy from the chili powder, seasonings and chipotle peppers, and a nice smoky element from the smoked bacon and also the chipotle peppers.

Sweet- Sweet potatoes and raw honey.

I added sweet potatoes for a few reasons. First of all, they are delicious. Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite starchy carb sources, they are packed with vitamins A, C, B5, B6, & E, plus Manganese and Potassium. They also add a much needed sweetness that balances the spicy and smoky elements. The raw honey helps balance the spiciness and the acidity from the tomatoes.

Smoky- Chipotle peppers, smoked bacon and cumin.

I love the rich smoky flavor that chipotle peppers en adobo give. They are basically smoked and dried jalapenos that are reconstituted in a tomato, vinegar, garlic sauce. A little goes a long way, trust me! I almost killed my whole family a few years ago for Christmas when I added a little too much to my whipped sweet potatoes, oops! The other smoky element comes from smoked bacon. The bacon was actually not in my first attempt at this dish, only because I didn’t have any thawed out and ready to go at the time. However, it gives a nice smoky flavor and who doesn’t love bacon? Cumin is one of my favorite spices to use! It gives a nice earthy and smoky feel to dishes and is commonly found in curries and taco seasoning. It’s one of my secret ingredients to my guacamole!

Gut Healing- Bone broth and collagen peptides.

Anywhere I can sneak in some extra gut-healing, I go for it. I have been using bone broth in place of regular broth for awhile now because of the extra health benefits it offers. Bone broth is basically broth cooked for much longer, up to 36 hours, and made primarily with bones and some aromatics. Regular broth/stock is cooked for a much shorter time, up to a few hours, and is very light in flavor and texture. Bone broth is rich in protein, minerals, and gelatin. I’ve also included collagen peptides as a bonus to get in even MORE gut healing collagen! Collagen protein is tasteless and does not contribute to the flavor in any way.

Fat-burning and brain health- MCT oil.

Another boost I’ve been adding to most of my recipes is a highly concentrated form of coconut oil called MCT oil, which is a blend of medium chain triglyceride fatty acids from the heart of the coconut. These are 6 times more powerful than regular coconut oil and for those of you who don’t like the coconut flavor, this is flavorless! My favorite brand is by Bulletproof, called XCT oil, which is 10% off for the month of February!

This is one of those dishes that you want to make a large pot of and save some in the freezer so you have a delicious meal you can grab and reheat without thinking. It’s perfect for anytime of the year, but especially good on cold days where you want to bundle up in the house with blankets and movies on Netflix! And, especially good on Super Bowl Sunday which is this weekend! So make a huge batch. Enjoy it with your friends and family.

Equipment You’ll Need:

SWEET AND SMOKY BACON CHILI

Make this NOW and tag me on Instagram so I can see it! Use hashtag #thefeistykitchen!!