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Dr Pepper Sweet Heat Ground Beef Chili

Dr Pepper ground beef chili simmers in a Dutch oven with crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, jalapeño, and chipotle for a thick chili with sweet heat. Dr Pepper adds a subtle sweetness that balances the smoky spices and savory beef.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 51 minutes
resting 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 11 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 lb ground beef 85% lean
  • 1 yellow onion large, diced
  • 1 jalapeño seeded and minced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 can (12 oz) Dr Pepper
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp chipotle pepper in adobo sauce minced
  • 2 can (15 oz) kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Equipment

  • 1 5-quart Dutch oven

Method
 

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the ground beef and cook for 7–9 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and it reaches 160°F.
  3. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pot.
  4. Add the onion and jalapeño and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring, until softened.
  5. Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper and cook for 30 seconds.
  6. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
  7. Pour in the Dr Pepper and scrape up any browned bits from the pot.
  8. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chipotle pepper, and kidney beans.
  9. Bring the chili to a boil.
  10. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
  11. Stir in the apple cider vinegar and remove the pot from the heat.
  12. Let the chili rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For deeper flavor, let the beef brown well before breaking it up. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days; freezer-friendly for up to 3 months. Ground turkey can be used instead of ground beef if desired.