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Home ยป Recipes ยป main dish

The Best Crowd Pleasing Chili

Published: Oct 30, 2013 ยท Modified: Nov 27, 2024 by Lisa Keys ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 14 Comments

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Last Updated on November 27, 2024 by Lisa Keys

Welcome home William sign.

The best crowd pleasing chili coming your way.

Very early this morning I had a whoosh moment with William. I woke up as I often did (life in the military) worried about him, but as if he were still alive. I was dreaming that he was taking a nap and I needed to be quiet, so as not to wake him. His scout sniper platoon training often deprived him of sleep and that deprivation was the most likely cause of his accident. I felt that bear hug squeeze that only he could deliver. It is a sweet moment. He must be liking the blog as he did this recipe for the best crowd pleasing chili.

Military wives and mothers are an amazing group of women at least the ones I have come to know. They are loyal, loving, dedicated pillars of strength. One deployment after another they hold down the fort, alone, with great care and devotion. They are so very protective of their children. I have never met Charlena and Laura Beth, but they knew William. He was โ€œlike familyโ€, so ventured out to find me. They bravely stepped forward to share โ€œWilliamโ€ stories and surrounded me with their tender touch. I love them, am inspired by them and thank them for THEIR service.

If there is one thing a person can do to facilitate healing it is to share stories of the one who has been lost.  Donโ€™t be afraid to tell the good, the bad, the ugly and the funny. One does not really know oneโ€™s child until others start sharing their personal interactions and secrets, which are now safe to tell. Many tales began with, โ€œIf he knew I was telling you this he would kick my a$#!โ€ which always drew laughter.

Write your story in a card or a letter or tell it over the phone. Grab some coffee and come by the house to share a story. In this day and age deliver it by email or private message or instant message. Iโ€™ve heard tales from his "brothers", classmates, teachers, friends and family from far and wide. Every sweet word is cherished, treasured, welcomed and healing.

Clearly, one of life's sweet moments is Williamโ€™s homecoming party from Afghanistan. It was just 3 years ago this month. His favorite chili is on the menu. What makes it special is the touch of sweetness it gets from real maple syrup. No other sweetener can match the flavor and richness that maple syrup brings to the table. It brings back memories of a sweeter time when the kids were little and we tried to make our own maple syrup. We tapped the trees, collected the syrup and then nearly stripped the wallpaper from the kitchen walls as the boiling process created so much steam. Lesson learnedโ€”buy it at the store! Learn about it here: pure canada maple

The best crowd pleasing chicken chili coming your way.
Chicken chili.

Sweet William's Homecoming Chicken Chili

Lisa Keys
crowd pleasing chili with a touch of chipotle
5 from 2 votes
Prevent your screen from going dark
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Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Course soups
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 servings
Calories 247 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 large red bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon minced chipotle chili in adobo sauce
  • 1 pound diced chicken or turkey
  • 1 pound Italian sausage casing removed
  • 1 can (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
  • 1- teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1- teaspoon kosher salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1- cup low-salt chicken broth
  • 1 (15 oz.) can small white beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 ยฝ cups fresh or frozen sweet corn kernals
  • ยผ cup chopped fresh herbs like cilantro basil, flat-leaf parsley

Instructions
 

  • Heat oil over medium-high heat in Dutch oven or large stockpot.
  • Add onion and bell pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  • Add garlic and chipotle; cook 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  • Add chicken and sausage; stirring, until no longer pink.
  • Add tomatoes, 1-tablespoon chili powder, maple syrup, cumin, salt and pepper; stir well and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add broth; bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes.
  • Add beans, corn and additional chili powder, if desired; cook 15 minutes. Stir in herbs.ย 

Notes

Leftovers taste great spooned over a baked potato with cheddar cheese.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 247kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 15gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 650mgPotassium: 459mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 670IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 2mg
Keyword chicken, chili, chipotle, crowd pleaser, main dish, Mexican, stews
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 2 votes

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    Recipe Rating





  1. Cathy Rapoza Olsen

    October 30, 2013 at 10:01 am

    Wonderful message Lisa. You have a flair for expressing your deepest feelings and I for one appreciate you sharing them. Peace and Hope...

    Reply
    • lisakeys64

      October 30, 2013 at 10:12 am

      Thanks, Cathy.

      Reply
  2. mary beth

    October 30, 2013 at 11:37 am

    Lisa...I am enjoying your posts. I lost my beautiful 23 year old son in May. Your words of wisdom on hearing stories of your child is so true. It help to know that he is alive in other's memories not just mine. I miss my sweet boy everyday.

    Reply
  3. lisakeys64

    October 30, 2013 at 12:33 pm

    Thanks for writing Mary Beth. There are some who just don't know what to do and are afraid that we might cry or be made more sad by their stories. I say bring on the tears and keep the stories going, so our boys may never be forgotten. I miss mine, too.

    Reply
  4. Susan Ross

    October 30, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Your words and remembrances are like a big hug to everyone who is reading them, to everyone who has ever lost a loved one. Beautiful.

    Reply
    • lisakeys64

      October 30, 2013 at 6:13 pm

      Thank you, Susan. Big hugs are the best!

      Reply
  5. vcallaghan

    October 30, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    What a wonderful story about William's homecoming. I love that you add maple syrup to your chili...an interesting and sweet twist.

    Reply
    • lisakeys64

      October 30, 2013 at 6:14 pm

      Always trying to balance the sweet and the salty.

      Reply
  6. Tina Verrelli

    October 30, 2013 at 2:09 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing your stories Lisa. I am sure he is liking the blog, I am too. Thanks on the tip for the maple syrup - will cross that one off my list!

    Reply
    • lisakeys64

      October 30, 2013 at 6:16 pm

      Thank you for being here, Tina.

      Reply
  7. Danielle @ the Growing Foodie

    October 31, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    I love your posts!! Keep them up; I hope writing about it is easing the pain in your heart. Obviously, it can't cure it but I hope the constant pain lessens. <3

    Reply
  8. lisakeys64

    October 31, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    Thanks Danielle. I don't know if the blog will ever change the broken heart, but celebrating his life rather than mourning his death is what this is all about.

    Reply
  9. Valerie S.

    October 31, 2013 at 9:21 pm

    5 stars
    The next time I make chili it will be Sweet William Chili....and I will thank him for his service. Know that he is always there with you.

    Reply
    • lisakeys64

      November 01, 2013 at 8:17 am

      Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I am convinced he is here with me. There have been so many signs. I hope you like the chili!

      Reply

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