Smoked Chili

Once you get hooked on smoking foods, you start to find all kinds of things that have just been missing a little something. You’ve never realized that it was the smoke that was missing until you try it in the smoker. It’s an Aha! moment. That’s why this Smoked Chili recipe is a must-try.

🍽️ Why This Works

It’s the ultimate comfort food. Chili is that quintessential recipe that everyone knows and loves, especially if it’s “as good as Dad makes.”

Smoked Chili is easily customizable to your taste. With a few simple changes, you can increase the spice to your liking. Just add ancho chili powder, diced jalapeños, or diced habaneros to your soup ingredients.

It’s better than the classic stovetop version. If you like chili you are going to absolutely love making it in the smoker. The added depth of flavor from a longer, slower cook time plus the improvement of smoke make this recipe a keeper.

🌶️ Ingredients

Ground Hamburger. It will need to be browned and drained. Since you are cooking it separately and draining it, you can use whichever ground beef is cheapest.

Tomato Sauce. A high-quality sauce made with plum tomatoes will have more flavor.

Tomato Paste. A six-ounce can is plenty. This adds depth of flavor and a little goes a long way.

Petite Diced Tomatoes. The petite dice is better for this because the tomatoes fit nicely on a spoon.

Northern Beans. I find that having two different kinds of beans definitely makes the recipe better. You can pick the beans of your choice.

Red Kidney Beans. This is the traditional bean used in chili. You could also use black beans which have a more firm, almost crunchy texture.

Chili Powder. For the bulk of your chili powder just use the regular kind. If you want a spicy chili, add a dash or two of ancho chili powder.

Butter. Real butter adds significantly to the flavor and texture of the dish. Non-dairy butter could be used if you need to make it dairy-free.

Diced Dried Onion. Adds an extra kick of onion flavor to the recipe.

Granulated Garlic. This is the kind that comes in the spice section. You could also mince your own if you prefer.

Beef Broth. If you want to drain your tomatoes and beans, you’ll want to add in the beef broth. However, if you don’t drain them, you shouldn’t need the beef broth.

⏲️ Equipment and Tools

Dutch Oven – I love our enameled cast iron dutch oven for this. I don’t recommend using a regular cast iron dutch oven since the tomato base may interact with the cast iron. If you don’t have an enameled dutch oven, you can use a regular metal soup pot.

Smoker – Any smoker that can hold a dutch oven will work. I used my large Big Green Egg.

Wood – I used hickory for this recipe, but just about any wood option will do. Make note that fruit woods are lighter in flavor. I’ve seen people say that mesquite is too strong for chili. I haven’t tried it to confirm. For a wood pellet cheat sheet, check this out.

🔥 Instructions

Step One | Preheat your smoker to 250º. Add the wood.

Step Two | Brown and drain the hamburger and then place all of the ingredients in a dutch oven and stir well. Do not put the lid on.

Step Three | Cook for about three hours, stirring every hour. If it’s too thick to your liking, you can add a bit of the beef broth until the desired consistency is reached. 

Note: Remember that the smoke will only impact the top layer of the chili, so it is extremely important to stir periodically to get the full smoke taste.

Step Four | Taste the smoked chili about an hour in and add more seasonings as desired. Let it continue to smoke for about three hours in total.

Serve and enjoy!

❗ Expert Tips

Everyone likes their chili with their own special ingredients. So, if you get to cooking and find that you want it thinner, you can add some beef broth in. Remember, it’s easier to fix thick chili than it is to fix it if it is too soupy. 

Do not cover the chili. The only way it can get that smoky flavor is to keep the top off. 

If you feel like taking it off sooner than four hours, that’s fine. Once it’s fully heated, it’s technically ready to eat. However, the longer it gets a chance to smoke, the more flavor you get. 

Want to skip the smoker, but still get that smoky flavor? Add in a tablespoon of liquid smoke and cook this on the stove, or in the oven, instead. 

Storage

Leftover smoked chili can be kept in the refrigerator in airtight containers for two to four days. Before it goes bad, move the individual containers to the freezer where they can be kept for up to three months. If you have a deep freezer it will last even longer!

Reheat chili in the microwave. Urban legend tells us that chili is even better the second or third day after it is cooked as it gives more time for the flavors to meld.

Note: If you are using pre-cooked ground beef that was frozen after cooking and then thawed for the recipe, it cannot be frozen again. Make sure to follow food safety rules.

Meal Prep

The ground beef for this recipe needs to be browned and drained ahead of time. Keeping one pound, two-pound, or three-pound bags of browned and drained ground beef is a huge time-saver and so handy for recipes like this.

You can buy it in bulk when you find it on sale, cook it all at once, and freeze it for later. You’ll only have to wash the skillet and dispose of the grease once! A couple of minutes in the microwave is all it takes to get your frozen ground beef recipe ready.

Variations and Substitutions

• I used dark red kidney beans, but use any combination of beans you prefer. 
• Want to add a bit of spice to your chili? Add in some crushed red peppers or freshly chopped jalapeños or habaneros. Alternatively, I like to sometimes swap out half of the tomato sauce for a can of El Pato. It’s a Mexican style tomato sauce that adds the perfect flavor and spice and is found at most grocery stores. 

Serving Suggestions

Add a tasty cornbread to complete this homestyle smoked chili. You could also serve it with a loaf of crusty Italian bread. Cheddar cheese or a nice pepper jack cheese is a nice touch in each bowl. If your family enjoys oyster crackers or soup crackers, those can also be added.

We typically serve this over rice, so it is really up to you on how to serve.

Other Chilis You May Love

Brisket Chili

Grilled Beer Brat Chili

Recipe FAQ

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