I’ve been attempting the perfect pot of chili for quite some time now. Every pot I make always tastes different, but not amazing. I’ve scoured Pinterest and picked the brains of my faithful Tweeps, and I think I’ve finally perfected my own signature chili recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• Beer of your choice (I chose Bier Brewery’s PDG Pale)
• 1 can tomato paste
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 can petite diced tomatoes
• 2 jalapenos
• 1 sweet onion
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 packet Chilli Man Seasoning Mix
• 1 can black beans
• Toppings, including Sriracha, sour cream, cheese, green onions…whatever floats your boat!

Today’s pot started out with a trip to Bier Brewery for a growler of PDG Pale. I simmered two pounds of ground beef in the beer and then threw it in the crock pot along with one can of tomato sauce, one can of tomato paste and one can of petite diced tomatoes.

Beer is good for more than just drinking!

I diced two jalapeno peppers and one sweet onion to add to the chili and stirred it in along with a can of black beans. For seasoning, I’ve found that Chilli Man Seasoning Mix is my favorite, although I’d like to eventually figure out my own seasoning.

Last time I made chili, I added a cup of water to the crock pot, but since I wanted to try things differently, I added a cup of PDG Pale instead of the water, hoping to give the chili some extra flavor.

I think next time I make chili, I’m going to try different peppers instead of just jalapeno to spice it up. And of course, we’re always adding Sriracha to our individual bowls, along with sour cream and shredded cheese.

I’m pretty satisfied with this recipe for the moment, but I know I’ll want to change it up a little in the future. But right now, it’s the perfect mix of sweet and spicy for a rainy or cold, snowy day.

What are some key ingredients you put in your chili to make it better than the rest?