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Home » Method » 30 Minute Meals » 30-Minute Chocolate-Espresso Beef and Black Bean Chili

30-Minute Chocolate-Espresso Beef and Black Bean Chili

February 9, 2015 by Faith 15 Comments

30-Minute Chocolate-Espresso Beef and Black Bean Chili

Do you go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day or stay at home?

(I usually make Mike and I a romantic meal, like our favorite Spiced Sirloin Roast for Two, but this year I’m on strike…so either he’ll end up cooking or we’ll go out. Because sometimes a girl just needs to go on strike for a night, right, ladies?)

And then there’s the question of what to make if you have kids and are making dinner at home.

30-Minute Chocolate-Espresso Beef and Black Bean Chili 2

Now, of course you could just blow off V-Day entirely (I know not everyone celebrates it!), but if you want to have some fun with it and you’re cooking for your family, my 30-Minute Chocolate Espresso Beef and Black Bean Chili is a fun one to try.

Most of us know about chocolate’s claim to fame as an aphrodisiac, but supposedly coffee and honey are as well (you can read more about their aphrodisiac qualities on PBS). So I guess this chili has it all going on, lol.

If the whole chocolate/coffee thing sounds like a weird combo in chili, I humbly ask you to remember Cincinnati Chili, which also boasts chocolate. Yes, you can very slightly taste the coffee in this dish (I think it perfectly complements the beef and black beans), but for me, the cocoa powder and honey only add to the overall complexity of this chili with additional layers of flavor. I also added another special ingredient here – hickory smoked sea salt – which can just as easily be replaced with smoked sweet paprika if you can’t find it.

The best thing of all though? This one-pot 30-minute meal means mom gets a little time to relax too.

30-Minute Chocolate-Espresso Beef and Black Bean Chili 3

Print
30-Minute Chocolate-Espresso Beef and Black Bean Chili
Prep time:  10 mins
Cook time:  20 mins
Total time:  30 mins
Yield: 6 servings
 
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1½ lbs (680 g) lean ground beef
  • 2 medium-large yellow onions, chopped
  • 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
  • 6 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 oz/794 g) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • 1½ tablespoons instant espresso powder
  • 1½ tablespoons pure honey (preferably local)
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1¼ teaspoons coarse salt
  • ¼ teaspoon hickory smoked sea salt (see Note)
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 (15.5 oz/439 g) cans no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
  • Optional garnishes: avocado, chopped parsley or cilantro, shredded or crumbled cheese, sour cream, etc.
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a 5-quart pot over high heat; once hot, add the beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cover the pot and cook until the meat is browned, about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add the crushed tomatoes (with juices), water, espresso powder, honey, cocoa powder, chili powder, oregano, coarse salt, smoked salt, black pepper, and bay leaf. Cover the pot and bring up to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in the beans during the last 3 minutes of cooking.
  3. Serve topped with any garnishes you like.
Notes
Hickory Smoked Sea Salt: If you can’t find this, substitute ¼ teaspoon smoked sweet paprika and add an additional ¼ teaspoon coarse salt.

Freezer-Friendly: This meal freezes really well! Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
3.5.3251

Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, Gluten Free, Soups Tagged: 30 Minute Meals, Aphrodisiac Foods, Beef, Black Beans, Chili, Chocolate, Dinner, Espresso, Freezer-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Quick Cooking, Recipes, Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas for the Whole Family, Weeknight Meals

Comments

  1. April says

    October 5, 2016 at 12:36 pm

    can you use cayenne instead of chili powder?

    Reply
    • Faith says

      October 6, 2016 at 10:29 am

      April, I typically like to use a combo of ancho chili powder and chipotle chili powder when I make chili; I’ve never tried it using just cayenne, but if you want to give it a try, know that cayenne will be quite a bit more spicy-hot than chili powder so you may want to use less (depending on personal preference). Let us know how it goes if you give it a try!

      Reply
  2. Audrey says

    February 15, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    Do the crushed tomatoes go in at step 2? It’s not specified.

    Reply
    • Faith says

      February 16, 2015 at 12:02 pm

      Audrey, Yes! Sorry about that, I just amended the recipe above. Hope you enjoy it if you give it a try! :)

      Reply
  3. Bren says

    February 15, 2015 at 10:49 am

    Yes to everything about this. Love, love.

    Reply
  4. Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says

    February 10, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    This looks absolutely delicious!!

    Reply
  5. Nicola - Pink Recipe Box says

    February 10, 2015 at 2:29 am

    I’ve never tried introducing espresso powder to a chilli recipe before – I’m very intrigued!

    Reply
  6. JoAn says

    February 10, 2015 at 1:39 am

    Looks really, really good, and something I have wanted to try (black beans instead of kidney beans). Wish I had a bowl right now!

    Reply
  7. Mary B. says

    February 9, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    Man oh man I want to try this…but I’m not sure how it will go down with my picky eaters!!! Hmmm…

    Reply
  8. Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says

    February 9, 2015 at 11:44 am

    This looks so hearty and delicious, Faith – such a creative twist on chili!

    Reply
  9. Becky Winkler says

    February 9, 2015 at 10:29 am

    This sounds great! I’ve put cocoa in my chili before but never coffee, but I’m sure it benefits from a mocha twist.

    Reply
  10. Erica says

    February 9, 2015 at 8:05 am

    heheh. We have an odd Valentine’s day situation because my husband’s birthday is the 12th….so we usually do a dinner in and a dinner out (and this year will be no different!). This chili sounds amazing! I totally want to give it a go.

    Reply
  11. Rosa says

    February 9, 2015 at 6:39 am

    This chili looks extremely good. Lovely flavours!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 35 healthy ways to eat chocolate with recipes | Well+Good says:
    February 9, 2016 at 3:01 pm

    […] 23. Bean and Buckwheat Chili with Dark Chocolate 24. Smoky Butternut Squash and Cacao Soup 25. 30-Minute Chocolate-Espresso Beef and Black Bean Chili 26. Black Eyed Pea Mole Cakes with Blackberry Mint Salsa 27. Pasilla Chile & Cacao Chicken […]

    Reply
  2. 80 Make Ahead Freezer Meal Recipes | HelloNatural.co says:
    May 19, 2015 at 8:02 am

    […] Chocolate espresso beef and black bean chili by An Edible Mosaic. This unusual combination might become a staple in your home, especially since […]

    Reply

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Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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