Hearty Italian Jack Chili is filled with both hot and sweet Italian sausages, plenty of white beans, green chile, a splash of whiskey, and plenty of Mexican spices to create a thick and hearty, sweet and spicy chili.
The shot of whiskey adds an unexpected depth to the chili. If you’re not a fan of whiskey, feel free to leave it out, the chili is delicious without it as well
My whole crew enjoyed this chili for dinner the first time I made it and within a couple weeks, we’d eaten the extra from the freezer as well. Definitely a sign of a great new recipe!
Hearty Italian Jack Chili
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
- 1 pound hot Italian sausage
- 2 pounds great northern beans (soaked overnight in 2-3x as much water)
- 1 medium yellow onion diced small
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced small
- 3 large cloves garlic minced
- 29 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 7 ounces chopped green chile
- 3 ounces Jack Daniel’s whiskey
- 1½ teaspoons chile powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Optional: sour cream pepper jack cheese and green onions for topping
Instructions
- De-case, cook and crumble the sausage in the bottom of a large stock pot over medium high heat. Once the sausage is mostly browned and crumbled, add in the garlic, onion and bell pepper along with all of the spices. Saute the vegetables with the sausage for about 3 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, stirring to combine.
- Bring to a boil and then reduce to medium-low heat and simmer until the beans are tender, about 2 - 2 ½ hours. Add 1-2 cups water, if needed, to cover the beans as they cook. Garnish with pepper jack cheese, sour cream and green onions before serving. Enjoy!
- FREEZER MEAL: Let the soup cool completely before transferring to freezer safe containers. Soup can be heated in the microwave or it can be thawed first and then reheated on the stove-top.
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!
{originally posted 5/1/13 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/26/2014}ONE YEAR AGO TODAY: Three Bean Minestrone Soup
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Whiskey is not optional – what were you thinking? Haha. This sounds great and is absolutely beautiful!
Jenn says
YUM!! I could go for a big ol' bowl of that right now… I don't care that it's not even 6am yet!! 🙂
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says
Oh this looks amazing!!
Big Dude says
This sounds really good Mary. I like the use of sausage and green chiles, and of course, everything is better with a shot of good Tennessee whiskey in it.
EcoCatLady says
Hmmm… six inches of snow on the ground here West of Denver… chili is sounding pretty good about now! 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
This sounds wonderful and your photos confirm it!
Magnolia Verandah says
Definitely pinned this one. Like the idea of a spolsh of whiskey – nice photo.
Anonymous says
Sounds yummy!!
Janis Neill says
Hello What can use in chili instead of d whiskey?
Mary says
You can just skip it and the chili will be delicious.