Lisa's Dutch Oven Chili

Step 1

Turn heat to medium-high; add 2 T olive oil to the Dutch oven; add beef. Brown beef; season with salt and pepper. After the meat is brown, turn off heat and carefully remove meat with a slotted spoon or spider to a bowl; empty grease from Dutch oven.

Step 2

Turn heat to medium-high; add 2 T olive oil to Dutch oven; add peppers, onion, and celery; season with salt and pepper. Saute, stirring with a wooden spatula or spoon, until veggies are soft.

Step 3

Add beef back to the Dutch oven; add the garlic; cook until garlic is fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, bouillon cube, corn, and beans. Stir to combine.

Step 4

Add baking soda and stir (It will foam. This cuts down the acidity of the tomatoes and sweetens it slightly. Works great in spaghetti sauce, too!). Add in brown sugar, steak sauce, Chile powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, vinegar, about 2 tsp of salt, and black pepper; stir to combine. Bring it up to a bubble; cover and turn down heat to medium-low. Simmer 3 hours, stirring about every 20 to 30 minutes. Turn the heat down if it begins to stick at all, but it should not if you're using enameled cast iron.

Step 5

Serve with bread and butter, corn bread, or tortilla chips, and top with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream. Can also be topped with pickled Jalapeno peppers and/or hot sauce.