Martha Stewart's ‘No-Fuss’ & Weeknight-Approved Chili Recipe Gets Its Rich Flavor From a Special Ingredient

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Cold, rainy fall and winter nights call for hearty, warming dinners like soups and stews. When there’s a chill in the air, we love nothing more than to set a big Dutch oven on the stove, fill it with delicious ingredients, and let it simmer away, filling the kitchen with warmth and yummy aromas. Clearly, we’re not alone, because yesterday Martha Stewart shared her easy beef chili recipe on Instagram, and the timing couldn’t be better.

On Nov 5, Stewart shared a photo of her mouth-watering chili recipe to her Instagram with the caption, “Searching for that no-fuss, quintessential chili recipe you’ll make over and again all season long? We have you covered. In this bean-free rendition, beef is cooked with aromatics, then amped up with fire-roasted tomatoes, chili powder, and cocoa. A healthy dollop of sour cream and finely-sliced chives are the finishing touches. Get the recipe at the link in our bio.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cklda6SJBd7/

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Cocoa powder? Yep, you read that right! Stewart’s recipe calls for two tablespoons of mellow Dutch-process cocoa powder — that’s unsweetened, mind you — to help give this easy chili recipe a unique, savory depth. (No, it won’t taste like chocolate!) While some fans questioned the choice, the flavor combo of chili powder and chocolate is actually tried-and-true.

And chili purists, take note: One thing you won’t find in this recipe? Beans! Of course, one of the things we love most about chili is how adaptable it is — so go ahead and swap in ground turkey for the beef in this chili recipe if you want, or add a can (or two!) of beans. Just don’t skip the cocoa!