This post is going to make a lot of people very happy. Why? Because this chili has been winning church cook-offs for 7 years and I’m FINALLY getting it on the blog! Seriously, half of the congregation at my church is ticked when I bring it because they want their chili to win and the other half would be super ticked if I didn’t bring it! Ha! I also made it for one of my cooking demonstrations at the Utah State Fair last month and promised everyone that I’d get it on the blog soon. Sorry it took so long!

This chili is also the “recipe that started it all” with my TV cooking. Three years ago this month I happened to be watching Good Things Utah when they announced a chili contest that they were doing. I thought, “My chili is awesome and always wins the church cook-off, why not?” I submitted my recipe and 2 weeks later got a call from the producer telling me that I was a finalist. I thought, “What in the world have I gotten myself into???” I had never cooked on TV or done any kind of public cooking demonstration. I was so nervous but as soon as I walked in to the television studio, my nerves melted away and I felt so excited. I rocked my demonstration and it felt like I was fulfilling a dream that I didn’t even know was possible. It was amazing!
Cooking on TV is a dream that was DEEP in my heart for years. Being able to do it regularly now is so awesome and I’m so grateful that I get to do it! Having this opportunity has lead to so many other things and I’m having the BEST time. I feel like I’m finally becoming the person that I was meant to be and honestly fulfilling my destiny (as cheesy as that sounds).
Ok, back to the chili! Crispy bacon. That’s a major thing that sets this apart. And I know what you’re thinking, “You’re a Texan and you put beans in your chili???” Ha! Yes I certainly do! That’s why I say my recipes have a ‘Texas twist” because they’re not all perfectly authentic. I really like the texture that the beans add to it. This is such a simple chili but the technique makes it AMAZING. You crisp the bacon first then cook the onions, jalapeno, and garlic in the bacon drippings. It adds so much flavor! The rest is pretty simple! My Sweet Bacon Chili will be your new “go to” chili recipe and if you take it to any chili cook-offs, expect to win! (Just give me the credit! Ha!) Here’s a really important tip too…ALWAYS double this recipe! Trust me.
(Sponsored post for Lee’s Marketplace)
Items on sale at Lee’s October 15-21: ground beef (organic), bacon, onions, chili beans, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce
Sweet Bacon Chili

Ingredients
1 medium yellow or white onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeƱo, seeded and finely diced
4-5 slices bacon, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
1 can mild chili beans (15 oz)
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)
1 can stewed tomatoes, *chopped (15 oz)
2/3 C ketchup
1/4 C brown sugar
1 TB Worcestershire sauce
1 TB chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Directions
Add all remaining ingredients including bacon. Stir together then let simmer, covered, for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Taste and add more cayenne and salt if needed. Just a pinch at a time.
**Note: Use kitchen scissors to “chop” stewed tomatoes while they’re still in the can.
We made this for a Fall Festival/Chili cook off. There were 20 entries and we placed 2nd!!! People were going crazy and asked for the recipe- I sent them to your blog! Delicious- tradition from here on out!
Thank you! So happy you made it and that it placed! It’s definitely a winner!
What a winning combination of flavors! I love the sweetness of this chili and the addition of bacon really knocks this one out of the park. One could easily modify this to increase/decrease the level of sweetness or kick up/tone down the heat. I brought this to a chili cook-off at a large gathering and it was voted best chili of the night among at least a dozen other entries! You won’t regret trying this one out!
Thank you so much Lisa!
Oh my word, I have been wanting to win the chili cook off for years so I could claim a Texas āCome and Take Itā apron. This year I decided to try your sweet bacon chili to go for the win and I won!!! Thank you so much for sharing your recipes!
That is so great! Thank you so much Jennifer!
Does the jalopeno make it spicy? Not a fan of spicy so wonder big 8 could substitute green chilies instead?
No not at all. One jalapeƱo with seeds removed just adds lots of flavor but a tiny kick of heat. You could even try half of a jalapeƱo if you’re worried. Green chilies wouldn’t be the same in my opinion.
This chili is so yummy!!! Thanks for encouraging me to make it, it was a hit!
Thank you so much!