This easy and flavorful sweet heat louisiana chili has a winning combination of spice and heat paired with the tang of sun-dried tomatoes and brown sugar.

I know, I know, I JUST posted an incredible chili recipe recently, but this red chili is too good not to share, so here’s to snubbing diversification in favor of tremendous food.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law (thanks, Brad and Cass!) passed this recipe on to me a few weeks ago and the name alone was intriguing enough to want to make it right away – not to mention the fact that they made it and won first place in a chili cook-off deep in the heart of Texas.

White bowl with chili topped with sour cream and cheese.

It has a winning combination of spice and heat paired with the sweetness and tang of sun-dried tomatoes and brown sugar.

This just might be my new go-to red chili recipe and I’m sure I’ll make it many more times as the weather cools down.

Just a tip: both Brad and I made the chili a day or so in advance and stored it in the refrigerator to be reheated the day of eating. Easy and flavorful!

What To Serve With This:

Tortilla chips (for crushing over the soup or just for dipping)
Fresh, seasonal fruit or this fruit salad
Simple green salad (or something more fancy like this Asiago Crisped Spinach and Raspberry Salad)

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Sweet Heat Louisiana Chili

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
4.59 stars (43 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 large green bell pepper, diced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, smashed or diced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground meat, I used ground beef
  • 1 quart beef broth, (or 1/2 chicken stock and 1/2 beef stock)
  • 2 cans (28-ounces each) whole stewed tomatoes
  • 1 can kidney beans
  • 1 can black beans
  • 2 cups sun-dried tomatoes
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp dry mustard
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 3 tsp creole or cajun seasoning blend
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • salt to taste

Instructions 

  • Over medium heat, saute first four ingredients (onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic) in 1 tbsp of oil. Once the onions begin to sweat, add your choice of ground meat. Brown to perfection. When the meat is cooked, add the stock, bay leaves, dry mustard and cayenne.
  • Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half. Rehydrate the sun-dried tomatoes and dice. Puree the stewed tomatoes in a food processor or blender. Add to pot.
  • Rinse the canned beans in plenty of water, add to the pot along with brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, salt and the cajun or creole seasoning.
  • Mix well and simmer over low heat for two hours, stirring occasionally. Take off heat and allow to stand covered for five minutes. Serve and enjoy.
Serving: 1 Serving, Calories: 609kcal, Carbohydrates: 81g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 1379mg, Fiber: 18g, Sugar: 36g

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Recipe Source: from Brad and Cassidy

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