Messing with a chili recipe is a sensitive subject, I get it. Dire-hard traditional chili connoisseurs will probably scoff at this sweet and savory slow cooker potluck chili recipe.

If you're willing to step outside the proverbial chili box, this sweet chili recipe is delicious! It has that spicy kick you'd expect from chili but with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate.

Welcome to the 5th annual 12 Days of Holiday Ideas event, hosted by Shirley of Intelligent Domestications and Erlene of My Pinterventures. Between Nov. 11th and December 6th there will be hundreds of new ideas shared by over 55 Co-host bloggers!

Go here to see our kick-off collection of Holiday ideas as well as all of this year's talented participating DIY and Foodie Blogs.

Unique Sweet and Savory Chili Recipe

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I think this is a great chili recipe to have some fun with at your next holiday gathering. Have a chili cook-off where guests vote between a pot of traditional chili and a pot of this sweet & savory chili.

I've included a free chili cook-off scorecard printable further down in the post. I've also included a printable recipe card as well.

Do you serve your chili on plates or in bowls? My preference is to use bowls with large soup spoons. This recipe serves six hardy bowls of chili so if your gathering is large, you may want to double the recipe.

When I host potluck buffet-style gatherings, I make things easy for guests by placing cutlery and a napkin inside grab-and-go cutlery pouches.

What kind of cheese should be served with sweet & savory chili?

Crumbled feta, ricotta, or goat cheese are great to serve with this sweet and savory chili. Grated mozzarella, extra-old white or orange cheddar cheese is also good too.

A big hit with guests is individual serving-size Spicy Cheese Ball Bites and crackers.

What kind of bread is good for dipping into chili?

The perfect dipping bread for chili is sourdough, baguette, French bread, ciabatta, or focaccia. But with this sweet and savor chili recipe, cornbread is a nice option too.

Can I make this potluck chili recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! Follow the slow cooker recipe instructions and keep the slow cooker crock in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Cook according to recipe times.

To make this hefty potluck chili recipe I used a 7-quart crock-pot with a handy warm setting and removable crock.

Sweet and Savory Chili Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
2 cloves finely chopped garlic
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp grated cacao
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried mint
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (19oz) rinsed and drained chickpeas
1 can (14 oz) rinsed and drained kidney beans
2 tbsp honey
Grated cheese for topping

I used semi-sweet cacao from Mexico and ground it into a powder while still in a semi-frozen state. Semi-sweet dark chocolate or cocoa powder is fine too.

How To Make Potluck Chili Recipe

Step 1: Cook ground beef, garlic, and onions on medium heat in a saucepan stirring to break up beef, until browned. Drain off excess fat.

Step 2: Stir chili powder, cacao, oregano, mint, cinnamon, and salt into the saucepan.

Step 3: Cook, stirring in spices for about one minute.

Step 4: Stir in tomatoes, chickpeas, kidney beans, and honey, and bring to a boil.

Step 5: Transfer to a preheated slow cooker.

Step 6: Cook on the low setting for 8-10 hours or on the high for 4-6 hours.

Step 7: Sprinkle grated cheese on top before serving (scroll up for cheese suggestions.

See how rich and dark the ground beef mixture looks with the chocolate and spices. The aroma while cooking is divine.

Should you want to do a chili taste test challenge, I made a fun Holiday Chili Cook-Off Voting Sheet printable that you're welcome to use.

Potluck Chili Recipe Card

As promised, here's the printable recipe card for the sweet and savory potluck chili.

Recipe Yield: 6

Author: Interior Frugalista

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Sweet and Savory Slow Cooker Chili

This chili recipe is easy to make in a slow cooker and perfect for potluck gatherings. It has the savory kick you expect from chili with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate!

prep time: 30 M cook time: 8 H total time: 8 H & 30 M

ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 2 cloves finely chopped garlic
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp grated cacao
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried mint
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (19oz) rinsed and drained chickpeas
• 1 can (14 oz) rinsed and drained kidney beans
• 2 tbsp honey
• Grated extra old white cheddar cheese

instructions:

How to make Sweet and Savory Slow Cooker Chili

1. Cook ground beef, garlic, and onions on medium heat in a saucepan stirring to break up beef, until browned. Drain off excess fat.
2. Stir chili powder, cacao, oregano, mint, cinnamon, and salt into the saucepan.
3. Cook, stirring in spices for about 1 minute.
4. Stir in tomatoes, chickpeas, kidney beans, and honey, and bring to a boil.
5. Transfer to a preheated slow cooker.
6. Cook on low setting for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
7. Serve with cheese.

Calories
353.12

Fat (grams)
12.62

Sat. Fat (grams)
4.73

Carbs (grams)
31.21

Fiber (grams)
7.52

Net carbs
23.69

Sugar (grams)
11.59

Protein (grams)
30.07

Sodium (milligrams)
705.27

Cholesterol (grams)
71.96

Created using The Recipes Generator

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.

Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! If you try this potluck chili recipe, I would love to hear what you think. If you did the chili cook-off idea, I'd really love to hear what the consensus was.

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If you enjoyed this sweet and savory slow cooker potluck chili recipe, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your Potluck Recipes or Slow Cooker Recipes board on Pinterest.

12 Days Holiday Ideas

Day 1 - Gift Guides
Day 2 - Survival Guides
Day 3 - Holiday Kid Activities
Day 4 - Party Games
Day 5 - Holiday Advent Calendar
Day 6 - DIY Wreath
Day 7 - DIY Ornament
Day 8 - Holiday Printables
Day 9 - Christmas Potluck Recipes (you are here)
Day 10 - Holiday Desserts & Treats
Day 11 - Christmas Breakfast Recipes
Day 12 - Christmas Tree Tour

There are several more potluck recipe ideas below from our talented co-hosts on this leg of the 12 Days Of Holiday Ideas Tour.

I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.