I’m not a big chili person. Yup… you heard me right! I’ve just never been a big fan. It’s not that I hate it… it’s just that if someone said “we’re having chili for dinner” I wouldn’t be very excited.
But give me sweet and spicy anything, and I’m happy!
I’ve been making this sweet and spicy chili since I was in college. Every time I make it, I adjust it a little more to get it exactly how I want it!
I’m feeling really good about where it’s at right now and I’m excited to share it with you!!
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![slow cooker sweet and spicy chili recipe](https://ouraestheticabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_1428-768x1024.jpg)
Tips for Making this Chili
The secret ingredient
These bourbon and brown sugar Bush’s Grillin’ Beans are part of what make this recipe so good- it just adds an extra layer of flavor! Plus, who doesn’t love BBQ beans?!
![Bush's Grillin Beans Bourbon & Brown Sugar for a sweet and spicy chili recipe](https://ouraestheticabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_1327-768x1024.jpg)
Adjusting the spiciness
I love spicy food so I have a decently high tolerance. I used one jalapeño, but it was a really big one and I left all the seeds in. It had the perfect amount of heat for me.
![sautéed onions and peppers for a sweet and spicy chili](https://ouraestheticabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_1328-969x1024.jpg)
If you don’t like as much heat, you can cut back on the crushed red pepper and cayenne measurements. You can also avoid using the seeds from the jalapeño!
![a bowl of 7 seasonings for sweet and spicy chili](https://ouraestheticabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_1331-992x1024.jpg)
![slow cooker sweet and spicy chili recipe](https://ouraestheticabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_1428-500x500.jpg)
Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Crockpot
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 orange bell pepper diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 large sweet onion diced
- 2 Tbsp garlic minced
- 1 jalapeno minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb hot Italian sausage
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 16 oz dark red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 22 oz Bush's Grillin' Beans bourbon & brown sugar
- 1/2-2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil
- Add the onion and bell peppers and cook until the onion is translucent (about 8 minutes)
- Add the garlic and jalapeño and cook for another minute
- Remove from heat and transfer mixture to your slow cooker
- Add the ground beef and sausage to the same skillet on medium heat
- Break up meat into small pieces and cook until no longer pink. Drain the fat.
- Place the cooked meat in the slow cooker
- Add all of the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker
- Cover and cook on low heat for 4 hours. Stir every so often.
Don’t forget the cornbread!
We simply cannot have chili without cornbread! Usually I’ll just buy a mix for it! Since I love anything sweet, I usually get Jiffy’s honey muffin mix or Krusteaz honey cornbread.
![Crockpot sweet and spicy chili](https://ouraestheticabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_1431-768x1024.jpg)
Other good game day recipes
Try out two of my other favorite game day recipes:
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls (Air Fryer or Oven)
![Three healthy air fryer buffalo chicken egg rolls with a side of buffalo sauce and blue cheese](https://ouraestheticabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_9258-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://ouraestheticabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_1243-1024x1024.jpg)