Chipotle Beer Chili with Cornbread Waffles

I love chili. I love chili with fritos, I love chili with crackers, and I especially love chili with cornbread. So what better chili vessel than a thick crispy cornbread waffle???? There is nothing better. I am not going to sit here and tell you that this is the best chili you will ever make, because there are so many variations and preferences that I cannot possibly compete. But this is chili HOW I LIKE IT: lots of beans, seasoned turkey, a spicy kick, subtle smokey chipotle flavors, and no chunky tomatoes. Cause, ew.

Chili

what you need:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or unsalted butter
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 1 package ground turkey or beef I used turkey!
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, diced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 (15oz) can tomato sauce
• 1/2 can/bottle of beer of your choosing I used Coors!
• 1 cup water
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can pinto beans
• Optional: Cheese, sour cream, green onions to serve!

what you need to do:

• In a large pot or dutch oven, heat up your fat (bacon grease/oil/butter) on medium heat. Add in the onion and cook about 3 minutes, until the onion is super fragrant.
• Add in the ground meat and continue to cook until browned, using your spoon to break up the meat into small pieces as it cooks.
• Drain the fat and return to heat.
• Add in: chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne, cinnamon, garlic, and chipotle peppers. Stir to combine and cook about 3 – 4 minutes, or until the spices are dissolved into the meat.
• Add the tomato paste and stir to combine, breaking up the paste and cooking it down a bit, about 3 minutes.
• Add in the tomato sauce, beer, and water and stir to combine.
• Bring to a boil, and then lower to a simmer. Cover and cook 1 hour, stirring every so often.
• After the hour is complete, add in your beans and stir to combine. Let simmer about 10 minutes to heat up and soften the beans.
• Serve over your waffles (recipe below) and top with cheese!!!

Corn Bread Waffles

what you need:

• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 T sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup buttermilk plus more if your batter is too thick
• Cooking spray

what you need to do:

• Plug in and heat up your waffle iron.
• In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.
• Create a well/hole in the middle of the dry ingredients, add your egg.
• Using a fork, beat the egg inside of the well and then gradually incorporate the dry ingredients.
• Add the milk, and stir until combined. Make sure that all of the dry ingredients are moistened but do NOT overmix.
• If your batter is too thick, add a splash of buttermilk. You don’t want it to be too thin because it needs to go into the waffle iron!
• Grease your iron with the cooking spray. Pour in the batter and cook as you would cook a waffle!
• Serve with the chili!