The Best Game Day Chili With a Secret Ingredient
There are certain foods that just taste like football season, and chili is absolutely one of them. 🏈
This is my go-to Game Day Chili because it’s easy, feeds a crowd, and you can throw it on the stove and let it simmer while everyone watches the game.
But the best part? It has a secret ingredient that sounds a little crazy at first: grape jelly. 😂
Trust me on this one.
The grape jelly adds just a little bit of sweetness that balances out all the tomatoes and chili seasoning. You don’t taste it and think, “Why is there jelly in my chili?” It just gives it that little something that makes everyone want another bowl.
And if sweet chili isn’t your thing, I have another option: a can of beer! It adds a deeper, savory flavor and works perfectly for game day.
Game Day Chili Ingredients
2 lbs. ground beef
2 (28 oz.) cans tomato sauce
2 cans kidney beans, drained
2 cans petite diced tomatoes
2 packets chili seasoning
Bell peppers, diced
1 onion, diced
4 tablespoons grape jelly OR 1 can of beer
Your favorite chili toppings
How to Make It
1. Brown the beef.
Add the ground beef to a large pot or Dutch oven and cook until completely browned. Drain off any excess grease.
2. Sauté the peppers and onions.
Add your diced bell peppers and onion and cook until they begin to soften.
3. Add everything else.
Stir in the tomato sauce, drained kidney beans, petite diced tomatoes and both packets of chili seasoning.
Then choose your secret ingredient:
🍇 For a little sweetness: Stir in about 4 tablespoons of grape jelly.
🍺 For a deeper, savory flavor: Add a can of beer instead.
4. Let it simmer.
Stir everything together, turn the heat down low and let the chili simmer so all those flavors have time to come together. The longer it gets to hang out on the stove, the better!
Don't Forget the Toppings
Honestly, half the fun of chili is the toppings. Set everything out and let everyone build their own bowl.
Some of our favorites:
Shredded cheese
Sour cream
Fritos or corn chips
Crackers
Jalapeños
Green onions
Avocado
The Perfect Game Day Meal 🏈
This is exactly the kind of recipe I love for football Saturdays—nothing fancy, nothing complicated, and you can make one big pot that feeds everybody.
And YES, I know grape jelly in chili sounds weird. 😂 Just try it before you judge me.
It might end up being your new secret ingredient too.
Save this one for your next game day and let me know: are you Team Grape Jelly 🍇 or Team Beer 🍺?
