5-Star Chili — Built on Albanese''s Finest Meat Sauce

Slow-Simmered Meat Sauce. No Added Sugar. Big, Bold Flavor.

Great chili takes time — unless you start with a sauce that's already been slow-simmered for you. Two jars of Albanese's Finest Meat Sauce give this chili a depth of flavor that normally takes hours to build. The result is a rich, hearty bowl that tastes like it's been on the stove all day.

This is the chili we make when we want something that means business.

• 48 oz (2 jars) Albanese's Finest Meat Sauce
• 2–3 lbs fresh ground beef 80/20
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ white onion, finely diced
• 6–10 Roma tomatoes (or 14 oz canned diced tomatoes)
• 1 can (6.5 oz) green chilis
• 2 cans (16 oz each) light red kidney beans
• 1 can (16 oz) dark red kidney beans
• 2 packs McCormick's Chili Mix
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp chili powder

Step 1 — Brown the beef. Brown the ground beef in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat.

Step 2 — Add aromatics. Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot and cook 2–3 minutes until softened.

Step 3 — Add the sauce and tomatoes. Stir in both jars of Albanese's Finest Meat Sauce and the diced tomatoes.

Step 4 — Add the rest. Add the green chilis, all three cans of kidney beans, and the McCormick's Chili Mix packets.

Step 5 — Season. Season with brown sugar, black pepper, and chili powder. Stir everything together.

Step 6 — Simmer. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 7 — Taste and serve. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot with cornbread, shredded cheese, or sour cream.

Two jars is the key. One jar of Meat Sauce gives you good chili. Two jars give you great chili. The doubled sauce creates a depth and richness that makes this recipe stand out.

Simmer uncovered. Simmering uncovered lets the chili reduce and concentrate. The longer it simmers (up to 90 minutes), the deeper the flavor gets.

Make it a day ahead. Like most chilis, this one is even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld overnight in the refrigerator.

About the Sauce

Albanese's Finest Meat Sauce is made with real Italian beef and pork, premium tomatoes, and absolutely no added sugar. It's the authentic Italian gourmet pasta sauce that brings real slow-cooked flavor to every recipe it touches.

No added sugar. Small-batch. Founder-made.

Shop Meat Sauce → · About Our Meat Sauce →

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