Maple Bourbon Chili

Make the best Maple Bourbon Chili with smoky spices, real maple syrup, and a splash of bourbon for amazing depth and flavor. This recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and comes together in under an hour.

Recipe inspired from TikTok

Quick and Easy Maple Bourbon Chili Recipe

Meet a chili that never fails to impress. I used to think chili needed to simmer for hours on the stove or in a slow cooker to build deep, rich flavor. But this Maple Bourbon Chili proves that achieving a bold, satisfying taste doesn’t have to take all day.

The idea actually came from a TikTok video my husband sent me, and I’ll admit I was skeptical about adding maple syrup to chili. But trust me, it’s different in the best way. The subtle sweetness adds richness, balances the warmth of the bourbon, and rounds out the spices so nicely.

And the best part? This recipe could not be easier. Brown your meat with a few basic veggies, stir in canned tomatoes, pantry spices, a splash of bourbon and maple syrup. Let it simmer for just 30 minutes and dinner is done.

We adore all the chili recipes on this site, but this one might just be our new favorite.

Basic Ingredients You Need

• Ground beef– Use a higher fat ground beef for added flavor. I like 80/20 for this recipe.
• Beans– Red kidney and black beans work great in chili.
• Onions
• Garlic
• Pantry spices– Chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper.
• Canned tomatoes– Petite diced tomatoes work well because you don’t get big chunks of tomatoes in the chili.
• Tomato sauce
• Bourbon– You don’t need a fancy bourbon. We use Jim Beam, or others that work well might be— Makers, and Buffalo Trace.
• Pure maple syrup not pancake syrup. This is not a time for Mrs. Buttersworth’s. 😉

How To Make Maple Bourbon Chili

This recipe requires barely any hands-on time; just two simple steps to get everything into the pot and simmering. After that, the stove does all the work for you.

• Cook and crumble ground beef, then add in onions and garlic to sauté.

• Combine with tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, seasonings, maple syrup, and bourbon. Simmer with the lid on for 30-minutes. Chili will be thick and ready to enjoy.

Serving Suggestions

We love serving this with crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, and sour cream (an incredible combo) with the chili’s sweet-smoky flavor, but feel free to put out your favorite toppings. Options might be.. green onion slices, fresh avocado, chopped jalapeños, and crushed tortilla chips.

Can I make This In The Slow Cooker?

Yes! Cook ground beef with onions and garlic in a skillet (unless you have a stovetop safe slow cooker insert) then transfer beef to your slow cooker and stir in the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 4-5.

What Can I Substitute For Bourbon?

If you’d rather not use bourbon yet still maintain depth of flavor, you can substitute with one of these options:

• 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 1/4 cup beef stock.

More Chili Recipes To Try:

Tis the season for all things warm and cozy. Make sure to try these chili combinations next! Beefy Slow Cooker Chili, Chicken Chili, Low-Carb Beef Chili with Beans, Turkey Chili with Pumpkin, Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili, and White Bean Chicken Chili.

Maple Bourbon Chili Recipe

Make the best Maple Bourbon Chili with smoky spices, real maple syrup, and a splash of bourbon for amazing depth and flavor. This recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and comes together in under an hour.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 384kcal

Equipment

• medium skillet or soup pot with fitted lid

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef we use 80/20
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 (15) ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14.5) ounce can petite diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 (8) ounce can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup bourbon such as Jim Beam
• 1/4 cup pure maple syurp not pancake syrup

Instructions

• In a medium skillet or soup pot over medium-high heat cook and crumble ground beef until no longer pink. Remove any excess grease.
• Add onions and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the seasonings, beans, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, bourbon, and maple syrup.
• Bring chili to a simmer then add a lid and turn the heat down to low to cook for 30-minutes, stirring a couple times in between.
• Chili should be thick and it's ready to serve with your favorite toppings.

Notes

Our favorite way to serve this chili is with crispy bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream. Other options might include:

• Fresh avocado
• Green onions
• Diced jalapeños
• Tortilla chips
• Corn bread

Make ahead and storage:

This chili tastes even better the next day!

• Refrigerate: Up to 4 days
• Freeze: Up to 3 months
• Reheat: Simmer on low, adding a splash of water if needed.

See post for additional tips and suggestions.

 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1153mg | Potassium: 821mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1014IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 5mg

Try These Comfort Food Recipes

• Slow Cooker Cowboy Soup
• One-Skillet Taco Pasta
• Skillet Ravioli With Meat Sauce
• Easy Pasta Fagioli Recipe
• Buffalo Chicken Soup
• Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

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