1. Honey

Try a tablespoon or two of honey in your chili for a natural sweetness.

2. Cactus Leaves

Add chopped cactus leaves to white chili for a delicate, slightly tart green bean flavor. Cactus leaves (nopales) are fleshy oval-shaped leaves found in the produce section of larger supermarkets.

3. Cornmeal

Mix in a few tablespoons of cornmeal to thicken chili and add a polenta touch.

4. Carbonated Soda

Pour in a bit of bubbly for a fun addition to chili and a clean crisp taste.

5. Mexican Beer

Stir in a little beer to add robust character and flavor to chili. Experiment with beers and find the one you like best.

6. Lime Juice

Go citrus and add a squeeze of lime juice for tang and a clean fresh taste.

7. Sugar

Sweet and heat – a tasty combo! Add a pinch of sugar to a pot of chili to balance flavors.

8. Chocolate

Love chocolate? Add baking chocolate and cocoa to add a rich color and make chili flavors smoke.

9. Dry Sherry

Cook with sherry to add a bit of sweetness to your chili as well as richness and depth of flavor.

10. Zucchini

Sneak in chopped zucchini and shredded carrots for extra flavor, texture and bonus veggie nutrition.