10 Secret Chili Ingredients

Try a tablespoon or two of honey in your chili for a natural sweetness. Cook with sherry to add a bit of sweetness to your chili as well as richness and depth of flavor.

Cactus Leaves and Mexican Beer

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

Cornmeal

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

Carbonated Soda and Chocolate

Pour in a bit of bubbly for a fun addition to chili and a clean crisp taste. Love chocolate? Add baking chocolate and cocoa to add a rich color and make chili flavors smoke.

Lime Juice

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

Sugar

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

Zucchini

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