Florida Orange Juice Slow Cooked Chili Recipe
This Florida Orange Juice Slow Cooked Chili combines the zesty sweetness of Florida orange juice with bold spices and hearty ground beef, simmered to perfection in a slow cooker. The chili is enhanced by bell peppers, jalapeños, and a hint of chipotle for a smokey kick, making it a unique twist on a classic comfort food. Finished with cheddar cheese and sour cream, it’s an inviting and flavorful dish perfect for cozy gatherings or weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Florida Orange Juice
- 4 tbsp. olive oil, divided
- 1 ½ lbs. ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 2 tbsp. jalapeño, seeded and diced
- 2 tbsp. chopped garlic
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tbsp. onion powder
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 (20 oz.) can diced tomatoes
- 2 tsp. fresh oregano
- 1 tsp. chipotle peppers, seeded and chopped
- 1 tsp. finely ground cornmeal
- 1 tsp. Florida Orange zest, chopped
Toppings
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned and fully cooked through. Remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Chili Base: In a large slow cooker, combine the cooked ground beef, Florida Orange Juice, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, red and green bell peppers, diced onion, jalapeño, chopped garlic, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, diced tomatoes, fresh oregano, chopped chipotle peppers, ground cornmeal, and Florida Orange zest. Stir everything well to combine.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook the chili over medium to low heat for at least 3 hours. This slow cooking melds the flavors beautifully and tenderizes the peppers and beef.
- Serve and Garnish: Once cooked, ladle the chili into bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream. You can also add additional toppings such as chives or your favorite chili garnishes for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a spicier chili, leave some jalapeño seeds in or add extra chipotle peppers.
- Pair this chili with Florida Orange Jalapeño Cornbread for a delicious complementary side.
- Slow cooking allows the flavors to develop deeply; if time allows, cook for longer than 3 hours for enhanced taste.
- Ground cornmeal in the recipe thickens the chili slightly and adds a subtle texture.
- Can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat gently before serving.
Keywords: chili recipe, slow cooker chili, orange juice chili, Florida orange chili, ground beef chili, hearty chili, spicy chili, comfort food
