A pot of this Sweet and Spicy Dr. Pepper Chili is the perfect choice for winter days, chili cook-offs, or game day parties. The hearty and comforting chili recipe gets the sweet and spicy flavor from chipotle peppers and a can of Dr. Pepper.
Chili is one of the meals we eat the most during the winter months. Even the winter months in Florida get a little chilly. Occasionally, we even make a pot of this sweet and spicy chili or this Low Carb Keto Chili during the summer months.
Usually, I like to take what I call the cheater chili approach. You know the one right? Open 6 cans of beans, diced tomatoes, and tomato juice and throw it all in a crock pot along with some cooked ground beef. Haha! That's my way of doing dinner.
Thank goodness my husband loves creating and cooking dinners for us because my chili game could use some work.
This Sweet and Spicy Dr. Pepper Chili is one of his best creations. He found this Beer Chili online and modified the chili recipe with soda and a few other things to make this a family favorite.
The Dr. Pepper adds a sweet flavor to this chili to balance out the spice from the chipotle peppers. The peppers were actually my dinner idea contribution to the chili. Go me!
Spicy peppers pair so well with the sweet Dr. Pepper making this the best chili ever!!!
Ingredients in Dr. Pepper Chili recipe:
- Carrots, Red Peppers, Onions, and Garlic - gives the chili texture and sweetness
- Ground Beef - Feel free to substitute ground chicken, pork sausage, or steak in place of all of the meat or use a mixture of your favorites.
- Corn Flour - helps to absorb some of the grease from the cooked meat and thickens the chili
- Chili Powder, Oregano, Cumin, and Salt - adds flavor
- Brown Sugar - adds a little more sweetness to balance out the spicy peppers.
- Crushed Tomatoes - if you want a chunkier texture in the chili, use diced tomatoes instead
- Kidney Beans - you can also use pinto beans or black beans if you prefer
- Dr. Pepper - adds a sweet flavor
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce - Make sure to dice these peppers very well. They are extremely spicy, so you may want to only use half a can to keep it a little more mild.
Add a side salad and a pan of this Skillet Cornbread to make this easy stove top chili a complete meal.
How to make Sweet and Spicy Dr. Pepper Chili:
- Sauté the chopped veggies until slightly softened. Add the ground beef and cook until done.
- Pour off the excess grease, then stir in the corn flour and spices and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and stir over low heat for 20-30 minute or until reduced slightly and hot all the way through.
- Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Toppings for Chili:
We like to eat our chili with cheese, sour cream, and corn chips. In our house it isn't chili unless those three toppings are served with it. Here are other ingredients we love on chili.
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheese
- Diced Onions/Green Onions
- Chopped Cilantro
- Avocado Slices
- Jalapeños
- Fritos
- Cheese-its
Recipe Questions:
Does chili get better if cooked longer?
The longer you cook chili, the better the flavors blend together. Simmer it over low heat until it is reduced down to the consistency you like. Be careful not to over cook it though, or the beans could get mushy.
What can you substitute for the chipotle peppers?
If you are looking for a milder chili, add more diced bell peppers instead of the chipotle peppers.
Can you use Diet Dr. Pepper in this recipe?
You can...but I do not recommend using diet because of the taste of the artificial sweeteners in it.
Can you make this chili in a crockpot?
Yes. Add the sautéd veggies and cooked meat to the slow cooker along with everything except the beans. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Remove the lid and add the drained beans 30 minutes before serving dinner.
Can this chili recipe be made ahead of time?
Yes it can. In fact, chili gets better after sitting in the fridge overnight, so this is a great meal to make ahead of time. Simply place the pot on low heat until it hot, stirring often.
Can chili be frozen?
It sure can. This recipe makes a pretty decent sized portion. You can freeze the extra chili in a freezer safe container or bag for 2-3 months. To thaw it, remove it from the freezer 24 hours ahead of time and place in the refrigerator. Reheat in a pot over low-medium heat.
More easy soup recipes:
- Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Rice and Chicken Soup
- Potato Chowder
- Creamy Tomato Soup
- Pizza Soup
Recipe
Dr. Pepper Chili recipe
A pot of this Sweet and Spicy Dr. Pepper Chili is the perfect choice for winter days, chili cook-offs, or game day parties. The hearty and comforting chili recipe gets the sweet and spicy flavor from chipotle peppers and a can of Dr. Pepper.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 red pepper, finely diced
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 4 Tablespoons corn flour (Masa)
- 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 Tablespoon cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 - 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
- 2 - 14 ounce cans kidney beans, drained
- 1 - 12 ounce can Dr. Pepper
- 1 - 7 ounce can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced finely (see note below)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in large sauce pan. Add the carrots, red pepper, onion, and saute for 5 minutes or until soft.
- Add the ground beef to the vegetables and cook for about 8-10 minutes or until completely brown. Make sure to break apart the meat as it cooks.
- Drain some of the excess grease off, if desired. Stir in the corn flour, chili powder, oregano, and cumin and cook 2-3 minutes longer.
- Stir in the salt, brown sugar, garlic, crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, Dr. Pepper, and chipotle peppers.
- Heat over medium heat for 20-30 minutes until it is heated through and the flavors blend together.
- Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and corn chips, if desired.
Notes
- Recipe adapted from A Spicy Perspective
- Chipotle peppers are very spicy. You may want to use half a can, so the chili isn't too spicy. You can also substitute bell peppers for the chipotle peppers.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 418Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 671mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 9gSugar: 12gProtein: 29g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Sweet and Spicy Dr. Pepper Chili was first published March 12, 2014. The post and photos were updated and republished February 22, 2021.
Andrea K
This was so delicious! My husband and I have been searching for the “perfect” chili recipe and I think we found the perfect combo for the both of us! I like spicy, he likes sweet.
I did do 1 lb sausage and 1lb hamburger but it was sooo yummy!
Nikki Elias
Just tried this recipe in the crockpot and it tastes delicious! The Dr.Pepper is an awesome touch to the chili.
Thanks for the recipe. Can't wait to share!
Helen Betts
This was one of the best chilis I've ever made! I cut the recipe in half but used a whole onion (diced), whole yellow pepper (as I didn't have a red one) and full amount of garlic. I also added more cumin and some New Mexico hot pepper powder. The result was delicious!
cathy
why do you put carrots in chili?
Jocelyn
This chili is a sweet and spicy chili. The carrots add to the sweet factor. It's one of our favorites!
Bea
What if I don’t like Dr. Pepper? Will I actually taste the pop?
Jocelyn
My whole family agrees that you do not taste the Dr. Pepper at all. It just adds a sweetness that goes so well with the spicy peppers. I hope you enjoy it!
Tria
I'm using this recipe to do our chili cook off at work! Hope I win! I was wondering this will be in a crock pot. How long should I set it? or when should I start prepping? This is my first time using crock pot, but I'm sure everyone will love this. Thank you so much for sharing.
Jocelyn
Hi, Tria. I have actually never made it in a crock pot. I would suggest making it on the stove as the recipe is, then transfer it to a slow cooker to keep it warm. Fingers crossed you win!!! Keep me posted!
Deanna Bushman
Man, this chili was good. We shredded our carrot instead of dicing, and used four 14.5 oz cans of a mix of fireroasted and regular diced tomatoes. We topped ours with shredded habanero cheddar.
Winter is coming... but this chili can fend it off for one more day (more like four, because holy moly did I end up with a lot of leftovers, not that I'm complaining). 😉
Jocelyn Brubaker
I am so glad you liked the chili. And now that you mention it...I think we shredded our carrot too. I better fix that! Yes, the chili does make a lot, but it freezes well if you want to do that and have a dinner made ahead of time 🙂