You all know how much I love making chili. But this is the first time I put Wine and Lemon in my chili. And guess what? This Lemon Wine Chili is absolutely fabulous.
🍷 What kind of Wine
The first question you are probably asking yourself is what kind of wine does this chili recipe need? The short answer is red wine. A Pinot Noir or a Merlot would be perfect for this Chili.
But use what you got on hand. I often use a good Malbec when cooking as I always have a case of Malbec on hand.
Whenever possible I always suggest using fresh lemon juice when a recipe calls for it. Sure it's a little more work squeezing all those lemons but will be worth it in the long run.
If you use bottled lemon juice, try to buy the best quality possible. Believe it or not, it does make a difference.
🐄 How to Handle Raw Beef
Thaw raw ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.
🥃 Alcohol Warning
So what does a Lemon Wine Chili recipe taste like you ask? This chili tastes exactly like you would expect it would, like lemon and wine.
The first thing my wife and I tasted was the lemon quickly followed by a slight taste of the wine. My wife tasted the wine a bit more than I did but that's probably because she is not a wine drinker.
Additionally, this chili does pack a bit of a punch. Mostly from the cayenne pepper so if you prefer a mild chili I would suggest you leave that spice out when you make it. It won't change much as the lemon and the red wine are the stars of the show in this chili.
Don't forget to make one of our delicious Cornbread Recipes to go with this fantastic Gourmet Chili Recipe. My Fabulous Buttermilk Cornbread recipe is my absolute favorite cornbread recipe.
For more great recipes with Lean Ground Beef, I suggest you check these recipes out:
📋 Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Lemon Wine Chili recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Lean Ground Beef, Yellow Onion, Garlic Cloves, Stewed Tomatoes, Tomato Paste, Pinto Beans, Red Wine, Lemon Juice, Chili Powder, Salt, Lemon Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Mustard Powder, Celery Seed, Ground Cumin and Dried Oregano.
🥣 How to make Lemon Wine Chili
In a large skillet or saucepan, cook the ground beef until it begins to brown. Add the onions and garlic and continue to cook until the meat is no longer pink, stirring regularly.
Add all the remaining ingredients and let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Optionally garnish with sour cream, shredded cheese and/or crushed tortilla chips.
📖 Recipe
Lemon Wine Chili
Equipment
- Saucepan (or Dutch Oven)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb Lean Ground Beef
- 1 Cup Yellow Onion, finely chopped
- 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 28 oz Diced Tomatoes
- 6 oz Tomato Paste
- 30 oz Pinto Beans
- 1 Cup Red Wine
- ⅓ Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
- 4 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Mustard Powder
- ½ teaspoon Celery Seed
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cumin
- ¼ teaspoon Dried Oregano
Instructions
- In a large skillet or saucepan, cook the ground beef until it begins to brown. Add the onions and garlic and continue to cook until the meat is no longer pink, stirring regularly.
- Add all the remaining ingredients and let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Optionally garnish with sour cream, shredded cheese and/or crushed tortilla chips.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.
Hugh
I just loved this Lemon Wine Chili. Very tasty. My family is a great lover of pinto beans, so they really enjoyed it. I made a double batch so will have this delicious chili in the freezer.