Check out our recipe for Brisket Chili made using leftovers!
Luis makes a lot of smoked meats at our house. Nearly every weekend he is busy outside smoking something. Usually, it’s ribs or brisket. The problem that we have with making smoked brisket is that we end up with so many leftovers! We prefer to buy the whole brisket versus just the flat or the point because the fat seems to distribute well throughout when it’s cooked whole. If we made just the flat, it’s dry and if we make just the point, it’s too high in fat content. So the question is…what do we do with our leftover brisket? We make brisket chili!!
When making brisket chili, you’ll be using some of the leftover brisket that you have. The brisket can be store bought or smoked at home. The choice is yours. This recipe does not include instructions on making the brisket itself, just the chili.
Tips for making Brisket Chili:
We like to use our leftover brisket to make chili, brisket breakfast tacos, and sandwiches.
Yes! You can. However, the corn on the cob usually has a nice grilled flavor. If you would like to use canned corn on the cob, you can try to accomplish that same grilled flavor by draining the corn and cooking on high in a skillet for a couple of minutes. Cook until the corn starts to get a little charred.
We usually go with shredded cheddar cheese, jalapenos, and sour cream! Feel free to add any of your favorite toppings that you would top any other chili with.
Brisket chili will last in your refrigerator, in a tightly sealed container or bag, for about 4-5 days. The brisket chili actually gets better after a day or two. The consistency thickens up and the flavors get a little more concentrated.
Chili will last if frozen, for at least 3 months and up to 6 months. When freezing chili, it’s best to freeze it in a ziplock bag and lay it flat in the freezer so that you end up with flat rectangles of chili instead of storing it in a bag or container that is several inches thick. If you froze the chili flat in a bag, it will defrost much easier and faster. To thaw the chili, either put it in the refrigerator overnight, microwave on defrost or thaw in a bowl of cold water.
Ingredient substitutions and tips for making Smoked Brisket Chili:
The full ingredient list is found at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Bacon- Chopped into bite-sized pieces. Any type of bacon will work. You can use maple, hickory, regular, beef, or turkey bacon. Whatever you would normally eat, put in the chili.
Onion– I prefer to use white or yellow onion, but any onion will do. Dice the onions or use frozen diced onions.
Green Bell Pepper– Diced into bite-sized pieces. You can use red or yellow bell peppers instead.
Jalapeno- Use fresh jalapenos. If you like your chili spicy, use a jalapeno that has a lot of white lines and creases on it. If you like your spicy milder, find a jalapeno that is smooth without lines on it. The more lines, the spicier the pepper will be.
Garlic–Minced
Brisket– Use leftover, cooked brisket that has been chopped into ½ inch pieces. The brisket can be smoked, roasted, or grilled. Be sure to remove excess fat before adding it to the chili.
Chili Powder, Cumin, Paprika– Spices can be increased or reduced based on your own taste. These spices are not “spicy” but do have distinct flavors. Adjust based on your preference.
Coffee– Use brewed coffee– no coffee grounds. This might sound strange, but trust me on it! We almost always use a coffee rub on our brisket and it tastes amazing…so why not add a little extra coffee to the chili! It doesn’t end up tasting like coffee. I promise!
Tomatoes-Canned, petite diced. You can use fresh tomatoes if you prefer.
Kidney Beans-If you can find them, use canned kidney beans that are flavored for chili. Do not rinse. You can use black or red beans instead if you prefer.
Corn on the Cob-Cut corn off of the cob and use the kernels. If you prefer, you can use canned or frozen corn instead.
Coffee Beef Rub-Traeger Coffee Rub. If you don’t have a coffee rub, add your favorite beef rub that you like the flavor of. The additional rub kicks up the smoked taste of the brisket in the chili.
Directions for making Smoked Brisket Chili:
1. Cook the bacon over medium heat in the stock pot until crispy.
2. Once the bacon is almost cooked all the way, add in the onion, green pepper, jalapeno and, garlic. Cook until the onion is transluscent. Gently scrape the bottom of the pot to remove any stuck-on bacon bits. The liquid from the vegetables should make this pretty easy to do.
3. Add the brisket, chili powder, cumin and, paprika. Stir until well combined.
4. Add remaining ingredients and stir.
5. Reduce heat to low and cover with a lid. Cook on low, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours.
6. After 2 hours, the chili should be nice and thick and rich. If the chili is too thick, add a little water or beef broth until it has reached your desired consistency.
7. It’s time to eat the brisket chili! Top with cheese and serve! Enjoy!
Brisket Chili
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- Large Stock Pot
Ingredients
- 2 Slices Bacon (Chopped)
- 1 Medium Onion (Diced- about 2 cups)
- 1 Large Green Bell Pepper (Diced- about 1.5 cups)
- 2 Tablespoons Jalapeno (About 1 jalapeno- depending on size)
- 2 Tablespoons Garlic (Minced)
- 4 Cups Brisket (Cooked, leftover brisket that has been chopped into ½ inch pieces)
- 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Cumin
- ¾ Tablespoon Paprika
- ½ Cup Coffee (Brewed coffee- no coffee grounds)
- 2 Cans Tomatoes (Petite diced)
- 2 Cans Kidney Beans (If you can find them, use chili beans that are hot. Do not rinse.)
- 1 Ear Corn on the Cob (Cut corn off of the cob and use the kernels. If you prefer, you can use canned or frozen corn instead. About 1 cup. )
- 1 Tablespoon Coffee Beef Rub (Traeger Coffee Rub)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon over medium heat in the stock pot until crispy.
- Add the brisket, chili powder, cumin and, paprika. Stir until well combined.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir.
- Reduce heat to low and cover with a lid. Cook on low, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours.
- After 2 hours, the chili should be nice and thick and rich. If the chili is too thick, add a little water or beef broth until it has reached your desired consistency.
- It's time to eat the brisket chili! Top with cheese and serve! Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only.
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Lauren Cardona
Tasty Traveler #1
Hi, I’m Lauren but you can call me Tasty Traveler #1!
I have always had a passion for food, cocktails, and travel. It has become more pronounced over the last several years since I have had the opportunity to do so many of the things that I love. One of my favorite co…
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Luis Cardona
Tasty Traveler #2
Hi, I’m Luis! (I like to think of myself as Tasty Traveler #1 but Lauren says I’m Tasty Traveler #2!)
I too have a love for food, travel, and all things in between! Over the past several years I have found more time to be adventurous with things that I eat, the plac…
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