Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with Cocoa and Wine

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Did the title hook you?  Wine and chocolate in a chili, you say?  Do tell ...

There are a ton of recipes for turkey chili, most of them slightly bland or overly spiced.  Turkey with a base of tomato and a mix of typical spices.  Nothing wrong with it, just the same old same old.  My recipe is warm, with a depth to it thanks to the base of chili spices layered with rich unsweetened cocoa and a good deep red wine.  All mixed together, with turkey and beans and cooked low and slow for hours, this chili fills your house with an aroma unlike any other chili.  

INGREDIENTS

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  1. 1 lb ground turkey
  2. 1/2 - 1 sweet yellow onion chopped ( I don't like too much onion so I use less than you may)
  3. 2 cans of beans, rinsed - 1 red kidney and 1 cannelloni
  4. 2 bay leaves
  5. 28 oz can diced tomatoes
  6. 1 C veggie broth
  7. 1/2 C red wine
  8. Chili Mix
    - 1 tsp each - oregano and cumin
    - 2 tsp paprika
    - 2-4 Tbs chili powder (choose depending on the level of spice you want)
    - 2 Tbs cocoa
    - dash of cinnamon
    - 1 Tbs minced garlic

DIRECTIONS

  1. Brown turkey and onions in pan with some extra chili powder, paprika, and cumin (not from Chili Mix)
  2. While browning meat, dump tomatoes and rinsed beans into crock pot
  3. Add 2 bay leaves
  4. Using tomato can (or 2 C measuring cup) add in liquids and Chili Mix, stir together well and pour into crock pot
  5. Add turkey meat and onions to crock pot
  6. Stir together and cover
  7. Cook for 6-8 hours on low (I cook on high because of the temperature of my slow cooker - so keep in mind how your crock pot is calibrated)
  8. A couple hours into cooking, taste and add spices as needed, I usually add in more cumin and cocoa but it just depends
  9. Serve with a salty cracker (Zach highly recommends Fritos) or cheese and enjoy!!  

I hope you enjoy this easy and delicious chili, and that it makes it into your meal rotation!