Name: Italian Merlot Chili
Cuisine: Italian, American
Ingredients: 2 lbs of fresh plum tomatoes stem cut off (leave three or more tomatoes out and cut up into cubes set aside), put plum tomatoes through the food processor until smooth.; 2 fresh garlic cloves cleaned and minced; 1 bell pepper sliced thin or hot cubanelle peppers; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 cup of Red Wine (I prefer Merlot); 1 can of white cannellini or red kidney beans drained and washed; 1 can of Northern white beans or pinto beans; 2 sprigs of fresh Italian parsley; 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, oregano, basil; salt, and pepper to taste; 1 pound ground beef or lamb or (substitute ground turkey or chicken if you prefer); 1 pound of boneless chuck roast, or boneless pork roast sliced ( it will shred after simmering; Optional Substitutions: use 15 kinds of dried beans and cook to package instructions first or any other dried beans instead of canned. Add chopped celery or onions to this recipe or use stew tomatoes in place of fresh plum if not in season.

This Italian Merlot Chili is a hearty bowl of chunky meat, beans, tomatoes, and peppers in a yummy wine sauce.

This is a comforting bowl of chili that is really fantastic with a little red wine in it and topped with melted mozzarella and croutons it's a winner in our family.

Even though the wine boils away, it enhances the flavors of the sauce it makes along with the spices and blends well with the mozzarella cheese.

Our favorite beans are classic white cannellini beans, however, feel free to add whatever you have on hand or what you prefer.

Top your Italian-style chili with some of our favorite suggestions below or set up a serving station and let the family build their own bowl of yummy goodness.

We just love this flavorful Merlot chili and it's certainly a nice addition to any chili lovers recipe collection.

For a printable copy of this recipe just scroll down to the bottom of this page and hit print.

chiili made with Merlot wine, beans and meat

a pot of Italian bean chili with lots of meat

Chili Merlot Step by Step

brown the meats in oil
add all the vegetables and seasoning you like to the pot
choose a cooking method
simmer-garnish and enjoy!

One thing I love about making chili is having leftovers, so make a big pot!

I usually make double the amount.

There is so much left, sometimes I will freeze some for another meal.

Shopping List

fresh plum tomatoes whole tomatoes
garlic cloves cleaned and minced bell pepper
dried oregano
bell peppers or hot pepper
garlic
Red Wine I prefer Merlot
white or red beans can or dried freshly made
fresh Italian parsley garlic powder, oregano, basil
salt, and pepper to taste
see the recipe card below at the end of this post to print all measurements and the full recipe

Garnish Suggestions

blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing
shredded lettuce
crumbled cooked crispy bacon chopped pepperoni or prosciutto
tomato slices
caramelized onions
diced jalapeno peppers or other peppers
red pepper flakes for extra heat
any cheese shredded you prefer sliced olives pickle slices

Tips and Suggestions

Use fresh tomatoes in the season for the best results
Always brown the meat first even when using a slow cooker
This can be made in an instant pot in 20 minutes
Add more liquid if using the stovetop method and it begins to get too thick
You can substitute water for wine or even beef broth
Turkey ground up can be used instead of ground beef
For a chunky chili, use thinly sliced chunks of leftover steak added to the pot
This is just a guideline for seasonings add more or less to taste If you want a hot spicy chili to add hot peppers or red pepper flakes to taste
use dried 15 beans for a heartier bean vegetarian chili

Cooking Methods

Stovetop 1 hour Instant Pot 15 minutes after browning meat
Slowcooker 6 to 8 hours on low, brown meat on the stovetop first
Baked: Place in a Dutch oven, brown meat first on the stovetop, add all ingredients bake at 350 for 1 hour

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Chili Leftovers are Terrific

You can make the most marvelous second meals with leftover chili.

Use this as a topping also over anything you like, here are some suggestions:

Just add some tortilla chips in a bowl and, Italian olives, top with shredded mozzarella, diced tomatoes, and sliced olives, even a tablespoon of Ricotta cheese on top is amazing!

Loaded chili fries and cheese, or even a baked potato with this chili is amazing!

Just remember that leftovers are fabulous in flour or corn tortilla wraps as a filling, or over white rice and even making crushed tortilla chips and a taco salad.

This chili is amazing on top of a chili dog cheeseburger too!

Add your favorite toppings like sharp shredded cheddar and you have a whole meal.

Perfect for stuffing pasta shells for a taco shell dinner or even baking enchiladas or burritos.

So, don't worry if you make too much, there will always be a second meal you can create.