Chipotle powder is a magical stuff. A few sprinkles of this intense blend of ground peppers and other spices makes your average bowl of chili taste like it was made by a team of expert chefs.

It’s also just about the easiest way to make chili — which is why I’m posting about it on a blog about cooking in less than five minutes.

Here’s what you do:

Chop some onions, mince some garlic, and dump them into a big pot. (I like to use my dutch oven.) Then sautee them in some oil until they’re tender and translucent. Next, add whatever meat you want — I usually use ground beef or turkey, but you can also throw in some chicken or sausage.

Then add your usual chili ingredients: tomatoes, stock, beans if you like ’em, etc. Then sprinkle in some chipotle powder! (You can adjust the amount to taste.)

Simmer for 10-15 minutes — then voila! Top with cheese and sour cream if that’s how you roll — then eat up!**

The best thing about using chipotle powder as opposed to regular chili powder is that it’s smokier and more complex-tasting than the standard stuff. You’ll notice the

Making chili is easy and fun. Just mix dry chipotle powder with a few ingredients and your dinner is cooked in a few minutes.

This recipe makes 6 servings, so multiply it by the number of people you’re feeding. I usually do this and then freeze the extra portions in baggies for later.

Chipotles are smoked jalapeño chiles and have a really deep, rich flavor that adds lots of flavor to the ropa vieja (literally “old clothes”) chili.

I’ve tried a lot of different kinds of chili powders before, but I find that chipotle powder has the best flavor. It’s also easy to find. You can substitute regular ancho powder if you can’t get chipotle powder, but the color will be darker and more red than brown.

Chipotle powder is a mix of ground smoked dried jalapeno peppers and other spices. It’s used to make chili, to spice up meat and fish, and as a dry rub for grilling. You can make your own or buy it in little cans at the grocery store. If you plan to make your own, you can find recipes all over the web. I usually combine 2-3 tablespoons of the spice with 2 tablespoons of ground cumin, 1 tablespoon of oregano, 1 tablespoon of black pepper and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Dried chipotles are very hot so you should wear gloves when working with them. The recipe below uses an entire can which will make about 6 cups of cooked meat (or more like 4 cups if you don’t remove the fat).

Chipotle chili powder is a great addition to any pantry and works well in any dish that benefits from some spicy heat.

Chipotle powder is made from smoked jalapeno peppers and it smells wonderful. It will give your chili a smoky flavor with a slight hint of sweetness.

Chipotle powder is the smoke-dried form of a ripe jalapeno pepper (Capsicum annuum) that has been smoked over mesquite wood, giving it a dark red color and an exquisite smoky-pepper aroma. It can be found in the spice section of many grocery stores.

Chipotle powder is a spice blend that is easily made at home. It consists of dried, ground jalapeno peppers along with salt and other spices. The flavor is spicy, smoky, and slightly sweet all at the same time. You can use the chipotle powder to make a range of dishes, including soups, sauces, stews, chili and even desserts.

Taste of Home has a recipe for Chipotle Powder. Theirs uses canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce instead of dried ones. It states that the recipe yields 1/4 cup but it will yield as much as 1/2 cup depending on how you pack it into your measuring cups.

The original recipe does not state how much ground cumin is used in the recipe. I used one tablespoon based on my previous experience with making the spice at home. You can omit it altogether or substitute another spice such as oregano if you like.

Chipotle Powder Recipe

1 – 2 chipotles in adobo sauce

Mix all ingredients in small bowl until well blended. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Use for cooking or seasoning meats, soups, sauces and stews.”

The chili powder is a blend of ancho and chipotle peppers, garlic, onion and some other spices. It’s a very nice blend, but it doesn’t do anything for the earthy flavor of the black beans. So I added some ground cumin and coriander. The chili was still a little thin, so I added some tomato paste.

The final touch was a little cocoa powder. Chipotle powder, cocoa powder, black beans and chocolate? Why not?

The result was quite nice; look for yourself.

This chili is perfect for a busy weeknight. It takes just five minutes of active time, and then it cooks unattended in the oven for 45 minutes. I like to serve it with cornbread, but it’s also good with a dollop of sour cream or creme fraiche.

Chipotle powder is smoky and spicy. If you don’t have any, you could substitute some cayenne pepper and chili powder, or just use regular chili powder.

Chipotle powder is sold in specialty stores and well-stocked supermarkets. You can also order it online.