Italian Merlot Chili

Thursday, January 4, 2018
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

  1. brown the meats in oil
  2. add all the vegetables and seasoning you like to the pot
  3. choose a cooking method
  4. 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.


chili simmering in a pot


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

garnishes of lettuce and tomato


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

simmering merlot chili on the stovetop


Cooking Methods

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

Pin for later





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!


Perfect for a tortilla bowl with chili on top of a leafy green salad and some crushed chips, or garlic croutons and you have a whole other meal!


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.


Italian Merlot Chili

Italian Merlot Chili

Yield: 12
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Italian Merlot Chili is bursting with herbs, and spices a little heat is perfect to warm up. A great chili with a touch of red wine and thick seasoned sauce

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.

Instructions

  1. In a large heated saucepan saute the ground beef and boneless chuck or pork in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until brown and pink on the ground beef is gone.
  2. Add beans and stir in tomatoes that are blended with wine and all other ingredients including spices, and cook on a low burner for around 1 hour, 6 to 8 in the slow cooker, or around 1 hour in a Dutch oven if using the oven method
  3. Stir every half hour.
  4. Ladle into bowls
  5. Optional: red pepper flakes for heat
  6. Top with whole milk shredded mozzarella cheese and garlic croutons.
  7. If you would like other toppings to check under notes for suggestions.

Notes

Cooking Methods


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


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


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


Merlot Chili,Chili with wine,Italian style chili,Italian Chili,Chili Recipe,
Italian one pot meals, chili recipes, bean recipes, Italian bean recipes
Italian, American


Pin for later



pin for later how to make Merlot Italian Chili


Other Recipes We Love

15 Favorite Pasta Recipes
20 Recipes Using Beans
30 Appetizers and Side Dish Recipes
15 One Pan Recipes



This is an affiliate link and I do make a small commission See Disclosure Policy



25 comments

  1. sounds and looks so scrumptious!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm a big lamb fan, and when I find it in the store I grab it. I'll add this to my lamb list.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This chili sounds amazing! I love that you use lamb and Burgundy wine here, wonderful flavors!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Claudia,

    I love lamb but have never made chili with it, this really looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice! I love good plum tomatoes. So fun to make it Italian style - and this even works for my winter cooking! Hearty and filled with flavor.

    ReplyDelete
  6. As a big fan of lamb, I must try this succulent dish.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This chili definitely has wow-factor! Love it! Perfect winter comfort meal for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  8. this is a different chili from what I am usually eating, I mean, its an Italian version... I love it, with the wine, seasonings and lamb, sounds so good

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tomatoes for .99lb What a steal! The photo is absolutely gorgeous Claudia. So much so, I can taste that chili down here!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Those tomatoes do look gorgeous, and 99 cents a pound wow! Your chili recipe is delicious...I would have to do a no meat version for me, but my family would be all over this one :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Those tomatoes do look gorgeous, and 99 cents a pound wow! Your chili recipe is delicious...I would have to do a no meat version for me, but my family would be all over this one :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a fancy recipe for chili with the lamb and wine! Incredibly delicious and comforting!

    ReplyDelete
  13. So many great flavors in this dish. I've never used lamb in chili but I imagine it would be wonderful. Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I made a big batch of chili last night---now I wish I would have added some Merlot! Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  15. The sauce must taste incredible with merlot. I bet I would like it!

    ReplyDelete
  16. This Italian Chili sounds delicious and love all the leftover ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looks amazing!! Can't wait to try.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Chilli is the perfect meal at this time of year. I add white bean to mine too.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You can't beat real Italian food and this looks so comforting!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This chili looks like a perfect way to warm up, and don't you just LOVE crockpot liners!! Best thing ever!

    ReplyDelete
  21. It is even still pretty chilly in Florida and I would love to try this. I love how garlicky it seems. We love garlic in our home!

    ReplyDelete

Remember to use the search option for a recipe you're looking for and thanks for all your kind words and support. We love our readers all the best Claudia