I wasn’t sure if I could get my girls to have chilli for breakfast but to my surprise, they were into it and asked for seconds!

Thinking about it, it really is a great way to start off the day.  Full of energizing protein, healthy fats, vegetables and with the added touch of cacao, eating chilli for breakfast sets you to seize the day!

The Best Paleo Chilli recipe came about when we were hosting Rafe Kelly and his crew during his Evolve Move Play workshop here in Victoria.  Brad wrote about the experience and its influence in A Movement Diet.

I was trying to think of a good meal that I could make that would be simple to prepare ahead of time and nourishing to restore their energy for the next day of movement.

So, I decided that a good chilli recipe would be perfect.

The Best Paleo Chilli recipe is simple to prepare, and once the pieces have been put together, you just turn on the slow cooker and walk away.

This recipe makes twelve portions, four of those going to very active men.  I’d recommend making it in the morning and then having it for dinner two nights in a row or eating a part of it for breakfast one day.

I have to say that it tasted even better the following morning after sitting all night. There are a number of wonderful spices in this recipe and if you haven’t read my post on the healing power of spices, you should check it out. 

Try adding avocado, fresh cilantro and chopped tomatoes for an even better flavour.  

So to not delay your cooking any longer, here’s the recipe for the Best Paleo Chilli.

The Best Paleo Chilli

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of good quality oil (coconut or avocado)

2 medium onions, chopped

4 large cloves of garlic, pressed

2 pounds of ground grass-fed beef

2 teaspoons of cumin

1 teaspoon of smoked paprika

2 teaspoons of chilli powder

2 teaspoons of salt

1 tablespoon of coconut sugar

3 tablespoons of raw cacao powder

2 adobo chilli peppers (canned or jarred)

1-28 oz can of diced tomatoes

1-24 oz can of stewed tomatoes

2 organic carrots, peeled and diced

1 organic red pepper, diced

1 avocado, diced

1/2 cup of fresh cilantro, chopped

1 cup of diced fresh tomatoes

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together cumin, smoked paprika, chilli powder, sea salt, and set aside.

2. In a cast-iron pan, sauté the onions and garlic in the oil for around 5 minutes. 

3.  Add in the spices and cook for 1-2 minutes until they become fragrant.

4.  Add the 2 pounds of grass-fed ground beef and cook until meat has browned. 

5. Once the meat has browned, remove from heat.

6. Add to a slow cooker the meat, onion and spice mixture, the coconut sugar, cacao, adobo chilli peppers, diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, chopped carrot and diced red pepper.

7. Stir well to combine everything.

8. Set the slow cooker on low, walk away and let it cook for 8 hours.

Serve that night and for breakfast the next morning ? with diced avocados, chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro.