Southern Soul Food Chili

This Southern soul food chili combines traditional soul food ingredients & classic chili flavors. You can make this comforting chili recipe in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

I’m Southern born but I spent the bulk of my childhood in the Midwest so this recipe is really about combining two of my favorites here – soul food & chili.

Ingredients For This Soul Food Chili

This comforting chili uses soul food ingredients you should be able to easily find at your local grocery store. 

• Ground pork sausage: You can use your preferred pork sausage here. I like to use a generic mild pork. 
• Ground turkey: Ground chicken works well with this soul food chili as well. 
• Canned black-eyed peas: This chili calls for canned black-eyed peas which means they are already cooked. I do not recommend substituting dry black-eyed peas.
• Greens: Grab your preferred greens, I used collards. Greens will cook to soft when you make this chili in the slow cooker or Instant Pot. I only used a handful of greens but feel free to add more in if you like. 
• Hot sauce: Kick this chili up a couple of notches with some hot sauce. The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of hot sauce but if you like heat, add some more.  
• Tomatoes: Both diced tomatoes and tomato sauce are used in this soul food chili. 

How To Make Soul Food Chili In The Slow Cooker

Chili is an great recipe to make in the slow cooker. The recipe box includes instructions on how to make this recipe in the Instant Pot. 

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground sausage & turkey and cook 5-7 minutes, (crumbling the meat as it cooks) or until no longer pink. Drain excess grease and add the ground meat to the slow cooker.
2. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
3. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6.

Soul Food Ingredients

Make no mistake, this is chili recipe. But I added some of my favorite soul food ingredients: pork, black-eyed peas, collard, greens…hot sauce.  Yes, that’s right hot sauce. Trust me, it’s not too overpowering. 

What Type Of Black-Eyed Peas To Use

This recipe calls for cooked black-eyed peas so you will need to use frozen or canned black-eyed peas. I used canned black-eyed peas that were drained & rinsed.

Serving & Storing The Chili

Topping suggestions for this chili include cheese, sour cream, green onions, or chopped herbs. Store the leftover chili in the frig for up to 3 days or the freezer for 4-6 months.

Other Chili Recipes You Might Enjoy

Chicken Chili with Black-Eyed Peas
Chili Mac & Cheese
Sweet Potato Beef Chili
Turkey Chili
Vegan Chili

Any of these chili recipes will go great with this keto cornbread!