Smoked Cajun Chili

Hearty chili with a Cajun note and a smokey finish

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 1  lb ground beef
• 1 (16 ounce) package  Jimmy Dean sausage
• 4 (29 ounce) cans whole canned tomatoes (cut into fourths or eighths)
• 1 (29 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans (washed)
• 1 (16 ounce) can black beans (washed)
• 1  red onion, chopped
• 6  jalapeno peppers, chopped
• 3  serrano peppers, chopped
• 3  stalks celery, chopped
• 4  garlic cloves, chopped
• 2  tablespoons  Tony Chachere's Seasoning
• 3  tablespoons  smoked paprika
• 3  tablespoons chili powder
• 2  tablespoons cumin
• 1  tablespoon ground pepper
• 1  teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Call friends and family, let them know you are about to make some awesome Chili, and to be in your kitchen in about an hour.
2. Before the stampede, grab a large (8qt) pot and brown the sausage on high heat (do not drain). The idea here is to get some good browning/sear in the pan so don't fret if it sticks to the bottom, that's the idea. Just don't go overboard and burn it.
3. Throw in the celery, onion and garlic, cover, reduce heat and let it do it's thing for 10 minutes at least. stir frequently.
4. In a separate pan, brown the ground beef (drain) and add it to the pot.
5. Everything else goes in! Be sure to include all the juice from the whole-tomato cans, and I like to cut them very chunky (no more than 3 cuts per tomato) for easy eating.
6. Let it come together at a high simmer for about an hour, less if you can't wait.