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I’m a sucker for just about anything with “pizza” in the name, so when a recipe for Pepperoni Pizza Chili showed up in my inbox, I knew I had to try it.
It’s a fun mash-up of two favorite comfort foods: a hearty beef and bean chili flavored with Italian sausage, pepperoni, pizza sauce and oregano, then finished with a little melted mozzarella.
The original recipe was heavier than I wanted, so I lightened it up with lean ground beef, turkey sausage and turkey pepperoni. Those simple swaps cut more than 100 calories and about half the fat from the original without losing the flavors that make this chili so much fun.
I also made half a batch since I wasn’t feeding a crowd. Like most chili, though, the leftovers are worth having. I think it tastes even better the next day.
Why You’ll Love This Pizza Chili
- Two comfort foods in one – It has the hearty goodness of chili with the familiar flavors of pepperoni pizza.
- Easy to make – Everything cooks together in one pot on the stovetop.
- Lighter than the original – Lean beef, turkey sausage and turkey pepperoni keep things lighter while providing plenty of flavor.
- Easy to customize – Adjust the heat, add extra vegetables or change the pizza toppings to make it your own.
- Great for leftovers – The flavors get even better after a night in the refrigerator.
Ingredients and Substitutions
95% lean ground beef – Gives the chili plenty of beefy flavor without a lot of extra fat. Lean ground turkey could also be used.
Hot Italian-style turkey sausage – Adds Italian seasoning and a little heat. Use mild Italian turkey sausage if you prefer less spice.
Onion – Adds sweetness and savory flavor as it cooks with the meat.
Green bell pepper – Gives the chili a little color, texture and classic pizza flavor. Red bell pepper would work too.
Garlic – Adds another layer of savory flavor.
Hot chili beans – Add body and make the chili more filling. For a milder version, use regular chili beans.
Salsa – Adds tomatoes, seasoning and another layer of flavor. Choose mild, medium or hot depending on your preference.
Pizza sauce – This is what really moves the chili in the direction of pizza. Your favorite jarred or homemade pizza sauce will work.
Turkey pepperoni – Provides that unmistakable pepperoni-pizza flavor with less fat than traditional pepperoni.
Chili powder and dried oregano – Chili powder keeps this firmly in chili territory while oregano brings in the Italian-pizza flavor.
Mozzarella cheese – A little shredded part-skim mozzarella sprinkled over each bowl completes the pizza effect.
How to Make Pepperoni Pizza Chili
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
Gather and prepare all your ingredients.
Step 2: Brown the Meat and Vegetables
In a Dutch oven or large soup pot, cook the ground beef, turkey sausage, onion, green bell pepper and garlic over medium heat.
Cook, stirring and breaking the meat into crumbles, until the meat is no longer pink, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
Step 3: Add the Chili Ingredients
Stir in the chili beans, salsa, pizza sauce, pepperoni, water, chili powder and oregano. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat.
Step 4: Simmer the Chili
Cover and simmer gently for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is hot and the flavors have had a chance to come together.
Step 5: Add the Mozzarella
Ladle the chili into bowls and sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon shredded mozzarella cheese.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Notes
The heat level of this chili is easy to adjust. Between the hot Italian turkey sausage, hot chili beans and salsa, it can have quite a kick. Use mild sausage, regular chili beans and mild salsa for a gentler version.
For even more vegetables, add 1 to 2 cups chopped mushrooms when you brown the meat. Mushrooms seem especially appropriate here since they’re one of my favorite pizza toppings.
And don’t hesitate to play around with the basic idea. This is one of those recipes that’s easy to adapt according to what you like on your pizza.
The original recipe was designed for the stovetop, but it can also be made in the slow cooker. I’ve included instructions in the recipe card.
Like most soups and chilis, this is especially good after the flavors have had a chance to mingle. Don’t be surprised if you like the leftovers even better the next day.
Pizza Chili Variations
- Mushroom Pizza Chili: Add sliced or chopped mushrooms along with the onion and bell pepper.
- Extra-Veggie Pizza Chili: Add mushrooms, zucchini or an additional bell pepper.
- Mild Pizza Chili: Use mild Italian turkey sausage, regular chili beans and mild salsa.
- Spicier Pizza Chili: Keep the hot sausage and beans and add crushed red pepper or use a hot salsa.
- Supreme Pizza Chili: Add mushrooms and another bell pepper for more of a supreme-pizza feel.
How Many Calories and WW Points?
According to my calculations, each serving has 329 calories and 5 WW Points.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
8 PointsPlus (Old plan)
If you’ve made this Pizza Chili with Pepperoni, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Pepperoni Pizza Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound 95% lean ground beef
- 1/2 pound hot Italian-style turkey sausage
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (I used jarred)
- 1 can (16 ounces) hot chili beans, undrained
- 1 cup (8 ounces) salsa
- 1 cup (8 ounces) pizza sauce
- 4 ounces sliced turkey pepperoni, sliced in half
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 6 tablespoons (1.5 ounces) shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or large soup pot, cook the beef, sausage, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium heat, stirring and breaking up the meat, until meat is no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain if necessary.
- Stir in the beans, salsa, pizza sauce, pepperoni, water, chili powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat. Cover and let bubble gently, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 20 minutes.
- Serve hot. Sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon cheese.
Slow Cooker Option:
- After browning the meat and vegetables, drain and transfer to 4-Quart or larger slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low until heated through, 4 to 6 hours.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 8 PointsPlus (Old plan) Pizza Chili Variations
- Mushroom Pizza Chili: Add sliced or chopped mushrooms along with the onion and bell pepper.
- Extra-Veggie Pizza Chili: Add mushrooms, zucchini or an additional bell pepper.
- Mild Pizza Chili: Use mild Italian turkey sausage, regular chili beans and mild salsa.
- Spicier Pizza Chili: Keep the hot sausage and beans and add crushed red pepper or use a hot salsa.
- Supreme Pizza Chili: Add mushrooms and another bell pepper for more of a supreme-pizza feel.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Source: adapted from Taste of Home
More Easy Chili & Pizza-Inspired Recipes
If you like this pepperoni pizza chili made lighter, be sure to check out my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly recipes including:
We loved this recipe. There are so many flavors in it, but some how it all works together. When I saw pizza chili, I knew I had to try it. Pizza is my favorite and chili was perfect for our first snow of the season
Hi Sandra, So glad you liked it!! ~Martha
I made this last night and I loved it!
So did my daughter and she is picky!
She loved it so much she wanted the leftovers!
I love your recipes and can’t wait to try this one! Can you tell me what “Hot Chili Beans” are or who makes them (ie. Hormel, Campbells)? I’ve never seen them before. Does the hot refer to spicy?? Thanks for all your great recipes.
Hi Kristine, Yes it refers to spicy. Anything labeled ‘chili beans’ should work. Hope this helps.
I just made my first pot of this for my work lunches and oh my stars is it fabulous! I forgot to buy chili beans but had a can of Ranch Style Beans, so I used those. The only other change i made was to use ground turkey in lieu of the beef – not sure if that reduces the points but just feel it’s a healthier alternative, and with all the fabulous spices, you cannot tell – I would serve this to company!
This is definitely a winner and will be in my rotation. This is my first recipe of yours to try, but I will definitely be looking at more – many thanks for sharing!
How wonderful, Brenda! So glad to see that you liked it 🙂
already in the pot for Friday “pizza night”; I added mushrooms and plan to serve on top of spaghetti squash. It’s very thick which I particularly like. Thanks so much for another great recipe.
Hi Paula. Love the idea of adding mushrooms and serving atop spaghetti squash! Thanks for taking the time to share with us. – Martha