Spicy Chicken Chili with Pumpkin Beer Biscuits.
We’re going there.
Wouldn’t be fall without another chili recipe! Come on. I know you want to try a new one. I can barely even use the same one each time. What is it about chili that just makes you want to do whatever the heck you want?
In this case, make a quick spicy chicken version.
Then cover it in beer biscuits. Not just any beer biscuits. PUMPKIN beer biscuits.
(Just be glad I didn’t make pumpkin spice latte biscuits or something.)
Steamy Monday shots. This is just the epitome of autumn for me. Right here. RIGHT HERE.
I’d cannonball in but I might burn my head off.
I’m on a quest. A quest right this second to find the best pumpkin beer. And if you didn’t think I was already basic enough, well… there you go. I want your pumpkin beer suggestions (or perfume beer, as my dad calls it) because it’s October and we can drink it for five minutes.
I’ve never been into pumpkin beer ever – but last year the fact that I couldn’t drink it made me dying to find one I love this year. So far, I’ve only done the leinenkugel harvest patch and the jack o’ traveler and both kind of left me with, like “hey, why doesn’t this taste like pie” questions.
Which yes, I realize is beyond ridiculous.
But is it too much to ask?? That my beer taste like pie?
Shhhhh. Don’t answer that.
Look at that though. Comfort food for the win. (I just wrote “for the WINE.”)
It’s kind of like a biscuit chili pot pie!
I didn’t even want to say that because I already made something similar. And I almost made that recipe because I was craving my biscuits dropped down in my chili, but I knew it needed a spin and needed to be in one big ass baking dish for mass consumption.
Think game day or Halloween weekend or something. Ooooh speaking of Halloween, since it’s on a Saturday are you going to make something fun? Please share because I’d like to make something, but apparently don’t want to put the work into looking for said thing. #millennial
The thing with chili is that it’s allllll about the toppings. At least for us. Right? I mean, the chili itself should be delicious of course but sometimes I wonder how much it even matters considering that we have cheese and red onion and and salsa verde and tortilla chips and cilantro and sour cream and cheese.
And did I mention cheese.
Not that it needs a mention, it’s a given. Especially since it’s in the biscuits too. Ooooooops.
My OTHER favorite thing about chili is how customizable is it. I used chicken but you could use ground beef, turkey or chicken, pulled pork or even short ribs. So much room for possibilities! I realize that I’m asking a lot to have you make soup and then essentially, bake soup with biscuits. So you totally don’t have to do all that – make the biscuits while the chili is simmering and pop ’em on top.
Oh yes. So how would you do it?!
Spicy Chicken Chili with Pumpkin Beer Biscuits
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 red onion, diced
- 2 bell peppers, diced (orange and red)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2/3 cup pumpkin beer
- 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans
- 8 ounces tomato puree
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- for topping: queso fresco, sour cream or greek yogurt, green onions, diced red onion, fresh cilantro, crushed red pepper, avocado slices, lime wedges, tortilla strips or chips
cheesy pumpkin beer biscuits
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 sticks, 3/4 cup cold butter, cut into tiny pieces
- 6 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 1/4 cups pumpkin beer
Instructions
- Season the chicken with the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin and cayenne. Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter. Add the chicken and cook until golden and deeply browned on both sides. I cover the pot while doing this and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and place on a plate. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive and butter. Stir in the onion, peppers and garlic. Cook until softened, stirring occasionally, for 6 to 8 minutes.
- In the meantime, shred or chop the chicken into pieces. I throw it in my stand mixer to shred! Add the chicken back into the skillet and stir. Add the crushed red pepper and tomato paste, stirring well to distribute. Cook, stirring often, for 5 to 6 more minutes. Increase the heat slightly and pout in the pumpkin beer to deglaze the pot. Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release any flavored bits! Add in the whole tomatoes, tomato sauce, pinto beans and tomato puree. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, brown sugar and nutmeg. Bring in a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Simmer for at least 30 minutes, or until you’re ready to eat! Before eating, I like to taste and seasoning additionally if needed (more salt, pepper or chili powder).
cheesy pumpkin beer biscuits
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and soda, and whisk until combined. Using a fork, pastry blender or your hands, add butter pieces to the flour and mix until coarse little crumbles remain. Stir in the grated cheese. Make a well in the center and pour in beer, stirring with a large spoon until just combined, not overmixing. Use your hands if needed to bring the dough together – I did.
- Pat the dough into a circle that is about 1 1/2 inches thick. Using a biscuit/cookie cutter, cut the dough into rounds and place on a nonstick baking sheet if baking aline. You may need to bring the dough together and flatten it more to get the last few biscuits. Additionally, you could also just drop large spoonfuls of batter on the baking sheet and form them that way. Baker for 10-12 minutes, or until golden on top.
- If you’d like to bake the biscuits ON the chili, scoop the chili in a large baking dish [9×13 inch at least] and place the dough rounds on top. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the dish from the oven and gently lift up on the biscuits. When they sit on the chili the bottoms can take longer to bake, so lift slightly (you can flip if you’d like, but it won’t be as pretty!) and lower back down. Cover the dish with foil and bake again for another 15 minutes, or until the biscuits are set. Make sure to check the bottoms before serving!
Did you make this recipe?
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this is exxxactly what I want to see on a Monday.
131 Comments on “Spicy Chicken Chili with Pumpkin Beer Biscuits.”
I love that you wrote “for the WINE” I do that all the time. I think my fingers are trying to tell me something.
BUT, I also love beer. And biscuits. and steamy monday shots. So I need this cozy bowl of deliciousness for dinner! Pinned!
This looks fantastic! And if you want a pumpkin beer that tastes like pie, try Southern Tier Pumking. Tasty!
I was going to suggest Southern Tier Pumking also! I’ve tried just about every pumpkin beer under the sun and this one is the best. Tastes like pie, but also still like beer. It’s so good!
I was going to suggest Pumking as well! It’s mad pricey (like $95 a case) but it definitely has that pumpkin pie taste. Too sweet for me in fact (although, I like notoriously hoppy IPAs) but it might be the taste you’re trying to find if you’re looking for a sweeter beer!
Local serves it with a caramel rim around the glass, and Steel Cactus serves it with a cinnamon sugar rim if you’re ever down the Southside :)
thanks guys!! definitely going to try.
I find Southern Tier’s Pumking not pie like at all… well unless your pie just tastes like fresh pumpkin. It’s really good though!
Harpoon U.F.O Pumpkin!!! ??
OMG, this is Monday PERFECTION! Love the idea of pumpkin beer in biscuits. I love pumpkin beer but often get sick of it after…like half of one. It’s good but only in small doses for me. Our favorite is Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale. The Leinenkugel you mention is good too.
Pumpkin beer biscuits?! That is genius. I’m so excited to make those for Fall. I’m not sure if you wanted us to share a costume or treat we made for Halloween. I made some Tremors Cupcakes and last year I made Strawberry Monster Cupcakes.
http://yummycrumble.com/tremors-cupcakes/
http://yummycrumble.com/monster-strawberry-cupcakes/
Can’t say I love beer. But I love it in recipes. Pumpkin beer biscuits? Um. Wow. Mind blowing. Like the day I discovered they make Uggs for men. Wife forbids though.
I remember about a week ago on your ‘On Doing’ post you wrote something about being 100% your authentic selves in both realms of your life – family and work. And about creating great content.
This is incredible content! It looks delicious and I’ve pinned it and it’s what I love about your recipes – it’s a creative leap from something I know and love but I couldn’t have got there without your help and steamy photography.
So much love. xx
this may be the best comment ever. THANK YOU.
Cigar City Brewing Good Gourd is my absolute favorite!! ??
I just had this last week! It was SO GOOD! Cigar City is amazing.
There’s lots of good pumpkin beers (I second the Southern Tier one, there’s also New Glarus Pumpkin Pie Lust), but you might like ciders better. I like Pumpkin Spice by Seattle Cider Co. – if you can find that one, it’s amazing.
i agree, i feel like i already know that i like ciders better. ha!
That looks amazing! Will definitely be trying this. :)
As far as pumpkin beers go, my husband and I finally found one this year we love more than any pumpkin beers we tried last year! Try New Belgium’s “Pumpkick” beer. It’s great!
I like Pumpkick too! I do not think it tastes like pie, but that was a plus for me.
It looks wonderful, I would absolutely love to eat this. I assume I could replace the pumpkin beer with regular one? As much as I would love to taste pumpkin beer, I haven’t even of it until now and i am pretty sure there is no way I could buy it in Germany.
yes, you definitely can!
My absolute favorite pumpkin beer is Pumpkin Porter by Four Peaks . It’s made locally in Arizona. Smythe favorite is Pumpkik by New Belgium!!
My favorite pumpkin beers are Dogfish Head Punkin & Fegley’s Devious Pumpkin. They are very flavorful but not in your face like some of the seasonals, like Southern Tier.
Mmmmm yes! Welcome to warm fall coziness !!
You’re amazing. This is amazing. I love chili, and yes I swear I never make it the same each time. I am also totally digging the idea of adding the biscuits on top and baking it!
I have pinned this and I will be trying it. My family will go crazy for this.
xoxoBella | http://xoxobella.com
Beer (or wine) in ALL THE THINGS! This looks so darn cozy. I can’t even deal!
Those biscuits look amazing! I’m definitely going to be trying them sometime this fall!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Here’s a list of the 47 best and worst pumpkin ales (we like New Belgium Pumpkick):
http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/10/the-great-pumpkin-beer-list-the-best-and-worst-pumpkin-ales.html
woohoo thanks!
I was on a serious mission to find the most pumpkin pie-like pumpkin beer a few years ago and I still standby my faves: Schlafly Pumpkin and PumKing (brewery is Southern Tier). I think it’s a nursing thing (my daughter is 11 months) but I’ve been AAALLL about beer since I gave birth. Or maybe making up for lost drinking time? Cheers!
these are my two suggestions as well! I don’t like beer that “suggests” pumpkin notes. I like pie beer. These two fit the bill.
good to know, haha! and kat, it increases milk supply sooo there’s that… :)
I third Schlafly! O’Fallon Brewery has a pretty good pumpkin beer, too.
Southern Tier Pumpking, and Dogfish Head Punkin..Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale is def the most pie tasting beer ive tried and if you like beer that tastes like dessert-not your fathers root beer!
Free State’s Oktoberfest is hands down my favorite right now! If you can find it in your area then I would definitely recommend it.
This is incredible, those pumpkin biscuits, everything! And LOVE the photos!
My favorite is Blue Moon’s pumpkin beer (might be called pumpkin patch? I can’t quite remember) Not super pumpkin pie-y but a nice spicy pumpkin flavor and not too sweet, just how I like it :) biscuits look amazing!! definitely making those this week. Thanks for another excellent recipe!
Yep, like other people, I love Pumpking pumpkin beer the best. I cannot wait to make this – going on the top of my list of things to make! Happy Monday!
I’m seriously freaking out right now. You have brilliantly combined two of my favorite Fall meals and made something that makes me so, so happy. Chicken pot pie with biscuits is my jam and I have been craving chili with cornbread all week – this is so perfect! Ah, I love you!
Shipyard Pumpking, hands down best pumpkin beer! UFO pumpkin is pretty good too, but best if draught.
Amazing photos as always! Love the step-by-step shots of you adding ingredients little by little. SO DELICIOUS!
Yum! I made chili on Saturday this weekend. Gonna have to try this too. I like the idea of nutmeg in this one.
Blockhouse has a good pumpkin beer, tastes just like pumpkin pie. Since you mentioned you’re in pgh…you could try a sampler at Market District/Market District Express on rt.19 South. Trax farms even does a sampler, or so they did last fall, I haven’t been there for a little while.
Fat Jack by Sam Adams is good. Its in a larger single bottle. My husband and I enjoy that one, its not super sweet, but not lacking either. It is on the dark side. We usually buy that at our beer store in Giant Eagle in South Fayette (its not in the refrigerators).
ooooh we haven’t been to trax in the last few years but it’s on our list this year!
I’ve made an official/unofficial (because really, it was just me) study of pumpkin beers. I want one to have actual pumpkin taste, and if I want the spices, I’ll go for Oktoberfest style (Great Lakes and Yuengling are my fave Oktoberfests). After dozens of taste tests, I’ve found Southern Tier Pumking to be my favorite (it comes in large bottles only) – it’s the most pumpkin flavor and a little bit of spice. Rouge makes a limited edition pumpkin patch (in a bright orange bottle, using pumpkins they grew on their own farm) and it’s very pumpkin, but not quite as smooth as Pumpking. New Belgium released Pumpkick, which has a little bit of cranberry – very good, a nice twist. And Dogfish Head Punkin Ale is always solid, though not as good to me as Pumking. Hope you find a winner! Be warned, many pumpkin beers out there are just spice and no pumpkin flavor. So make your own 6 packs where you can or you’ll be mourning the excess not tasty beer.
ahhh thank you! and i’ve discovered that too – lots of spice, not a lot of pumpkin.
I bet you’d like a pumpkin beer that has nice vanilla flavors thrown in! Both Spring House Braaaiins! Pumpkin Ale and Southern Tier Pumpking have distinct vanilla flavors in them. We’re loving the Block House Brewing Pumpkin Ale, though, and it’s local for you!
Schlafly Pumpkin is my favorite, by far! Dogfish Head Drunkin’ Punkin is also fab :)
Pumking by Southern Tier. Hands down the best, especially if you can get it on draft.
Runner Ups: Pumpkin Spice Latte by Atwater Brewery, Ichabod Ale by New Holland Brewing Co (cinnamon sugar rim!), Jaw-Jacker Ale by Arcadia Brewing Co.
Also this chili looks amazing, hello dinner.
YES!! High five for Michigan beer!
You have to try Elysian’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale…it’s the most pumpkin pie like beer I’ve had. I also really like New Belgium’s Pumpkick, which contains cranberries in addition to the pumpkin.
I’m telling you right now, Pumpking is overrated. I like it, but there are so many better fall beers out there. If you want Pumpkin Pie – try Lancaster Baked Pumpkin Ale. It’s a party in your mouth, for real. We have seasonal beer tasting parties, and fall is always the best! I’m in Pittsburgh!! Our fall party is Oct. 30! WE CAN BE IRL FRIENDS.
um OMG i sort of want to do this.
We’re big nerds a have little tasting glasses for people and charts so they can rate each beer…..totally worth it.
OMG! It looks so delicious.I like this & will definitely try this once.Pumpkin is one of my favorite & I must will love to eat this.
Thanks for share such a amazing recipe.
Chili for me is all about the toppings, and those beer biscuits are everything I want and need in my life.
Try punk’n beer by uinta. As I drink a leiny’s harvest patch, AND I had the travelers this weekend I would say punk’n is my fave so far! We had 5 pumpkin options this weekend at a tailgate and those are the three I bought ? happy pumpkin beer hunting!!
Check out Uinta Oak Jacked Pumpkin Ale. And if you want actual pie flavor, you may have to delve into pumpkin porters and stouts…
I love love love Dogfish Punkin! Hands down my favorite pumpkin beer. Blue Moon’s pumpkin is super good too…and easy to find (bonus!). Sam Adam’s Pumpkin Patch isn’t bad either.
I really like Southern Tier’s Pumpking but it is pricier as other ladies have mentioned and I kind of don’t care for the large bottles.
Anyway!
I’m definitely making this for dinner sometime this week. YUM!
Wait … shredding chicken in the stand mixer? How? What paddle/attachment?? This is blowing my mind.
Perfume beer, lol – great one, Pop!! I go back and forth on if I like my beers tasting like pie, or just the spice. Either way I am also on this quest, so if you find the perfect beer I’m all ears!
I had my whole October planed with all of these pumpkin recipes and I was like ‘ok, this is set, its going to take something really super amazing to switch out one of these dishes!’ Yeah, this recipe is totally that amazing. Just added it, can’t wait to make it! Thank you for sharing!!
Toppings on chili or bust! This looks excellent!! Thanks for sharing!
One look at this and I feel all warm and cozy inside. Perfect for these cooler nights we’ve been getting.
Your chili looks amazing! I love that you added the idea to bake the biscuits on top of the chili. Baked chili / stews taste so much richer than simmered in my opinion. I am in a chili mood too, if only for the two cool days this week. Chile Verde for me this week – https://sprinkleandadash.wordpress.com/2015/10/06/chile-verde/
I’ll be making yours for sure this fall. Yum!
This is why you need a dutch oven–it transitions from stove top to oven without having to change cooking vessels. I’ve only baked cornbread on chili before…the biscuits look yummy.
wolaver’s pumpkin ale is the best pumpkin beer, imo.
Southern Tier Pumking is going to be your best bet for something that’s widely available. It’s fantastic. Cigar City Good Gourd is generally considered the best but is crazy hard to find. But should you ever get the chance (especially if you’re ever in Florida, then you may come across it!), definitely try it. Terrapin Pumpkinfest is another great one. And for something not pumpkin but still awesome, Funky Buddha’s Sweet Potato Casserole is really good.
I love craft beer! Haha. Anyway, this recipe looks awesome as usual. Can’t wait to try it!!
Can I suggest using homemade beans? I honestly think taking the time to make them makes ALL the difference in the taste of the chili. Canned beans just don’t taste the same! Usually I make a big batch of homemade beans & freeze them in individual freezer bags to use in my chilis/stews, etc.
Also – white chicken chili vs. your type of ‘red’ chicken chili… I’ll have to try both & see which is preferable!