A classic, comforting bowl of chili gets elevated with fragrant Moroccan spices, tender ground lamb, and seasonal veggies for an all in one meal. Originally posted October 2020. Last updated October 2022.
October is National Chili month and we have cozy weather here in Houston so I've been wanting nothing more than endless steaming bowls of this Moroccan spiced chili made with lamb. In case you're also in the mood for flavorful chili, I'm sharing the delicious recipe with you today. It's a simple, one-pot chili recipe that you'll want to make again and again! Let's get into the delicious details.
If you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my other easy, cozy fall meal ideas like no-boil spaghetti & meatballs and Texas chili mac. Try my dairy-free tomato basil chicken soup, too!
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Moroccan Chili Recipe
Moroccan Inspired Chili Recipe
Should chili have beans?
It seems like I can't talk about chili without answering the question does chili have beans? So, no, traditional chili does not have beans in it. BUT if you're looking to make a vegetable chili recipe and swapping out the meat I'll allow it. Just know that chili purists would say that's technically not a chili and more of a stew. But anyway, let's talk about what is in Moroccan chili with lamb.
What's In Moroccan-Spiced Lamb & Veggie Chili?
My Moroccan chili ingredients are simple and flavorful. Here's what to add to your grocery list.
- Beef Broth
- Collard Greens
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Ground Lamb
- Moroccan Spice Blend (more on what that is below)
- Mushrooms
- Olive Oil
- Sweet Potato
- Yellow Onion
As far as tools to make this lamb chili recipe with sweet potatoes and collard greens, nothing fancy is needed. You'll want a good dutch oven to cook everything in, as well as a sharp knife and sturdy cutting board. Grab your kitchen spoon, too!
What Are Moroccan Spices?
What's the secret to making good chili from scratch? Anyone talking about how to make good chili would likely tell you there's some unthinkable secret ingredient to their chili but I'm not stingy with details. I'm here to help you. It's the seasoning. I specifically use a mediterranean or Moroccan blend of spices for this unique chili recipe.
Moroccan cuisine is known for well-rounded spice blends. Ras el hanout is a famous Moroccan spice mixture that's made up of 27 different spices. There's also Harissa, which is made with dried chiles, garlic, cumin, caraway, and coriander. Here's my Moroccan spice blend for chili.
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Coriander
- Cumin
- Ginger
- Smoked Paprika
- Turmeric
How to Serve Veggie & Lamb Chili
I sometimes garnish this unique chili recipe with a squeeze of lemon and chopped mint, which are also mainstay flavors of Moroccan cooking. And a bowl of this lamb chili with Moroccan spices simply must be accompanied by a piece of cornbread (a corner piece, if you're like me) so make sure to have that on deck. I rarely go the homemade route with cornbread because Jiffy works just fine in my household but I do like to mix up a bit of Harissa and honey to slather over top. It's just the best. Do you go for cornbread with your chili or no?
Making a PCOS Friendly Chili Recipe
If you're looking for a hormone healthy chili, this is it. Here are the relevant recipe notes for chili that's good for managing PCOS.
- Spices like cinnamon, coriander, and turmeric provide folate, antioxidants, and other boosts that support improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation.
- Using organic ingredients and quality grass-fed beef or lamb in your chili is best as they have fewer excess hormones and hormone-disrupting agents as well as a better ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.
- Dark leafy greens like collard greens are great for liver detoxification, and provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which support digestion.
- Pulses or legumes like chickpeas contain d-chiro-inositol and are a fiber and protein rich lower GI carbohydrate so they make a great substitute or complement to the sweet potatoes in this recipe. If you don't have sweet potato on hand, try making this a Moroccan chickpea chili recipe.
I hope you'll make a big pot of Moroccan inspired chili for your family very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
How to Make Moroccan Spiced Chili
Moroccan Spiced Beef & Veggie Chili
Ingredients
- olive oil
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1 small sweet potato peeled and diced
- 3-4 collard green leaves chopped
- 3 baby bella mushrooms chopped
- 2 cups beef broth
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2-3 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ tablespoon ground ginger
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ tablespoon cumin
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
- crushed red pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add about 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large saucepan or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add in onion, garlic, ground lamb, and spices. Break up ground lamb with spoon and stir to evenly incorporate spices.
- Cook until ground lamb is browned through and onion and garlic are fragrant (about 8 minutes).
- Remove ground lamb from pot and add a bit more olive oil followed by chopped collard greens and diced sweet potato. Saute for about three minutes then add add back cooked ground lamb plus crushed tomato, broth, and mushrooms to pot.
- Bring chili to a boil then reduce heat to low. Cover pot and simmer for about 25 minutes.
- Remove from heat and serve hot, preferably with cornbread!
Notes
- This recipe makes a fairly thick chili. Add more beef broth for a thinner more soupy chili.
Nutrition
Anna G says
Could I replace the collard greens with kale (added later in the procès)? I have never cooked with collard greens before and I’m not familiar with their taste and texture. I’ll probably add some chickpeas and harissa when I make it soon for a cider press party.
Jazz says
Hi, Anna. I encourage you to try out the collards in this recipe, as the texture is nearly identical to kale but they aren't as bitter. Chickpeas and harissa would be a great addition!
Taneisha says
This recipe turned out amazing, so glad I found it! I loved the addition of Collard Greens, any chance I get to include them in a meal, I do...so this was great!
Chenée Lewis says
The veggies and spices in this chili were such a welcome treat, and so full of flavor! My new favorite chili recipe!!!
Capri says
I love that this chili is loaded with veggies! The flavors are absolutely perfect! I am definitely making this again! Thanks for the recipe
Barry J. says
There's so much that I love about this recipe. First off, I'm surprised that I had all of the spices on hand to whip this up. Second, I was hesitant about adding in both the mushrooms and the sweet potatoes, but they were a very pleasant surprise. Lastly, Jiffy is always my go to for cornbread because I'm too lazy to attempt to make it from scratch. Glad to hear that I'm not the only one. Thanks so much for this amazing recipe!
Samiah Nicole says
This chili is definitely a crowd pleaser. Soooo yummy!!!
Immaculate Ruému says
A really good spice mix made the chilli extra hearty. Delicious and perfect for the winter season
Britney says
This recipe took me back to 2013 when I visit Casablanca and Marrakech! The flavors came together so deliciously, I loved every spoon full!
Robin says
The Middle Eastern spices are what made this the best chili ever!
Uncle Bert says
You had me at coriander and cumin. I have a Moroccan co-worker that I'm about to surprise with this recipe! I agree that chili should be able to stand alone without beans!
Marta says
I've started using Pre meats recently and I'm floored by the quality! This Moroccan spiced beef chili was just what I needed last night as the temperatures dropped here! Perfectly spiced and warm.
Tamara says
As soon as the temperatures dropped, I knew it was time to make this chili! It is absolutely delicious, and has become one of my families favorites!