Smoked chili - individual ingredients or entire pot?

[reens]

I'm sorry, I really am, I looked through 4 pages of posts that were related to this but didn't come with much of an answer. I know it's partially a preference thing, but I'm curious to hear what worked for others and what didn't. 

I'm planning on making a smoked chili this weekend. If I use ground beef and some pork cubes, do you think it's worth smoking those separately with the beans and then putting them into a crockpot, or just throw the whole thing in the smoker for a while? 

Thank you in advance!

 

[thesmokist]

Smoked chili is a good idea might give that a try! I think just putting the whole pot in the smoker and occasionally stirring would be the easier way to go and you'd still achieve a good flavor and not have to put in all the extra work of smoking things individualyou and then adding them together but to each their own

 

[chef jimmyj]

Depends on your goal...You want strong smoke? Spread out the meat and anything else you add and smoke at 200°F for a couple hours. Combine and finish the cook. For a lighter smoke flavor, put it all together in a large roasting pan and smoke at 225-300°F, stirring occasionally, until cooked and reduced to the thickness you like...JJ

 

[reens]

Perfect, exactly what I was looking for since I haven't done it before. Looks like I'll be spreading everything out separately in there. Thank you!!

 

[smokingpigfoods]

If I use ground beef and some pork cubes, do you think it's worth smoking those separately with the beans and then putting them into a crockpot, or just throw the whole thing in the smoker for a while? 

Thank you in advance!

Did you smoke the beans?

 

[reens]

I actually decided against it right before. I was using a couple pounds of a roast and another pound of sausage, so I was afraid it might be too much…and it might’ve been had I done it. I still love the chili taste and it really was just right with only doing the meat. Got lots of compliments and I enjoyed it this way too, so I doubt I’ll go for more smoke on anything but the meat.

 

[smokingpigfoods]

I have often thought about smoking beans for soups, but was thinking it might loose the flavor when i soak them as I change water 2-3 times.

 

[reens]

You're talking about dried beans? I haven't done it, but I would smoke them after they're done soaking and ready to be cooked. But I could be misunderstanding...

 

[smokingpigfoods]

I was thinking dried beans.

 

[SmokinAl]

I won second place in a chili cook off with all the meat in the chili smoked, then added to the pot. The judges loved the smoked flavor.

Al