Hawaiian Chili - Zippy's Inspired Chili Recipe (2024)

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Jazz up your summer hots dogs with this delicious Hawaiian Chili, which was inspired by the famous Zippy’s Restaurant Chili in Hawaii.

What is Zippy’s Chili

Zippy’s is a famous restaurant in Hawaii that serves a variety of local favorites. It’s similar to a Denny’s, but with a Hawaii-style flavor. And one of the menu items they are famous for is the Zippy’s Chili. It’s well known in Hawaii and even comes in a vegetarian version. Of course, it’s not the typical chili. It uses Portuguese sausage, bell peppers, and the secret weapon…mayo!

Hawaiian Chili Recipe

You may think of Chili as a fall or winter food, but in California it’s a summer food. If not for the virus situation, there would have been a bunch of chili cooks off in California starting in May through June. Hopefully, we’ll all be able to be out and about in 2021.

One of the reasons I wanted to make this chili is because my hubby’s mom used to work at Zippy’s and he loves the chili. Since we don’t live in Hawaii anymore, we have to buy frozen Zippy’s chili at our local Asian mart and it’s pretty expensive for a small box that feeds two people. So, without further ado, let’s get to the recipe!

Hawaiian Chili Ingredients

  • Ground beef – I use one pound of 80/20 ground beef.
  • Mild Portuguese sausage – Can be substituted with hot Portuguese sausage for heat, but this isn’t typical.
  • Bacon – Use thick cut or 5 – 6 slices of regular bacon.
  • Vegetables – Celery, Onion, & Bell pepper (don’t skip this)
  • Spices – Cumin, Oregano, Paprika, Bay leaf, and salt/peper
  • Bush’s Best Chili Beans with Mild Chili Sauce or substitute with your favorite Chili Beans
  • Kidney beans, undrained
  • Tomato sauce – Will need two 8 ounce cans or one 16 oz. can.
  • Powdered chicken stock
  • Water
  • Brown sugar – Will add a bit of sweetness to the chili
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Ketchup or Heinz Chili Sauce
  • Red wine vinegar (optional)
  • Mayonnaise– secret ingredient

Kitchen Tools

  • Large pot – Should be big enough to make a large serving of chili.
  • Cutting board/knife or food processor – To dice and cut the vegetables
  • Meat masher or potato masher – Used to break up hamburger and create a smooth chili texture that is similar to Zippy’s Chili.
  • Spoon – Mixing and serving.
  • Measuring cups/spoons
  • Can opener

What to serve with Zippy’s Chili

In Hawaii, Zippy’s chili is usually served with rice. The chili already has vegetables and protein, so there isn’t anything else that needs to be served. But if you want to have a side, I suggest trying it with Hawaiian loaded macaroni salad and possibly a Fruit Jello Mold for dessert.

How to Make Zippy’s Chili

Hawaiian Chili - Zippy's Inspired Chili Recipe (2)

Zippy's inspired chili using Portuguese sausage and vegetables for a unique chili flavor. Great over rice or on hot dogs.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 - 10 oz. mild Portuguese sausage, finely chopped
  • 3 slices thick bacon, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup yellow or orange bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 2 T. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • 1 16oz can Bush's Best Chili Beans with Mild Chili Sauce, substitute with your favorite Chili Beans (undrained)
  • 1 15.5oz. can kidney beans, undrained
  • 2 8oz. cans tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp. powdered chicken stock
  • 1/2 - 1 cup water, add more water for a looser soup
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 to 1 tsp. brown sugar, to taste
  • 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 T. ketchup or Heinz Chili Sauce
  • 1 tsp. red wine vinegar (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 - 3 T. mayonnaise

Instructions

  1. Hawaiian Chili - Zippy's Inspired Chili Recipe (3) Prep all the ingredients before starting. Note: a food processor can be used to make prepping faster. Make sure to remove sausage casing before pulsing into hamburger sized bits.
  2. Hawaiian Chili - Zippy's Inspired Chili Recipe (4) In a large pot over medium high heat, brown hamburger. Use a potato masher or meat masher to break the meat into fine pieces. There shouldn't be any large chunks. Drain the meat. Return pot to the heat and add Portuguese sausage and bacon. Cook just until both the sausage and bacon are heated through. If there is an excess of oil, drain. Otherwise, the oil can be used to flavor the vegetables.
  3. Hawaiian Chili - Zippy's Inspired Chili Recipe (5) Add the celery, onions, and bell peppers to the pot. Cook until onions become translucent.
  4. Lower the heat to medium. Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and paprika. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  5. Add in all remaining ingredients, except for the mayonnaise, into the pot. Heat for 10 minutes, occassionally stirring. Lower the heat to medium low, and simmer for an additional 20 minutes.
  6. Do not skip this - Right before serving, add in the mayonnaise and serve over rice.

Notes

  • Serving sizes are with the addition of rice.
  • Do not skip the mayonnaise or Portuguese sausage. These add the unique Zippy's chili flavor. Mild Portuguese sausage can be substituted with hot if you prefer more heat.

Did you make this recipe?

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FAQs

What is Zippy's chili made of? ›

In a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until no longer pink. Add mushrooms, peppers and garlic, cook and stir 3 minutes, until vegetables are almost tender. Stir in water, tomatoes and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes.

What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

A cup of strong, brewed coffee will work wonders for your pot of chili, imparting a deep, roasted flavor that will make the chili taste like it simmered away all day long. For maximum flavor, reduce the coffee along with a blend of tomato paste, aromatic veggies and spices like we do in our Spicy Vegetarian Chili.

Why is chili so popular in Hawaii? ›

The Portuguese immigrants came to Hawaii from the Azores in the late 19th century, introducing their foods with an emphasis on pork, tomatoes and chili peppers, and built forno, their traditional beehive oven, to make pão doce, the Portuguese sweet bread and malasada.

Why put mayo in chili? ›

Mayo is the final ingredient that gets added to local Hawaiian-style chili when it is all done cooking. Something incredible happens when you incorporate a few tablespoons of mayo into this pot of chili. The liquid of the chili becomes thick & luscious.

What is a substitute for Hawaiian chili peppers? ›

Hawaiian chili peppers.

If you don't have any nearby you can replace with yellow peppers, thai chilies, or red serrano peppers.

Does Zippy's chili have beans? ›

Zippy's famous chili. Available in Original Recipe, No Bean, and Vegetarian varieties. All items are cold and require reheating. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice, but calorie needs may vary.

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What is a good secret ingredient for chili? ›

Canned Puréed Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a great addition to chili because it adds body, providing a natural creaminess and richness to your chili. This helps smooth things out a bit in that sea of meat and beans. It's flavorful too. It has a sweet earthiness to it that, when cooked, gets even tastier.

What is Hawaii's national dish? ›

Saimin, Hawaii's national dish, is a soup with thin wheat noodles and a dashi broth with shrimp, pork and eggs. Japanese, Chinese and Filipino cultural influences come together in a flavorful blend served hot and eaten with chopsticks.

Is Zippy's only in Hawaii? ›

Zippy's grew from simple beginnings in 1966, when brothers Francis and Charles Higa started their first restaurant on King Street in Honolulu. Through their hard work and vision, Zippy's has become a Hawaii institution, with 23 locations on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, and Las Vegas!

What kind of pepper is the Hawaiian Chili Pepper? ›

Hawaiian chile peppers, botanically classified as Capsicum frutescens, are small but hot peppers that are members of the Solanaceae or nightshade family.

Why do you put brown sugar in chili? ›

The brown sugar gave it a sweet/tangy flavor that reminded me of BBQ-sauce! Th chili was so good - it was hard to stop eating it! I did had some extra veggies (1 cl. garlic, 1 celery stalk, 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, 1 hot pepper) and used a can of diced tomatoes rather than tomato juice.

Why do you put apple cider vinegar in chili? ›

Cooking is often about finding a balance between these basic taste sensations, which is why apple cider vinegar can be exactly what you need to make your pot of chili a little brighter. Acids enhance the salty, umami-rich flavors already present in chili, and round out the sweetness, adding intricacy to the dish.

What does white vinegar do to chili? ›

Good news, it's easier than you think to perk up your pot of chili. All it takes is a splash of vinegar, which I bet you already have in the pantry. Stirred into the pot right before serving, a spoonful of vinegar brightens up the finished product, and gives it that full, rounded taste that was missing.

What is the original chili made of? ›

A recipe dating back to the 1850s describes dried beef, suet, dried chili peppers and salt, which were pounded together, formed into bricks and left to dry, which could then be boiled in pots in an army encampment in Monterrey, of what is now Nuevo León, Mexico.

What is real chilli made of? ›

The ICS defines Traditional Red Chili as "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients. Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed."

What makes Cincinnati chili different? ›

Traditional red chili often includes cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, though it's not limited to these spices. Cincinnati chili, on the other hand, has a sweeter edge with spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Some recipes also use cocoa powder.

What does traditional chili contain? ›

This Texas classic doesn't include beans or tomatoes, only beef, homemade chile paste, and a few flavorings. It's what Texans call a "Bowl o' Red" and tastes intensely of its two main ingredients. Take care to cook the chili at the barest possible simmer to avoid evaporating the sauce before the beef is tender.

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