The chili from Zippy's in Hawaii is iconic. From bowls ordered at the takeout counter to the giant bucket of chili (a potluck classic), and frozen portions sold at Costco…Zippy’s chili is local favorite. We grew up on this style of chili, and now you can make it at home! This Zippy's Chili Recipe tastes exactly like the restaurant (yes, there is a "secret" ingredient). Eat this chili as we do in Hawaii: over a big bowl of rice ^_^
We LOVE Zippy's chili. If you grew up in Hawaii or even visited in Hawaii, there's a good chance you've had Zippy's chili. You get it mainly at Zippy's but you can also buy it frozen from many supermarkets and even Costco and Sam's Club.
Getting shipped frozen Zippy's chili is almost tradition for those kids who go to college on the mainland. And at potluck parties, guarantee at least one person shows up with a giant bucket of Zippy's chili. Hits the spot so good.
Have you tried making Zippy's chili at home? It's surprisingly simple! There are many ingredients, yes, but they're common ingredients and not hard to get. Once you have everything, the chili comes together pretty fast.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need:
- Ground beef
- Portuguese sausage - Use 5 ounces which is half a Portuguese sausage stick. If you're on the mainland or can't find Portuguese sausage, it is ok to use chorizo (though the final recipe will taste slightly different).
- Onion
- Celery
- Green bell pepper
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Paprika
- Oregano
- Garlic
- Worcestershire sauce
- Tomato paste
- Pinto beans
- Kidney beans
- Chicken broth
- Bay leaves
- Kosher salt
- Kewpie mayonnaise - Can use regular mayonnaise if Kewpie is not available. But try to use Kewpie if you can.
Instructions
Let's get cooking! Note: If you have a food processor, it will help speed up the prep work for this recipe significantly. No worries if not, just hand chop.
Prepare the Portuguese sausage.
Chop the Portuguese sausage in a small food processor until it has a texture similar to ground meat. If you don't have a food processor, just chop by hand until the pieces are very small. Set aside.
Prepare the vegetables.
Next chop the vegetables: onion, celery, and green bell peppers. Chop it very finely. I put it all in the food processor (since I already used it for the Portuguese sausage) and chop, chop, chop.
Cook the vegetables.
In a big pot over medium high heat, add some neutral oil (like vegetable oil or avocado oil). Then add all the chopped vegetables and saute for 3 minutes.
Add the meat.
Add the ground beef and chopped Portuguese sausage to the pot. Saute and cook until the beef is browned, about 3 minutes.
Add the spices.
Then add all the spices (chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano) and minced garlic. Saute for 1 more minute until all the spices are evenly mixed.
Add tomato paste.
Then add the tomato paste. Mix well and saute for 2 minutes.
Add chicken broth, beans, and seasonings.
Add the chicken broth, beans (make sure to drain the cans of beans first), Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaves. Gently stir to mix.
Simmer.
Let the chili simmer for 1 hour with the lid on.
Add salt and Kewpie mayonnaise.
Then remove the lid, give the chili a taste. Add the salt...start with 1 teaspoon and add more if needed. Stir in the Kewpie mayonnaise (the "secret" ingredient). Gently stir, stir, stir. Taste once more and you're ready to eat!
Eat it good!!
This is how we eat chili in Hawaii: get a big bowl of hot, fresh cooked rice. Ladle the chilii on top, be generous with the chili. Eat with a spoon and enjoy ^_^
FAQ / Tips
If you're in Hawaii, you can buy Portuguese sausage everywhere. It's at all supermarkets and even Costco and Sam's Club. But if you're on the mainland or abroad, it is ok to use chorizo. The final recipe will taste slightly different, but still be delicious.
YES. In many ways, the mayonnaise (stirred in at the very last step of the recipe) is what makes this chili, Zippy's chili. The mayo adds flavor, but it also soften the color of the dish (giving it that iconic look - you know it's Zippy's chili when you see it). It also makes the chili the slightest bit creamy. If you are mayonnaise adverse or want to go lighter, use 1 tablespoon instead of 2 tablespoons.
We use Kewpie mayonnaise at home because I like the taste better. My recommendation: use Kewpie mayonnaise if possible, but regular mayonnaise is also fine (I'm pretty sure Zippy uses regular mayonnaise).
...have you noticed that prices for local ground beef is pretty much the same mainland ground beef? Sometimes even less. Buy local if you can ^_^
Zippy's Chili Recipe
Zippy's Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 5 ounces Portuguese sausage (5 ounces = half a stick). Sub with chorizo if Portuguese sausage isn't available.
- 1 large onion
- 5 stalks celery
- 1 large green bell pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 8 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 can tomato paste 6 ounces
- 1 can pinto beans 15-16 ounces
- 1 can kidney beans 15-16 ounces
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons Kewpie mayonnaise Use regular mayonnaise if Kewpie is not available.
Instructions
- Chop the Portuguese sausage in a small food processor until it has a texture similar to ground meat. If you don't have a food processor, just chop by hand until the pieces are very small. Set aside.
- Next chop the vegetables: onion, celery, and green bell peppers. Chop it very finely. I put it all in the food processor (since I already used it for the Portuguese sausage) and chop, chop, chop.
- In a big pot over medium high heat, add some neutral oil (like vegetable oil or avocado oil). Then add all the chopped vegetables and saute for 3 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and chopped Portuguese sausage to the pot. Cook until the beef is browned, about 3 minutes.
- Then add all the spices (chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano) and minced garlic. Saute for 1 more minute until the spices are well mixed.
- Then add the tomato paste. Mix well and saute for 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, beans (make sure to drain the cans of beans first), Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaves. Gently stir to mix. Let the chili simmer for 1 hour with the lid on.
- Then remove the lid, give the chili a taste. Add in the salt...start with 1 teaspoon and add more if needed. Stir in the Kewpie mayonnaise (the "secret" ingredient). Gently stir, stir, stir. Taste once more and you're ready to eat!
- This is how we eat chili in Hawaii: get a big bowl of hot, fresh cooked rice. Ladle the chili on top, be generous with the chili. Eat with a spoon and enjoy ^_^
Mahalo for Reading!