I recently started using this recipe for the chili sauce.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
4 ounces sweet Italian sausage, casing removed
1 cup chopped sweet onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Dashes of salt and pepper to personal taste
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and sausage to the pot breaking it up into small pieces with a fork. The smaller the pieces, the better your chili will be!
Continue cooking the meat until browned and no longer pink, approximately 7-8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the meat from the pot and transfer to a large bowl. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of fat.
Add the onion to the pot with the reserved fat. Cook the onion for 3-4 minutes or until softened. Stir in the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne, paprika and tomato paste to the onion mixture stirring to combine. Continue to cook the onions until the tomato paste turns a deep Burgundy color, approximately 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the tomato sauce, brown sugar, espresso powder and vinegar. Return the beef and sausage back to the pot and stir to combine.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
Check for seasoning again adding salt and pepper, if necessary. Serve immediately.
I use all beef franks.