Chilli con carne will be the 'best ever' if you add 1 unusual secret ingredient

Chilli con carne is one of those classic dishes that just work. Rich, spicy, and packed with flavour, it's the kind of meal that brings people together - whether it's for a quick midweek dinner, a lazy Sunday cook-up, or a big batch for freezing.

But even the most reliable recipes can be improved. And according to BBC Good Food, there's one unusual secret ingredient that could take your chilli to a whole new level of depth and deliciousness: dark chocolate.

A few squares of good-quality dark chocolate stirred in at the end of cooking is the clever twist that chefs and home cooks alike are using to create a richer, more complex chilli con carne - without turning it into a dessert.

At first glance, chocolate might seem like an odd addition to a savoury meat dish. But there's a good reason why it works so well, especially in chilli, which is already built on layers of flavour.

The bitterness of dark chocolate balances out the acidity of the tomatoes and the heat of the spices, adding a smooth, slightly smoky richness. It doesn't make the chilli taste sweet - instead, it deepens the flavour in a way that's hard to pinpoint but instantly noticeable.

To get the best results, opt for a high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids. You don't need much - just a few squares (about 20-30g) stirred into the pot in the last 5-10 minutes of cooking.

The chocolate should melt completely into the sauce, leaving no trace behind except for a glossy finish and a deeper, fuller flavour.

Some cooks also like to add a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder alongside the chocolate for an even bolder punch. It might sound strange, but it's a trick borrowed from Mexican mole sauces, where chocolate and chilli have long been paired together to a mouthwatering effect.

If you've been making the same chilli con carne for years, this could be the small but mighty upgrade it needs. It's easy, inexpensive, and uses an ingredient you might already have in the cupboard.