January: Smoky Slow Cooker Chili

For the new Test Kitchens Secrets column, our resident pork and smoke expert Mike Wilson created this chili that offers huge flavor. A smoked ham hock, cooked with the chili and then discarded, adds just the right amount of smokiness with minimal effort. The best part is, though it cooks for five to eight hours, you can just set up the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a steaming bowl of fresh, homemade chili with no effort after work.

View Recipe: Smoky Slow Cooker Chili