Chili is something that can be endlessly iterated, tweaked, and experimented with, making every bowl you eat taste a little different than the next. Many restaurants and cooks have a way of putting their own twist on this classic and comforting dish, but there’s one not-so-secret secret ingredient many may have never thought to add to chili — peanut butter.

Peanut butter has a unique, rich nuttiness that not only adds a layer of depth and dimension to the flavor of the chili, but also perfectly complements the spice typically found in the dish. This is because high-fat foods like peanut butter help neutralize capsaicin, which is the chemical that gives spicy foods their heat, so it actually helps balance the spice.

Beyond flavor, peanut butter also goes a long way in improving the texture of your chili, thickening it up and adding healthy fats and some extra protein in the process. The best part is that it will work well with any protein, so whether you like your chili with beef, pork, turkey, chicken, or just beans, peanut butter will make it shine.