Crock Pot Chili
Crock Pot Chili is the ultimate comfort food recipe for a cold night! It’s meaty, hearty, quick & easy, and OH, SO GOOD to the last bite!
A big bowl of Crock Pot Chili is just what fall and winter weather calls for! This recipe (infinitely better than anything you buy in a can!) uses traditional ingredients like ground beef, onion, tomatoes, beans, and loads of seasonings for incredible flavor! This slow cooker recipe only takes 15 minutes to throw together before it simmers all day to feed your hungry crowd!
The Best Chili Recipe Can Still Be Customized!
You don’t have to change one single thing for this crockpot recipe to give you a rich, meaty, spectacular bowl of chili! Make it “as is” and enjoy it with crackers…or top it with the garnishes that make you happy – cheese, onion, cilantro, sour cream, whatever!
But this recipe can also be customized to fit your award-winning chili recipe! Personalize it with the addition of diced veggies like carrots, sweet potato, or pumpkin. Add some rich flavor depth with a shot of espresso or bourbon. Try savory flavor enhancers like bacon, cinnamon, cocoa powder, or maple syrup. Spice it up with jalapenos or pepperoncini. The point is, this recipe is everything you need and can be anything you want!
Other Recipes to Serve with the Best Slow Cooker Chili
- Bacon Ranch Cheese Bread turns a loaf of French bread into the ultimate chili-dipping side dish!
- Try this Butternut Squash Cornbread for a fun twist on an old favorite!
Ingredients
Meat: A classic chili recipe starts with ground beef. More fat = more flavor, but leaner = healthier – the choice is yours!
Veggies: Chili has healthy ingredients like onion, tomatoes (strained AND diced), kidney beans, and black beans.
Herbs & Spices: The seasonings are what gives chili its incredible flavor! For this recipe, we use minced garlic, chili powder, sea salt, cumin, smoked paprika, and dried oregano.
Garnishes: Top your bowls of chili with whatever you like best, from grated cheese and sour cream to diced jalapenos and green onions. Yum!
How to Make Crock Pot Chili
STEP ONE: Spray the inside of the slow cooker with non-stick spray. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium until it’s no longer pink. Drain off the grease and add it to the slow cooker.
STEP TWO: Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Strain the liquid off the tomatoes and beans, then add all the ingredients, including the spices, to the crock pot. Stir gently to combine.
STEP THREE: Set the crockpot on LOW and cook for 6 to 8 hours.
STEP FOUR: Portion the chili straight into a big bowl, serve with bread or crackers, and garnish with your favorite chili toppings! ENJOY!
Tips for Success
- Add additional seasoning to the ground beef while it’s cooking. This gives the meat a “toasted” flavor you can’t get by adding dry seasonings at the end.
- A spoonful of something acidic, like apple cider or balsamic vinegar, adds a nice tanginess to the chili (and helps you digest the beans!).
- Make “Kentucky Style” chili by adding spaghetti noodles to add substance and texture!
- Make your chili seasoning with garlic powder, ground cumin, and Mexican oregano.
Can I Add Raw Meat into the Crockpot?
It is absolutely safe to put raw ground beef in your crock pot! Be sure to cook it for at least a couple of hours until it reaches 165 F before serving.
That said, browning ground beef with the spices BEFORE adding it to the slow cooker creates a more delicious, complex flavor base for your recipes.
What Ingredients Do I Need to Make Chili?
Chili is a wonderfully versatile recipe! The most common ingredients to make a classic chili are ground beef, onion, tomatoes or tomato sauce, kidney or black beans, and herbs and spices like garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano and cayenne. From there, you can add what you like to make it your own!
Other Choice Chili Recipes
- White Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili
- Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili
- Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
- Slow Cooker Copycat Wendy’s Chili
- Chili con Carne
Crock Pot Chili
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds 80/20 blend ground beef
- 1 large white onion peeled and diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 4 cups strained tomatoes
- 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 30 ounces red kidney beans drained and rinsed (2 cans)
- 15 ounces black beans drained and rinsed (1 can)
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
Toppings
- White onion diced
- Cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Spray the crock of a slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, cook the ground beef until browned and no longer pink, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain the excess grease and transfer the beef to the slow cooker.
- Add the onion, garlic, strained tomatoes, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, chili powder, salt, cumin, paprika, and oregano. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
- Stir and then portion into bowls. Top with shredded cheddar and diced white onion for garnish.
