Slow Cooker Chili

Imagine coming home after a long day to the warm and comforting aroma of this Slow Cooker Chili. With tender chunks of beef, a hearty blend of spices, and a thick and savory sauce, this recipe is sure to satisfy your cravings. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make – just let it simmer all day in your slow cooker and load it up with your favorite toppings for a delicious and personalized meal.

When the weather turns cold, we make this Taco Soup on repeat, and my kids even love taking it to school for lunch! We also make this Zuppa Toscana and Green Chile Stew often.

Before You Get Started

Here are a few tips to keep in mind so that you have a perfect pot of chili every time:

• GROUND BEEF: Ground beef is what people use most for crockpot chili, but you can also substitute it with ground turkey, ground chicken, sausage, or a combination of these.
• BEANS: I love using chili beans and black beans in my chili, but feel free to use kidney beans, which are also what you typically find in chili.
• MAKE-AHEAD: You can brown the ground beef with the onion, garlic, and spices up to 2 days in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Then, when you are ready to make the chili, just dump everything in and cook.

How To Make Crock Pot Chili

This slow cooker chili is so easy to make, and the slow cooker simmers it all day long for you!

Step 1: Brown the Meat

Sear the ground beef, onion, garlic, and seasonings in a large skillet. Cooking the beef this way allows you to drain excess fat before transferring it to the slow cooker. If you don’t use extra lean ground beef, skipping the browning and draining step could lead to a greasy chili.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients in the Crock Pot

Add all the ingredients, including the browned meat, to the crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours. You can also cook it on HIGH for 4 hours, but I recommend the LOW setting.

** Flavor Tip: Wait to taste the chili at the end, seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.

FAQs

Tips and Suggestions:

• BEANS: You can swap out the beans for any bean you prefer. Just note that removing the chili beans will reduce the flavor, so you may want to add more chili powder.
• Use a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies for more flavor.
• Not all chili powders are equal! Some brands have better flavor than others.
• Be sure to brown the beef and not just steam the beef. Overcrowding your sautee pan will cause the beef to steam in the liquid rather than brown, resulting in less than flavorful meat.
• Other things you may add to the chili when cooking: Bell pepper (add with the onion when browning), jalapeno pepper (add with the onion), and 1 teaspoon cocoa powder (adds a depth of flavor).

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Chili

There are loads of toppings perfect for serving with chili! Things like diced onion, avocado, sour cream, cheese, corn chips, cilantro, or crackers. Try serving it with this Buttermilk Cornbread or even these yummy Cornbread Muffins.

Use it to make chili dogs! Top a hot dog with chili, shredded cheese, and diced onion for a classic chili dog.

Try topping a baked potato with chili and any of the toppings listed above for a hearty, comforting meal.

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