Valentina Ablaev
Our crockpot chili recipe is everything you’ve been looking for in a comfort meal. Each bowl of chili is loaded with tender ground beef, rich, flavorful broth, and all the toppings you’d like! Not to mention, this is a great recipe to double and serve the next day!
The Perfect Game Day Chili
Crockpot chili makes the perfect game-day food! Set it to cook the night before serving, and the crockpot keeps it warm while you’re serving. Serve along with all the classics, like a spicy buffalo dip and the best bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers.
Classic Chili
The crockpot makes this chili extra easy, but you can also go the classic route! A one-pot chili cooks in just 30 minutes on the stovetop, making a delicious dish. We also love our white chicken chili in the crockpot for a different spin on chili!
Ingredients for Crockpot Chili
- Ground beef – lean ground beef is the perfect protein for this chili.
- Veggies – Bulk up the chili with onion, carrots, green peppers, and garlic!
- Broth – We use beef broth for this chili, but you can also use chicken broth if preferred.
- Diced tomatoes – A can of diced tomatoes adds a great acidity and flavor to the chili pot.
- Beans – We use kidney beans, but you can use any type of bean, such as chili beans, black beans, or even pinto beans. Drain and rinse the beans before adding them to the pot.
- Chili seasoning – A classic chili blend of cumin, sugar, salt, pepper, and chili powder for incredible taste.
Refer to the recipe card below for a comprehensive list of ingredients and quantities.
Tools for this Recipe
- Our crockpot is the perfect slow cooker for chili.
- Our everyday pan is great for cooking up the beef and veggies before adding them to the pot.
Substitutions and Variations
Chili is a great dish to customize and make your own:
- Meat alternatives: Swap beef for ground turkey or ground chicken to make a leaner chili.
- Make it spicy: Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix for a kick.
- Vegetarian: Make the chili completely vegetarian by omitting the meat. Swap the beef out for more beans or vegetables!
How to Make Chili in the Crockpot
- Cook the beef. In a pan, saute the meat until mostly cooked, breaking it up as it cooks.
2. Cook veggies. Add the vegetables to the beef and cook until tender.
3. Add to crockpot. Add the cooked beef and vegetables to the crockpot, along with the broth, diced tomatoes, beans, and seasoning. Start the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
4. Serve. Serve a bowl of chili with all of your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
Toppings to Add
Spruce up each bowl of chili with our favorite chili toppings!
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Fresh green onions
- Fritos (they add the perfect crunch)
- Jalapenos
- Hot sauce
- Avocado
- Fresh cilantro
Chili in the Instant Pot
Don’t have a crockpot? No worries! You can also make an incredible chili in the Instant Pot.
- Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode and cook the ground beef and veggies as you would in a pan.
- Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.
- Allow the pressure to release, serve, and enjoy!
Expert Tips:
- Don’t skip browning the meat. I know you may not want to use an extra dish, but browning the meat and veggies is a must.
- Serving chili. When serving chili for a crowd, keep the crockpot on and serve directly from the dish. This way, the chili stays fresh and warm.
Serving Suggestions
- Classic comfort foods: Serve chili with cheesy mac and cheese or a classic grilled cheese sandwich.
- Side salad: Serve a hearty chili with a light and crisp coleslaw!
Store & Reheat Chili
This chili is great to enjoy for leftovers! The flavors just get better and better!
- Storage. Keep leftover chili in an airtight container and in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat. Warm up the leftover chili in a pot until it’s warm and lightly bubbling.
- Freeze. Add cooled chili into a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat: Warm up frozen chili in a pot over low heat until melted, and then bring it up to medium heat. Cook until the chili is lightly simmering.
More Crockpot Recipes
If you enjoyed this slow cooker chili recipe, be sure to try our other easy crockpot recipes; here are some of our favorites:
Grains and Pasta- Beef
If you tried this easy crockpot chili recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Crock Pot Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 large carrot cubed
- 1/2 medium green pepper cubed
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 3 cups beef broth or chicken broth
- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 15.5 oz can of kidney beans drained and rinsed
chili seasonings-
- 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 ½ tsp chili powder
Instructions
- Heat a pan to medium/high heat, then add oil and ground beef. While the ground beef cooks, use a wooden spoon to break the beef into bite-sized pieces.
- When the ground beef is mostly cooked, add the diced onion, carrot, cubed green pepper, and minced garlic, along with the chili and garlic seasonings. Cook another 30 seconds.
- Add the vegetable and beef mixture from the skillet to the crockpot. Pour in the broth, add the diced tomatoes and beans. Stir to combine.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
Nutrition
FAQs
Yes, some people prefer chili without beans, and you can absolutely make it that way!
We choose to cook the meat before adding it to the crockpot to improve its texture. Otherwise, the beef will be boiled and not be as good!
Chili will thicken the longer it cooks. If your chili isn’t thickening, try adding a cornstarch slurry. Stir the chili in and cook for 10 minutes.
