This Crockpot Chili Recipe has ground beef, vegetables and beans in a flavorful sauce — the low and slow process makes it incredibly delicious! Perfect for busy weeknights — just load it with your favorite toppings!
Cozy up with more of my favorite chili recipes like Vegetarian Chili, Instant Pot Chili and Slow Cooker Three Bean Beef Chili.
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This easy Crockpot Chili Recipe has it all! It’s hearty, flavorful and SO easy to make. What’s not to love? My kids are pretty obsessed with this chili (it’s all about the toppings for them!) and I love that I can sneak in so many vitamins and nutrients.
It’s got all of the classic chili elements that you know and love like ground beef, beans, veggies and bold seasonings. What makes slow cooker chili so amazing is that low and slow cooking process that really infuses the flavor into every bite!
And of course, it pretty much goes without saying that this slow cooker Chili Recipe is fabulous for the reason all Crockpot meals are – it makes life so much easier!
Why we love this Crockpot Chili Recipe:
- Easy – Yes! There really isn’t an easier way to make chili than this, friends. It’s a set it and forget it recipe that always delivers. It’s the definition of tried and true.
- Flavorful – Ingredients like BBQ sauce, garlic, tomato paste and bold seasonings make every bite of this flavor packed chili seriously satisfying.
- Versatile – There are plenty of ways to change up this classic chili recipe. Just scroll down to check out some of my recommended variations to try.
Crockpot Chili Ingredients:
- Ground Beef – I usually try to cook with lean ground beef so I have less grease to drain.
- Beans – You’ll need both black beans and kidney beans for this chili recipe (you can mix these up according to your tastes!). Be sure to drain each well before adding to the Crockpot.
- Spices – Feel free to get creative here! For a classic chili flavor, I use a combo of salt, cumin, chili powder and oregano.
- Garlic
- BBQ Sauce – You can use your favorite store-bought brand. Or, go the extra mile with Homemade BBQ Sauce!
- Crushed Tomatoes and Tomato Paste – Yes, you need both of these ingredients to create the very best flavor and consistency for your slow cooker chili.
- Broth – I like to use low-sodium beef broth. That way, I can add more salt as needed and better control the amount of sodium in my chili.
- Onion – A yellow or white onion will both work just fine.
- Bell Pepper – You can use your favorite color of bell pepper. I typically go with a red one.
How to make Crockpot Chili
Take a sneak peek at just how easy it is to make this Crockpot Chili Recipe! For more exact step by step instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Cook the ground beef, peppers and onions in a skillet.
- Drain any excess fat and transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the Crockpot.
- Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours.
Variations and Substitutions
- Ground Beef: Feel free to swap this with any other ground meat you prefer! I’ve made it with ground turkey before and it was excellent.
- Veggies: You can really clean out your produce drawer with this one. Add some shredded carrots, mushrooms, corn or zucchini at the beginning of cook time. Or, stir in some spinach right at the end.
- Spicy: You can easily make this chili spicy with crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce.
How to store Slow Cooker Chili
Let your leftovers cool off before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days. A lot of people actually prefer to eat their chili the next day so the flavors have even more time to develop! This is a fabulous make ahead recipe.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time it stops until warmed all the way through. Or, reheat all of the chili in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.
If it’s very thick, add a splash of broth or water.
Can I freeze this chili recipe?
Sure thing! Let the chili fully cool to room temperature prior to freezing in an airtight container (in one batch or individual servings) for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve it, take it out of the freezer and let it slowly thaw in the fridge prior to reheating.
Serving suggestions:
There are so many delicious pairings for a good bowl of chili! I usually like to serve it up with some Homemade Dinner Rolls or Mom’s Homemade Buns. Of course, Cheddar Bay Biscuits are always a huge hit!
As far as garnishes go, I love topping off my bowl of chili with some sour cream, jalapeños, cheddar cheese, green onions and a handful of crunchy Frito’s or tortilla chips.
More Crockpot recipes you’ll love!
- Honey Balsamic Slow Cooker Beef Stew — a new twist on a classic!
- Crockpot Zuppa Toscana — one of my favorite soups.
- Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup — perfect for cooler weather!
- Crockpot Lasagna Soup — don’t forget the garlic bread for dunking.
See more of my favorite Dump ‘n’ Go Slow Cooker recipes here!
Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion (finely diced)
- 1 red pepper (finely chopped)
- 1 can crushed tomatoes (798 ml or 28 oz)
- 1 ½ cups low sodium beef broth
- 1 can black beans (rinsed and drained) 540 ml or 18 ounces
- 1 can red kidney beans (rinsed and drained) 540 ml or 18 ounces
- 2 ½ tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ⅓ cup ketchup or barbecue sauce
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion and red pepper on medium-high heat until beef is browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Add ground beef, onion, pepper, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, black beans, kidney beans, chili powder, tomato paste, garlic, salt, oregano and cumin to the slow cooker and stir well.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the flavors have come together and veggies have softened.
- Stir in ketchup or barbecue sauce to brighten the flavor. Taste and serve.
Notes
- Ground beef: you can swap the ground beef for any ground meat of your choice.
- Vegetables: I use onion and bell pepper, but this is an easy recipe to clean out your vegetable drawer! Most vegetables will be added at the beginning of the cook time, but if you add in softer vegetables (spinach, etc.) you will stir them in at the end. Try shredded carrots, mushrooms, corn or zucchini!
- Spices: this is a well-seasoned but not necessarily spicy chili. If you like extra kick, add some cayenne, red chili flakes or a splash of hot sauce.
Nutrition Information
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