Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe

steel ladle scooping chili out of black crockpot.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 6

Total Time: 6 10

Servings: servings

Calories: 385cal

Author: Ashley Fehr

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!

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US Customary - Metric

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.

Video

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:

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.

Do I have to cook the ground beef first?

Not necessarily. You can add the uncooked ground beef with all of the ingredients into the crockpot, but all of the fat it releases will stay in the chili, and you will need to stir it a couple of times to break up the chunks.

Can I cook the vegetables and spices with the beef?

Yes! To add an extra layer of flavor, add the onion, bell pepper, tomato paste and all of the seasonings to the pan once the beef has browned and cook a few minutes to bring out the flavor.

Nutrition