Slow Cooker Chili - Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe! (2024)

Published by Sheena Strain, last updated

Recipe

Slow Cooker Chili – this recipe is so easy to make and really requires no advanced cooking skills! I love that you can you can more or less dump everything in your Crockpot, give it a quick stir and come back hours later to a wonderfully tasty weeknight dinner, it doesn’t get any better than that!

My Slow Cooker chili recipe has been tweaked, tested and tasted to create a really flavorful Crockpot chili that you can further adapt to suit your own tastebuds.

I’ve used crushed fire roasted tomatoes in my recipe as I think it really adds a little something extra to this recipe and it’s worth trying over regular canned tomatoes.Slow Cooker Chili - Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe! (1)

How to Cook Slow Cooker Chili

Start by browning your beef in a seasoned cast iron or similar non stick skillet. If you have very lean beef you may need to add a little oil but if you have ground beef with 10% fat or more and your skillet really is non stick you can probably get away with not adding any oil at all. (This post contains affiliate links)

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Once you’ve browned the ground beef add it to your Crockpot along with the chopped onions, garlic, Ancho Chili powder, cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper.

Slow Cooker Chili - Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe! (3)

Then you’ll need to add the red kidney beans, gluten free beef broth, crushed fire roasted tomatoes and tomato sauce and give it a good stir to let the flavors mix together. If you don’t like kidney beans you can substitute Pinto beans instead.

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Once it’s mixed it may look a little thick, that’s ok as it will create more liquid and juice as it cooks. If you like really ‘saucey’ chili you can always add more tomato sauce or chopped tomatoes, but you may also need to increase the seasonings to compensate.

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Put the lid on and cook your slow cooker chili for 3-4 hours on HIGH or 6-7 hours on LOW. I have an old Crockpot that does not run as hot as the newer models (I think they changed the regulations over the minimum cooking heat) and so it takes longer to cook than my newer slow cooker so you will just need to check in after a few hours to see how your chili is doing.

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The cook time for this recipe is not an exact science and will be different based on your own slow cooker as I mentioned above, and also your own personal preference for how ‘done’ you like your chili to be.

Once it’s cooked to your satisfaction you can taste it and add salt and pepper to taste.

I didn’t add salt to the recipe before the end of the cook time as beef broths and canned tomato products can be quite salty already depending on the brand.

Some in my family like a much hotter chili so you can also add in more cayenne pepper to get the desired heat level you want, and feel free to increase the ancho chili powder, cumin and other seasonings, it’s really a quite forgiving recipe and you can tweak it to suit your family.Slow Cooker Chili - Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe! (7)

More Easy Dinner Recipes

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  • Weeknight Paleo Meatloaf
  • Honey Mustard Chicken

Slow Cooker Chili

My Slow Cooker Chili is a rich warming chili with a wonderful blend of spices including cumin, oregano and Ancho chili powder and the addition of fire roasted tomatoes which gives it an added flavor boost.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Total Carbs: 26 g

Protein: 24 g

Servings: 6

Slow Cooker Chili - Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe! (8)

4 from 7 votes

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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a cast iron or non stick skillet then place the beef into your Crockpot or slow cooker.

  2. Add the chopped onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, Ancho chili powder, and cayenne pepper to the slow cooker and give it a good stir.

  3. Now add the red kidney bean, crushed fire roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, and the beef broth then stir again then put the lid on.

  4. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or for 6-7hrs on LOW. The exact timing will depend on how hot your slow cooker runs and your own preferences for how well cooked you like your chili.

  5. When cooked taste and season with salt and pepper and add more cumin, cayenne etc as desired.

  6. Serve hot with gluten free cornbread, crackers, or over rice and top with sour cream or cheese.

Recipe Notes

NUTRITION FACTS

These are approximate and will vary depending on the brands you use. It assumes you are using 90% lean ground beef.

Nutrition Facts

Slow Cooker Chili

Amount Per Serving

Calories 275Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 49mg16%

Sodium 589mg26%

Potassium 918mg26%

Carbohydrates 26g9%

Fiber 8g33%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 1205IU24%

Vitamin C 7.8mg9%

Calcium 81mg8%

Iron 6.6mg37%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information on Noshtastic is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.

Author: Sheena Strain

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

Slow Cooker Chili - Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe! (9)

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About Sheena Strain

Sheena Strain is the proud owner of Noshtastic, a gluten free website that specializes in easy family meals including Low Carb, Keto, Paleo, Whole30, and many pressure cooker recipes.

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  1. anna says

    Slow Cooker Chili - Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe! (10)
    what if i dont have access to a stove to brown the beef? i only have access to a microwave and a crock pot

    Reply

    • Sheena Strain says

      Then just skip the browning part and it will still work fine but won’t taste exactly the same.

      Reply

Slow Cooker Chili - Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How long can you leave chili in a crockpot on low? ›

The tomatoes contain sugar, which caramelizes in the slow cooker, and will eventually burn if it cookes for too long. Anything longer than 10 hours on low is risky.

Does chili taste better in the crockpot? ›

The Best Way to Cook Chili:

The low and slow cooking process melds the flavors of the chili seasoning into every bite and the beef becomes so tender, juicy, and irresistible. You can slow cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours.

Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

Traditionally, we expect a robust, spicy base, meat and/or beans, perhaps some bonus veggies, and a thick, rich consistency. Unlike soups, which are brothy, or even bisques, which are creamy yet thinner, chili is meant to be more stew-like; it's a definite stick-to-your-ribs creation.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What liquid to add to chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Can you overcook chili in a slow cooker? ›

Yes, if you cook your slow cooker chili too long the meat may dry out and the veggies are likely to turn mushy. Don't worry, though! It takes 9 hours or more before this begins to happen.

Why does my crockpot chili taste bland? ›

Insufficient seasoning, such as chili powder, cumin, paprika, and salt, can lead to bland chili. Chili relies on a combination of spices and seasonings for its distinctive flavor. Be sure to taste your chili during the cooking process and adjust the seasonings as needed.

Is it OK to leave crockpot on low overnight? ›

Yes, it's safe to leave a slow cooker on when you leave the house. The purpose of a slow cooker is to allow you to cook while you aren't home. Slow cookers simmer food slowly, killing bacteria and raising meat to the perfect internal temperature.

What is the most flavorful meat for chili? ›

What is the best meat for chili? The best meat for chili depends on the type you're making, but professionals generally use a combination of ground chuck, brisket, short ribs, or diced tri-tip sirloin mixed with bacon and sausage to layer multiple textures and flavors.

Can you leave chili in the crockpot overnight? ›

So here's the verdict when it comes to chili food safety: You can leave it in the slow cooker for hours after it's done cooking if the cooker is set to the “low” or “keep warm” setting.

Can you cook chili in a crockpot on low all day? ›

So, if it is a watery chili to start then up to 24 hours, but I would check it every so often after 16 hours. During a chili cookoff, I alternated between low and warm for over 4 hours and it was fine. the problem with low is that it will continue to cook.

Does tomato paste make chili thicker? ›

Not only will tomato paste add a tangy flavor to the dish, but it will also act as a thickening agent. For this purpose, you can use homemade or store-bought tomato paste. Add 1 can of the paste to your pot of chili, stir the mixture, and let it cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes.

What is the best thickener for chili? ›

Cornmeal is one of our go-to thickening agents for chili. Unlike all-purpose flour, this Southern pantry staple adds a subtle earthy flavor to the chili in addition to thickening it up. You can use white or yellow cornmeal that is fine to medium-grain.

Why do you put cornmeal in chili? ›

Add cornmeal: Cornmeal absorbs excess liquid, so adding a tablespoon of it to your pot of chili will thicken the final result. Allow the chili to simmer for about ten minutes after you add the cornmeal.

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

When should I add canned beans to chili? ›

You know the saying, “save the best for last?” To keep your beans nice and plump, add them about 20 minutes before you finish cooking. This will give them plenty of time to impart that perfectly seasoned chili flavor to your recipe without overcooking.

What gives chili a kick? ›

Keep things subtle by soaking dried guajillo chilies in hot water for 30 minutes, pureeing the peppers and adding it to your chili. Or go a little spicier by using sliced fresh jalapenos or serrano peppers. Finally, you can add ground cayenne pepper or canned chipotles in adobo to create a really spicy kick.

What gives chili its kick? ›

Canned tomatoes with green chiles, chili powder, ground black pepper and cayenne all add varying amounts of heat to the chili. If you want to really turn things up, use hot chili powder and the full amount of cayenne pepper. Also, make sure your spices are fresh.

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