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4.53 from 380 votes
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By: Julie Evink167 Comments
Posted: 09/25/19
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Crock Pot Chili is an easy slow cooker recipe that is one of my favorite comfort food recipes! There’s nothing like sitting down to a big bowl of chili on a cold winter night. This recipe is loaded with ground beef, beans, tomato sauce and seasonings. So much flavor after slow cooking all day!
This Crock Pot Chili will warm you up and save you time on a cold day. Try topping it with cheese or enjoy it over tortilla chips for a delicious winter treat.
I love that it’s a mostly “dump and go” recipe that can cook all day long, just like this Crockpot Italian Chicken.
Simply brown the hamburger, mix everything together in the crockpot and then let it simmer to develop the flavors.If getting it ready in the morning stresses you out a short cut is to prep everything the night before. Then just pull it out of the fridge and pop it in your slow cooker!
Another one of my favorite twists on this recipe is Crock Pot Chili Mac! The kids LOVE this because it include noodles! Or, if you have a pressure cooker, you might like to try my Instant Pot Chili.
Contents show
Why You’ll Love this Crock Pot Chili Recipe!
The longer you cook chili, the better it tastes. Simmer it all day long in your slow cooker for the best, most flavorful chili ever. Here’s why you’ll love it!
- Win your time back! With this recipe, you can set it and forget it once your chili ingredients are in the crock pot.
- Prep is quick. Just add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beans, and you’re cooking.
- Savory ground beef makes this chili filling and satisfying.
- Cumin, oregano, chili powder, and garlic salt bring all the bold flavor you want in a hot bowl of chili.
- Top it off with your favorite Tex-Mex toppings for a well-rounded meal.
Is Chili Better In Slow Cooker?
We believe it is! The longer you chili cooks the more the flavors meld together. That’s why slow cooking it all day long results in the best, most flavorful chili!
Crockpot Chili Ingredients
- Hamburger – Ground beef adds extra protein, texture, and flavor to this chili. Be sure to drain it once it’s browned to keep that extra grease out.
- Canned diced tomatoes – Pre-diced tomatoes are a breeze to use, and you won’t have to chop them yourself.We use petite to sneak them by the kids but plain diced tomatoes will work fine too.
- Onion – Onion adds a nice dose of flavor, especially as it slow-cooks with the rest of the ingredients.
- Tomato sauce – Canned tomato sauce helps make a base for your chili with minimal effort.
- Chili beans – Prepared chili beans often have extra seasoning added. So you’ll have a variety of beans and an extra dose of flavor in your chili.
- Chili powder – The essential spice in the chili, you can use less chili powder if you prefer, but I wouldn’t leave it out.
- Garlic salt – This adds a savory flavor and aroma that’s impossible to resist.
- Cumin – An essential chili spice, cumin brings a warm, earthy flavor.
- Oregano – Oregano’s pungent, lightly floral taste adds dimension to this dish.
Toppings For Crock Pot Chili
Here are a few of our favorite chili toppings!
- Shredded Cheese
- Chopped onions
- Jalapenos
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped avocados
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Sour Cream
- Fritos
How to Make Slow Cooker Chili
- Brown the hamburger and onions in a skillet. Drain the excess grease off once it’s cooked.
- Stir all the ingredients together in a large Crock Pot.
- Cook on high heat for 3-4 hour or low heat for 6-8 hours.
- Once the chili is ready, top it off with sour cream, cheese, green onions, or whichever toppings you prefer.
Serving Suggestions
If you want more comforting sides with your Crock Pot Chili, say no more. Pour it over a big slice of warm Cornbread, or have a slice on the side with real butter.
For some lighter sides, air-fryer Corn on the Cob is super easy to make and a treat to eat. Finally, a traditional Seven Layer Salad can be made ahead of time for the easiest dinner ever!
How do you fix chili that’s too spicy?
The best way to tone down a chili that’s too spicy is by adding more beans or tomatoes. Topping it with dairy products like sour cream or cheese will also mellow out the spice.
What kind of beans are best for chili?
We like to make things easy, so we chose to use canned chili beans because there are spices mixed into the beans. If you’d rather mix in more of your own spices, kidney beans are also a great option.
Can you cook ground beef in a crockpot?
Yes, you can. We recommend cooking it on high so the internal temperature comes up to 140 degrees F within 2 hours, which is a safe temperature
Can I make this Chili in the Instant Pot?
Here’s the Instant Pot Chili recipe with directions!
Can I make this Chili on the Stovetop?
If you don’t have a slow cooker this can also be made on the stove top. Brown the onion and ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat. Drain off excess fat. Then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer 2 hours over low heat.
How to Store Leftover Chili
This is a large batch chili recipe so you will have leftovers unless you are serving it at a party!
Refrigerator: Let the chili come to room temperature and then place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezer: To further extend the life of chili it is freezer friendly. Freeze any leftovers in a freezer friendly container or heavy duty freezer bags for up to 6 months.
WOW I’m glad I tried this Crockpot Chili again. It’s simply amazing. It will quickly become your family’s go-to recipe for chili! The secret….cumin.
Curl up in front of your fireplace with a big bowl of this easy crockpot chili and warm up!
More great chili recipes!
- Nothing beats the flavor of this Crock Pot White Chili recipe!
- Can’t decide between chili and pasta? Make this Crock Pot Chili Mac for the best of both worlds!
- Need a smaller batch? This Stove Top Chili is the perfect size for feeding a family for dinner.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Crockpot Chili Recipe
Crock Pot Chili is an easy slow cooker recipe that is loaded with ground beef, beans, tomato sauce and seasonings. So much flavor after slow cooking all day!
Prep:20 minutes mins
Cook:8 hours hrs
Total:8 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
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16
servings
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground beef
- 2 cans petite diced tomatoes (14.5 oz each)
- 1 medium onion diced
- 30 oz can tomato sauce
- 15.5 oz can chili beans
- 2 cups water
- 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 4 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoon oregano
Instructions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat sauté ground beef and onion until it's cooked through. Drain off any excess grease.
Transfer ground beef and onions to a 6 quart slow cooker. Add the rest of ingredients and stir to combine.
Cook on high 3-4 hours or low 6-8 hours.
Top with sour cream and cheese if desired.
Tips
*For Stove Top – In a large pot mix together browned hamburger, tomatoes, onion, tomato sauce, chili beans and water. Simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.
After a hour add chili powder, garlic salt, cumin and oregano. Simmer for an additional 2 hours. Top with sour cream and cheese if desired.
Video
Nutrition Information
Calories: 247kcal (12%), Carbohydrates: 13g (4%), Protein: 19g (38%), Fat: 14g (22%), Saturated Fat: 5g (31%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 58mg (19%), Sodium: 812mg (35%), Potassium: 725mg (21%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 6g (7%), Vitamin A: 651IU (13%), Vitamin C: 9mg (11%), Calcium: 61mg (6%), Iron: 4mg (22%)
© Julie's Eats & Treats ®
We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.
Meet Julie Evink
I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!
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FREE DUMP & GO CROCK POT RECIPES!
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Reader Interactions
4.53 from 380 votes (380 ratings without comment)
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Joe says
We love chili however as we get older we like to tone the heat down. How would you describe the heat level of this recipe and if necessary how would you recommend reducing the level of the heat and still have the great chilli taste and flavor?
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Julie Evink says
It’s a low level of heat, think midwestern, kid friendly heat!
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Mae Williams says
Only one can of beans for the chilli?Reply
Courtney says
Yup! The 15.5oz chili bean cans.
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Roxanne says
Will this recipe for 16 servings fit in an 8 quart crock pot?
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Courtney says
Yes, this recipe is made for a 6 quart crock pot so 8 quarts will be plenty big.
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Angela Tucker says
Do you think if I leave the beans out it will still have a good consistency?
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Courtney says
Hmm.. it will not seem as thick. Are you replacing the beans with anything?
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Carole Westby says
I use purée instead of sauce. Nice consistency for chili. Sometimes add a can of tomato paste to be sure!!Reply
Courtney says
Thanks for sharing!
Lori says
How many does this recipe feed?Reply
Courtney says
Approximately 16 servings. If you go to the recipe card you can adjust the amount of servings!
Reply
Michelle says
I made it for a church potluck and it is as a hit! I subbed 2 cans ranch style beans for the can of chili beansReply
Courtney says
Great substitute! Thanks for sharing!
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Paul says
A good, basic recipe. But, if you add canned beans (which are already cooked in the can) at the beginning, they will be mush & have no bite to them at the end. Best to wait until about an hour before serving, then add them.
Also, beans do not freeze well. They will have no texture at all when thawed & re-heated.Reply
Courtney says
Thanks Paul!
Reply
Kim says
I have made so many chili recipes and this one hands-down was the best chili I’ve ever made in my family agrees. The only thing I did different was I used turkey meat. Looking forward to future recipes.Reply
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