Crock Pot Chili – thick and hearty chili made in the crock pot. Easy, delicious, and super comforting for a cold day!
On a cold day nothing beats a big bowl of chili or soup! When I was growing up my dad wasn’t a big soup fan, so we always had chili as soon as it got cold out. And it is still what I turn to, it is just do filling and delicious.
And if you know me, you know I can’t have soup without some kind of bread. And chili is always served with The Best Cornbread Recipe in my house. If you don’t like your cornbread sweet, don’t worry I have you covered with Southern Style Cornbread as well!

Crockpot Chili
A big bowl of chili is great on a cold night, but it is often best when it simmers for a couple of hours. And honestly, who has time for that?! I don’t want chili to just be for a weekend when I have time, I want it any day of the week! So that is why this crock pot chili comes in handy. You really just let it simmer all day in the slow cooker, and you can dig in right when you get home.
Or if you want it done fast you can go the pressure cooker route and make Instant Pot Turkey Chili. Use ground beef or ground turkey and the recipe is the same/

What’s In Crock Pot Chili
- Vegetable Oil
- Onions
- Ground Beef
- Garlic
- Beer or Beef Broth
- Dark Red Kidney Beans
- Light Red Kidney Beans
- Tomato Sauce
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Coriander
- Cayenne Pepper
- Salt & Pepper
I like my chili to be thick and hearty. It has lots of complex flavors without being super spicy or over powering. If you want it spicy, feel free to add more cayenne or even a jalapeno when you cook the onions.

How To Make Crock Pot Chili
Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card to get the measurements and full instructions!
- Start by browning the ground beef and onions together in a large skillet.
- Once the beef is cooked through and the onions are soft add the garlic and cook for just a minute or two until you can start to smell it. If there is any fat, drain it away.
- Add the ground beef to the crock pot and pour in the rest of the ingredients. Stir until it is all combined.
- Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
Can You Freeze Chili
Absolutely, this freezes really well. I like to let it cool completely and then store in freezer safe food storage bags, and then store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Then when you want to make it just let it thaw in the fridge and microwave, heat on the stove, or even put in the crock pot on low to heat it through.

Tips for the Best Chili
- Don’t skip the step of browning the onions with the ground beef. You don’t want to have crunchy onions in your chili.
- If you want this to be a dump and go recipe, brown the ground beef and onions ahead of time. Store them in the fridge or freezer and then just dump them in with the rest of the ingredients when you want to make the chili.
- It is best that you not have your turn your crock pot on high when making this. You won’t want the chili to really scorch or cook too quickly. Low and slow is what develops the flavors will chili and makes it delicious.
- Go crazy with the toppings! Sour cream, cheese, chives, onions, jalapenos….you name it!
- Do you like it spicy? Add a jalapeno with the onions or add more cayenne pepper. As written this isn’t meant to be a spicy chili.

How To Serve Chili
We love chili in a bowl with a few toppings, but if you have lots of leftovers or just want to mix things up there are lots of fun ways to serve chili
- Loaded Baked Potatoes – top your baked potatoes (make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes to make them ready even faster) with chili and all the toppings you desire.
- Chili Dogs – Top hot dogs with a scoop of chili and cheese, and then place in the oven to melt the cheese. Such a fun and delicious dinner.
- Over Spaghetti – like they do in Cincinnati! Server over pasta topped with lots of shredded cheese and onions.
- Topped With An Egg – Serve your chili in a tortilla with cheese and top it with an egg. This is the perfect next morning, leftover breakfast.
- Best Cornbread – a must anytime you have chili!

More Comforting Dinner Recipes
- Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Chicken Enchilada Chili
- Chicken Spinach Alfredo
- Instant Pot Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Jambalaya
- Hot & Sour Soup
- Cheeseburger Pizza
- Vegetable Beef Soup
Crock Pot Chili

Crock Pot Chili - thick and hearty chili made in the crock pot. Easy, delicious, and super comforting for a cold day!
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup beer or beef stock
- 1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (28 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet heat oil over medium high heat. Add ground beef and onions. Cook until browned and onions are tender.
- Add garlic, and cook for 2 minutes, until it is fragrant. Drain any fat. Pour into crock pot.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients to the crock pot. Stir well.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
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Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 466Total Fat 23gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 101mgSodium 1044mgCarbohydrates 25gFiber 7gSugar 7gProtein 39g
Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.
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Dorothy Reinhold says
Chili that simmers all day in the crockpot is the best! This is a perfect meal for cooler temps!
Kimberly says
Chili is just one of the many reasons I look forward to the fall!
Chrissie Baker says
You have my 5 stars….This dish is looking to good to be true…yamy yamy
Katerina @ diethood .com says
mmm…this looks SO warm, comforting and delicious!! YUM!!
Allyson Zea says
WOW!! THIS MAKES THE PERFECT FALL MEAL!!!
Catalina says
I will this chili tonight! I have all the ingredients for this recipe!
Catalina says
I’ve made this and everyone loved it! It’s the best chili ever!
Kristina says
Is this recipe for chili gluten free?
Erin S says
Beer is not gluten free, so as written this is not gluten free. If you substitute with beef stock I believe it is, but I would check the brand of ingredients you use to be sure.
Erica says
If I cook this on high for 3 hrs instead of low for 6, will it be okay?
Erin S says
Yes – you really just need to get it hot, so that should be enough time.
Erica says
Thank you! Love this chili btw! It’s always my go-to!
Amanda says
What a perfect use of my crock pot, I will be making this sunday!
Vikki says
Hearty and delicious, perfect comfort food!
Toni Dash says
A new favorite at my house!! My whole family loved it!
Catalina says
We love chili so much during the cold season! I will definitely try to make it in the crock pot!
Beth says
Yum! We love chili here! I can’t wait to make chili this week! Looks so delicious and tasty!
Cathy says
This has me SO excited for chili season!
Jessica says
Great chili recipe. I did add black beans, chili beans, and Rotel to this recipe. I didn’t use slow cooker but let it simmer for few hours on low. Delicious!!
Amanda says
Perfect for those cold evenings that have finally arrived. Time to bust out the crock pot and warm on up!
Amanda Livesay says
So delicious and comforting! Perfectly spiced!
Krystle says
My new favorite chili recipe. We love it on game day.