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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Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Pure comfort food! Nothing beats a good chili coooked in a slow cooker!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
I hope the snow keeps melting and the storm passes you by. I love a good crockpot recipe.
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Love how easy this is to make – it looks great! Sorry for all the snow! Hope you stay warm!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
Nothing is better than chili simmering in the crockpot on a cold day! This version looks great!
Melanie | Melanie Makes says
What a hearty bowl of delicious-ness on a cold winter day!
Tiffany Cardenas says
Beer sounds like a great addition to chili! I can’t wait to try this!
David says
This doesn’t say what setting for six hours low or high. Anyone know? I’m new to crock pots and making it right now
Erin S says
Try 6 hours on low the firs time. The new crock pots tend to cook things really fast – so if you have a newer one, try low and watch it. Enjoy!
Nini says
It says right there ‘cook on low 6-7 hours.
Mellissa @ ibreatheimhungry says
This looks amazing and so easy!!!!
Carolyn says
This is my kind of chili. Easy and delicious. Perfect comfort food!
alyssa | everydaymaven says
This is such a good chili!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
I totally want this for dinner tonight!
Jen says
I love chili and your photos are making me so hungry!! Can’t wait to try out your recipe.
Sabrina says
The house just smells so good with a big slow cooker full of chili cooking all day! So good!!
Amanda says
This time of year there is NOTHING I love more than a big bowl of comforting chili!
Laura | Petite Allergy Treats says
It’s totally chili weather here in WI too with snow plans in our immediate future. The crock pot is great for easy dinner!
Jacque Hastert says
chili season is my favorite time of year.
Catalina says
Seems so easy and full of flavor!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
Oh-so-comforting!! My family will love this! Perfect staple meal for winter!
Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says
This looks AHH-mazing! SO comforting for winter nights!
Kari says
1/4 cup of chili powder? How spicy is this?
Erin S says
It isn’t spicy hot, it is more just full of flavor. 1/4 cup is 4 Tablespoons, which is not that far off from a lot of other recipes. You can start with less and add more after you taste it.
Connie Gleaves says
Do you drain and rinse the beans?
Erin S says
Yes, I like to. Enjoy
Chris S says
Hate recipes that require me to have to brown meat before using my crock pot. If I have to dirty a pan on the stove to start with, I’m going to cook it ALL on the stove.
Erin S says
You are welcome to make it all on the stove top Chris. Or you could brown the ground beef the night before when you are making dinner and then just dump everything in the crock pot the next morning to let it cook. Lots of options. Have you actually tried the recipe to give it a 2 star rating?
Sam says
Well now you just sound dramatic
Labkat says
It’s not that hard to brown ground beef before you put it in the pot.
Sue says
This chili was so good! Love the richness of flavor between the porter I used and the spices. I used 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb of sausage. Did not use the larger cans of tomato products, instead the small cans. I also added chopped green pepper. Was worried it would get too liquified. It was so delicious. Thank you for posting.
Megan says
Would this do okay if cooked on high for maybe half the time?
Erin S says
Definitely. You are really just heating the ingredients and letting the flavors come together. Just keep an eye on it the first time, because some crock pots get really hot, and I wouldn’t want it to burn. Enjoy
Sara Welch says
What a savory and comforting chili! Looking forward to cuddling up with this for dinner tonight!