Crock Pot Chili

4.64 from 200 votes
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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!

crock pot chili in a bowl

 

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/

crock pot chili in a bowl

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.

ingredients for chili in the crock pot

How To Make Crock Pot Chili

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.

  1. Start by browning the ground beef and onions together in a large skillet.
  2. 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.
  3. Add the ground beef to the crock pot and pour in the rest of the ingredients. Stir until it is all combined.
  4. 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.

chili in the crock pot

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.
crock pot chili in a bowl

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!
close up crock pot chili in a bowl with cheese

More Comforting Dinner Recipes

crock pot chili in a bowl
4.64 from 200 votes

Crock Pot Chili

By Erin
Crock Pot Chili – thick and hearty chili made in the crock pot. Easy, delicious, and super comforting for a cold day!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8

Video

Equipment

Ingredients 

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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 466kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1044mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Erin
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 466
Keyword: crockpot chili
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About Erin S

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and Iโ€™m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, youโ€™ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

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55 Comments

    1. 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.

  1. Great chili recipe. I did add black beans, chili beans, and Rotel to this recipe. I didnโ€™t use slow cooker but let it simmer for few hours on low. Delicious!!