Crock Pot Chili Recipe – An Easy To Make, Comfort Food Recipe

When it comes to cool weather recipes, it doesn’t get much better or easier than this Crock Pot Chili Recipe. Thick and hearty chili that cooks low and slow all day and is ready to eat whenever you are.

It is an easy way to get this classic comfort food meal on the table without a lot of work. In fact, with only 10 minutes of prep time required, everything will be ready to go in the slow cooker.

Then simply place the lid on top, turn it on and walk away. Then when you get home, dinner is ready!

It is not only a fantastic recipe to make on a chilly Autumn Day, but it also makes for a great soup recipe for any potluck, family gathering or tailgate party. Provide a few toppings and everyone can customize their own bowl.

Then if there are any leftovers (which isn’t likely) you can freeze the chili. Simply place it in an air-tight container and put in the freezer.

Then whenever you need a quick meal, reheat it on the stove and a delicious lunch or dinner is ready in minutes!

What Type of Meat To Use To Make The Best Chili

When choosing what type of ground meat to use in your Crock Pot Chili recipe, the most common choice is ground beef. However because there are many choices when it comes to what type of ground beef to use you will want to pick out one that has a good lean to fat ratio.

If you are using one single type of ground meat, it is best to purchase 85/15 ground beef. This will allow the meat to remain juicy and still have that iconic beefy flavor.

However, after testing this recipe over many years, I have found that a combination of ground meat provides the best flavor and texture in chili. Although instead of sticking to different varieties of ground beef, I use a combination of ground beef, ground pork sausage and ground chicken.

The three different types of meat gives the chili a more complex flavor profile. In addition, the different textures pair perfectly with the other ingredients in this recipe.

What Type of Beans To Add To Crock Pot Chili

When it comes to adding beans to chili, it comes down to a matter of preference. Although most standard chili recipes included beans, there are some recipes, like Texas Chili that beans aren’t even an option.

However, the most popular choices are kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans.

• Kidney beans have a bold flavor and a firm texture. They are a good all-purpose bean for chili, and they hold their shape well when cooked.

• Black beans have a milder flavor and a slightly softer texture than kidney beans. They are a good choice for chili if you prefer a more subtle flavor.

• Pinto beans have a mild, nutty flavor and a creamy texture. They are a good choice for chili if you want a bean that will break down and thicken the sauce.

Although for this crock pot chili recipe I use a combination of Kidney Chili Beans and Black Beans. This allows me to get that classic chili bean flavor but also have the softer black bean texture in the soup as well.

Homemade Chili Seasoning

Now that you have picked out the type of meat that you are going to use and the variety of beans, it is time to season the chili. Yes, you could pick up a packet of store-bought chili seasoning at the grocery.

However, it is very easy to make your own homemade chili seasoning with a few common spices that you most likely already have in your kitchen. And it all begins with chili powder.

Chili powder is a blend of ground dried chili peppers and other spices, such as cumin, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and onion powder. Although the exact ingredients and proportions vary depending on the brand.

Therefore, instead of relying solely on chili powder, other spices are added to the mix. In addition to salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and cumin are also included.

These additional spices add a depth of flavor to the crock pot chili that most recipes don’t have. Then you can decide how spicy you want the chili by adding red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper powder and/or your favorite hot sauce.

How Long To Cook Chili In A Crock Pot

In order to get maximum flavor, it is best to cook chili low and slow. This allows enough time for the flavors to meld together and become incredibly delicious.

In our 6 quart programmable Crock Pot it takes 7-8 hours on the LOW heat setting. Then the crock pot will switch to a Keep Warm setting so we can enjoy it whenever we are ready and it will still be hot.

However, if you are in a hurry you can speed up the process and cook it on High heat for 3-4 hours. Or you could make this Stove Top Chili Recipe instead.

Even though neither of them will have as complex of a flavor profile, they both will still be delicious. Although as we all know, the leftovers will gain even more flavor.

What Toppings To Put On Chili

Although toppings are a matter of personal preference, here are some common items that can make your crock pot chili taste even better:

• Crackers: Whether you choose to crumble up the crackers and stir it in the bowl or use the crackers as a crunchy topping, it is a common item to serve with chili.
• Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese is a classic chili topping, but you can also use Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Queso Fresco.
• Sour cream: Sour cream adds a creamy richness to chili and helps to tone down the heat.
• Onions: Chopped onions add a bit of crunch and flavor to chili, giving it a little bit of freshness.
• Jalapeños: Jalapeños add heat to chili, but you can also try other types of chili peppers, such as habaneros or serrano peppers if you like food that is super spicy.

Crock Pot Chili Recipe

*Complete recipe instructions including specific measurements, cook temperatures and times are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to keep reading for helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ lb. ground meat
• 1 red bell pepper (seeded and diced )
• ½ onion (diced)
• 1- 14 oz. can kidney chili beans
• 1- 14 oz. can black beans (mostly drained )
• 1- 10 oz can tomato sauce
• 1- 15 oz. can of petite diced tomatoes
• ½ large jalapeno (more or less to taste)
• (optional) 6 ounces of beer

Chili Seasoning

• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

In a skillet, brown the ground meat till it is no longer pink, drain, and add to the slow cooker.

Add the remaining ingredients and stir. **If you like it spicy add extra jalapeños, pepper flakes or your favorite hot sauce.

Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.

Serve with your favorite toppings:

• crackers
• shredded cheese
• sour cream
• diced onion
• diced jalapeno peppers
• green onion

Enjoy!

Mary and Jim

Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.

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