Cooking Chili In A Crock Pot

Simple slow cooker chili recipe that cooks all day in the slow cooker! This is the easiest, tastiest way to cook chili in a crockpot.

When the weather cools down, it's hard to beat chili for an easy, filling meal. This chili is made in a crock pot so it's super simple and super tasty!

This crockpot chili simmers all day in a slow cooker, so you can toss everything in, let it cook, and come back to a delicious, hearty dinner.

Crockpot chili ingredients in a slow cooker insert

How to make slow cooker chili

It's so easy to cook chili in a crock pot! Start by browning the ground beef.

Then sauté onion and garlic, and add all of the ingredients except for beans. Cook, and then stir in beans to warm through.

Wooden spoon in a crock pot full of chili.

Topping ideas

Grated cheese
Green onions
Jalapeños
Sour cream

What to serve with chili

Crackers, cornbread, and cornbread muffins are all great alongside chili. Cinnamon rolls are also really good with chili.

▢ 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
▢ 1 large white or yellow onion (finely chopped)
▢ 3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
▢ 2-14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
▢ 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
▢ 8 ounce can tomato sauce
▢ 1-2 tablespoons ancho chili powder (depending on desired heat)
▢ 2 teaspoons ground cumin
▢ 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
▢ 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
▢ 1 teaspoon brown sugar
▢ ½ teaspoon ground coriander
▢ Salt and freshly ground black pepper
▢ 2-15 ounce cans kidney beans (drained and rinsed)

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef.
Drain ground beef and return to pan.
Add onions and garlic, and saute, stirring regularly, for 3 minutes.
Add ground beef mixture to slow cooker along with remaining ingredients.
Stir all of the ingredients except beans together.
Cover with and cook on LOW heat for 5 - 6 hours.
Stir in kidney beans and allow to heat through, about 10 minutes.
Serve warm with desired toppings.

Ground beef: I like to use 85% or 90% lean ground beef. Sometimes leaner ground beef can dry out in the slow cooker.
Tomatoes with chilies: Ro-Tel will also work.
Chili powder: I like the smokiness of ancho chile powder, but regular chili powder will work, too.
Cocoa powder: The cocoa powder gives the chili an earthiness. Feel free to omit it if you prefer.
Beans: Feel free to substitute a can of black beans for the kidney beans if you prefer.
Nutrition values are estimates.

Serving: 1 serving Calories: 162 kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 10 g (3%) Protein: 20 g (40%) Fat: 4 g (6%) Saturated Fat: 2 g (10%) Cholesterol: 52 mg (17%) Sodium: 423 mg (18%) Potassium: 690 mg (20%) Fiber: 2 g (8%) Sugar: 5 g (6%) Vitamin A: 895 IU (18%) Vitamin C: 10.2 mg (12%) Calcium: 46 mg (5%) Iron: 3.9 mg (22%)

Originally posted 7/30/18. Updated with additional tips and photos 9/18/21.

Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

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