Crockpot Chili

This easy Crock Pot Beef Chili is perfect for a comfy day inside, as a quick dinner, or as a dish to warm you up during a cold evening. Chock full of hearty ingredients like red kidney beans, ground beef, onions, and tomatoes, this recipe is extremely satisfying. So, don’t worry about a fussy dinner tonight – make this toss-and-go recipe instead!

Homemade slow cooker chili is one of those dishes that’s hard to mess up.  It doesn’t take a lot of effort or focus to make a nice big pot of crockpot chili. The entire family loves it and each can eat it in their own way.

Whether that’s with Honey Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread, crackers, or plain – it’s easy to please. The only thing I might change up is the spice level. I like a spicy chili, but sometimes make it mild depending on those I’m cooking for.

Ingredient Notes

• Ground Beef – Ground turkey works too.
• Jalapenos – Adds heat but is completely optional.
• Beans – I used a combination of white beans and red kidney beans. Feel free to use your favorite kind of beans.

How to Make Crock Pot Chili

1. Brown and saute – In a large skillet, brown and drain the ground beef. Next, add the butter to the same skillet and once it’s melted, add the onions, bell pepper, garlic, and jalapenos. Saute for a few minutes.
2. Add everything to the pot – Place the drained ground beef in the crockpot, place all the seasonings on top, then add the onion mixture, and end with all the rest of the ingredients.
3. Stir and cook – Give the ingredients a good stir and set on low to cook for 4 hours.
4. Taste and serve – Once the chili has finished cooking, taste it to see if more seasoning is needed and add more if need be. Garnish with some jalapeno slices or minced herbs, serve, and enjoy!

Tips and Variations

• Use El Pato Sauce – If you want to mix things up and enjoy a nice spicy chili, swap out half of the tomato sauce for a can of El Pato sauce. This sauce gets spicier the longer it cooks, making it a delicious option for a spicy crockpot chili.
• Make it milder – You can skip the jalapenos or remove their seeds if you would like to make the chili less spicy.
• Add other seasonings – If you enjoy other seasonings in your chili, feel free to add them, although this chili recipe is already bursting with flavor. Some other seasoning options you might like are cayenne pepper, coriander, etc.
• Mix the beans – If you’re not a bean person, mix the beans. The chili won’t be as thick if you do, but a good slice of cornbread can fix that.

What Do You Serve with Chili?

Chili is a pretty well-rounded dish, which is often only accompanied by crackers, bread, cornbread, etc. However, if you would like a nice side dish to go along with your chili dinner, some great options are Cheese Garlic Biscuits, Creamed Corn, Five Cheese Macaroni and Cheese, or Loaded Mac & Cheese.

Also, some sour cream, cheddar cheese, and scallions on top would be fantastic! 

Can I Make This On The Stovetop? 

If you’re planning on making this on the stovetop, follow all of these exact steps. The only difference is the cooking time. The chili should be perfectly cooked in about 55 minutes over medium-low heat.

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