Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe

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This Crockpot Chili Recipe is the best comfort food! It’s So easy to make and loaded with lean ground beef, veggies, beans, and lots of delicious seasonings. Everyone will be begging for more!

Looking for other comforting chili recipes? Give my white bean pumpkin chili and my white chicken chili a try!

Crockpot chili topped with sliced green onion and shredded cheese.

My kids love chili! I kid you not. See what I did there? 😁 But in all seriousness, though, out of my five kids, four can have chili daily and not complain. My youngest, who is 11, won’t put any beans in his mouth. It is a work in progress trying to taste new things. Can someone tell me it gets better?

You guys will be blown away by the amazing flavor of this easy Crockpot Beef Chili Recipe. Crockpots are perfect when you have a busy day and you need to set things up and come back later to a warm meal that’s ready to be served. I mean, who doesn’t love that? Browning the meat and sautéing the veggies with the spices before adding everything to the slow cooker adds incredible depth of flavor. It’s an extra step but so worth it to really make your chili extra tasty!

Recipe Summary

Super flavorful: This crockpot chili recipe is loaded with all the goods! Plus, slow cooking everything is the best way to bring the flavors out, tenderize the beans and vegetables, and make the meat perfectly tender.
Easy to make: This recipe is so simple and only has a few steps. Brown the beef and sauté the veggies, then let your crock pot do all the work!
Perfect for wintertime and game day: Who doesn’t love a piping hot bowl of chili when it’s cold outside? And this one is perfect for game day! Once it’s done cooking, turn your crockpot to warm and serve it with homemade cornbread and all your favorite toppings!

Ingredients needed

Ingredients to make crockpot chili laid out.

The ingredients you need for this slow cooker ground beef chili are simple and include mostly pantry staples. To get started, you will need beef, seasonings, some veggies, and a few canned items. Once you have these, you’re well on your way to an incredible meal!

Meat: I like to use 90/10 lean ground beef, so it’s not so greasy but still plenty flavorful.
Kosher salt & pepper: To enhance all of the flavors.
Spices: A blend of ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground coriander, and cayenne pepper add a smoky bold flavor.
Veggies: I added diced carrots, celery, bell pepper, onion, and garlic for added sweetness and hearty texture.
Worcestershire sauce: Includes a mix of vinegar, garlic, chiles, molasses, and more to give your slow cooker chili a wonderful umami taste.
The base: Black beans, black-eyed peas, and diced tomatoes make up the filling base, and the beef bone broth provides extra flavor and the perfect consistency.

See a full list of ingredients and quantities in the recipe card below!

Substitutions and variations

Here are some easy ways to customize this ground beef crockpot chili recipe and make it your own!

Meat: Feel free to replace the lean ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken, if preferred.
Bell pepper: Use any color! Keep in mind that red peppers are the sweetest, yellow and orange peppers are mild, and green peppers can be somewhat bitter.
Fire roasted tomatoes: Boost the smoky flavor by using fire roasted tomatoes.
Replace the black-eyed peas: If you’re not a fan of black-eyed peas, you can double up on the black beans or substitute them with kidney beans.

How to make this recipe

Step 1: Heat a large pan over medium heat and cook and mince the beef until no longer pink. Add in the salt, pepper, and seasonings.

Adding veggies to browned beef in a pot.

Step 2: Add the carrot, celery, pepper, onion and garlic. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring often.

Adding beans and diced tomatoes to a crockpot.

Step 3: Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine.

Stirring crockpot chili recipe in a slow cooker.

Step 4: Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Enjoy!

Rena’s tips

Recipe tips

Slow cook on low: If you have the time, slow cook on low for 8-10 hours. It will give you the best flavor and make everything tender.
Pre-chopped veggies: For extra convenience, you can buy pre-chopped carrots, bell pepper, celery, and onion, which will save you the chopping time.
Taste and adjust: Before serving, give this chili a taste and add more spices as preferred.
Enjoy with toppings: While this crockpot chili is great on its own, we love to top ours with sliced green onions and shredded cheddar cheese.

Common questions

Can I put raw meat in the crockpot for chili?

Yes, it is safe to cook raw meat in a crockpot for chili. However, it will have a more tender texture and better flavor if you brown it before adding it to the slow cooker.

Can I make this on the stovetop?

Yes, this recipe is very similar to my classic chili recipe, and you can check it out and make that one that I made on the stovetop or follow the how-to make it on your stovetop below.

What are the best toppings for chili?

You can really add whatever sounds good, some great options are shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, sour cream or Greek yogurt, sliced avocado, jalapeño slices, sliced green onions, and a squeeze of lime.

Spoon in a bowl full of beef and bean chili with sliced green onion garnishes.

How to make it on your stovetop

Don’t have a crockpot and want to make this quick? No big deal, you can easily make it on your stovetop. Follow the instructions below.

Heat a large pan over medium heat and cook and mince the beef until no longer pink. Add in the salt, pepper and seasonings.
Add the carrot, celery, pepper, onion and garlic. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring often.
Next, add the Worcestershire sauce, the two cans of beans, and the diced canned tomatoes. Give it a good mix.
Pour in the broth, and mix again to combine. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes. Taste the chili and add additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
Optional garnishes: shredded cheese, freshly chopped cilantro, freshly chopped parsley, sliced green onions, chili flakes, sour cream, and so on.

Storage recommendations

Save time and money and make a big batch of this crockpot chili, and you’ll have a delicious meal on hand to reheat for quick lunches and dinners.

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze: For longer storage, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat: If frozen, thaw overnight then reheat over low heat on the stovetop in a pot or pop individual servings in the microwave until warm.

Chili with beans in a round bowl with a spoon in it.

More crockpot recipes

More chili recipes

ebook cover with taco salad bowl in the image.

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