There’s nothing more satisfying than walking through your door after a long day to the mouthwatering aroma of homemade chili simmering in your slow cooker. This quick and easy crockpot chili requires minimal hands-on prep yet delivers maximum flavor. Using common pantry ingredients and featuring a perfect balance of spices that please most palates, this set-it-and-forget-it meal practically cooks itself while you’re busy with your day. In just 15 minutes of prep time, you’ll have dinner sorted – making this the ultimate weeknight solution for families on the go.
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Why We Love Slow Cooker Chili
These days, it often seems that there is never enough time to make a home-cooked meal. But instead of buying yet another take-out dinner for your family, give them something delicious, nutritious, and easy on your wallet.
Slow-cooking chili in a Crockpot means you can prepare everything, push a button, and go about your day knowing that you will sit down to a family meal that everyone will love.
Why This is the Best Recipe for Chili
The secret to this quick and easy crockpot chili lies in its simplicity and the slow cooking method. By briefly toasting the spices before adding them, you unlock their full aromatic potential. The low, slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld perfectly while breaking down the meat to tender perfection. The combination of kidney and pinto beans provides varied textures and absorbs the spice blend beautifully. Even with minimal prep, the result is a rich, complex chili that tastes like it took hours of active cooking – when in reality, your slow cooker did all the work.
Recipe Ingredients
To make this easy crockpot chili, you will need:
- Ground beef – Provides hearty protein and rich flavor foundation
- Onion – Creates aromatic base that infuses throughout the dish
- Fresh garlic – Adds essential depth and savory notes
- Celery – Contributes subtle texture and natural savory flavor
- Canned chopped tomatoes – Provides acidity and chunky tomato texture
- Tomato sauce – Creates smooth body and balanced tomato flavor
- Canned pinto beans – Adds creamy texture and mild flavor
- Canned kidney beans – Offers firmer texture and earthy notes
- Chili powder – Delivers classic chili flavor profile
- Ground cumin – Contributes warm, earthy complexity
- Smoked paprika – Adds subtle smokiness without heat
- Chipotle powder – Provides gentle heat with smoky undertones
Ingredient Substitutions
One great thing about chili is that you can throw almost anything into the pot, and it will taste great. So, go ahead and get as creative as you want with this recipe.
Start by swapping out some or all of the beef for another kind of meat. Ground chicken, ground turkey, or even bulk pork sausage works particularly well in this recipe.
Vegetarians can go with a plant-based meatless option, like Gardein Gluten-Free Ultimate Plant-Based Beefless Ground Crumbles or Beyond Meat Plant-Based Beefy Crumble.
Not everyone likes beans, so you can feel free to leave them out if you desire, but the chili may wind up a bit on the thin side. So, why not add a can of drained sweet corn, an extra pound of meat, or both?
If you notice your chili is still a little too watery, try mixing a tablespoon of cornstarch and two tablespoons of water into a slurry. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the chili and bring it to a simmer for at least 5 minutes to cook out the raw taste of the cornstarch before serving.
Try adding a couple of finely chopped jalapenos or a teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder for a bit more spice.
How to Make Crockpot Chili
- In a dry skillet, toast the spices over medium heat until you can smell them. Remove the spices from the heat and set them aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it comes to temperature, add a tablespoon of oil to the skillet and cook the onions and celery until they’re translucent. Then add the garlic and stir together.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Pour out any excess grease.
- Put the cooked meat and vegetable mixture and the other ingredients into a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Stir well.
- If you want more liquid in your chili, you can add tomato sauce, beer, or water until it reaches the consistency you desire.
- Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
- Serve in a bowl with your favorite chili toppings.
Best Toppings for Chili
Prepare a few toppings to let everyone personalize their chili. I personally love to grab some warm tortillas and dig in. You may want to include some of these garnishes:
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, and cotija are great options)
- Chopped onions
- Sliced green onions
- Chopped cilantro
- Crumbled tortilla chips
- Avocado
- Sour cream
- Sliced scallions
- Bacon bits
- Salsa verde
There is no need to gussy things up for slow cooker chili. Eat it straight from a cup or bowl with your favorite garnishes on top. You can also serve the chili over rice or on a baked potato if you want.
What to Serve with Chili
Chili is a hearty dish and doesn’t really need side dishes to make it a meal, but you can’t go wrong by serving:
- Chips and Guacamole
- Garden Salad
- Homemade Coleslaw
- Mexican Street Corn
- Mexican Rice
- Sour Cream Cornbread
- Texas Roadhouse Bread
Quick and Easy Crockpot Chili
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 28 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 15 ounces canned pinto beans
- 15 ounes canned kidney beans
- 4 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- Additional liquid if desired (tomato juice, beer, or water)
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, onion, garlic, and celery until the ground beef is no longer pink. Drain the grease.
- In a 6-quart Crockpot, combine the cooked ground beef and vegetable mixture with the chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, pinto beans, red kidney beans, and spices. Stir well.
- If you desire more liquid in your chili, you can add tomato sauce, beer, or water until it reaches the consistency you desire.
- Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
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Notes
Nutrition
How to Store Chili
Like many stews, letting the chili rest overnight improves its flavor. Leftovers are such a blessing, you will want to save this chili, it is the best chili made in a crockpot. But if you want to keep chili for longer, you need to know how to store it properly.
To keep the chili fresh in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, let it cool completely and transfer it to a container with a tight lid. Putting warm chili in the refrigerator can be dangerous because it will stay in the danger zone (40 – 140 degrees) for too long.
How to Freeze Chili
Chili freezes wonderfully for up to six months. Just let it cool and then put it in a freezer-safe container.
The day before you want to eat the chili, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. If you need the chili sooner, you can defrost it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes.
How to Reheat Crockpot Chili
Try reheating chili in the microwave using the reheat function or cook for minute bursts until hot. Remember to stir after each minute.
You can also reheat the chili in a skillet over medium-low heat. You may want to add some water to keep the chili from burning.
Favorite Chili Recipes
Looking for more great Crock-Pot recipes? Try These!
- Calico Beans
- Crock Pot Carne Guisada
- Crockpot Beef Stew
- Crock Pot Cheesy Potatoes
- Crockpot Chicken Tacos
- Crockpot Wassail
Check out my easy soup recipes and the best Crockpot recipes here on CopyKat!
Hi! Would green peppers be an acceptable substitute for the celery?
Thanks
If you enjoy them, yes!
Hello, I like your recipe. I was wondering if it will thicken and look like yours?? Or did you put something in it so it can thicken up?? Thanks
What a great recipe for this cause. I love chili and with cold weather headed our way this weekend, this will definitely be on the menu. There is nothing more comforting than a pot of chili in the slow cooker.
Thank you so much Stephanie for joining in and sharing this event – the chili sounds like a perfect dish of comfort. I hope together we can garner much support and relief for those affected by the hurricane.