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Hearty Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

4.7 from 102 reviews

A hearty and flavorful Slow Cooker Chili recipe featuring ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and a blend of spices, perfect for an easy, hands-off meal that develops rich flavors over time.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 1 pound ground beef

Legumes

  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Vegetables and Tomatoes

  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

Spices

  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked, breaking it apart. Drain excess fat to reduce grease.
  2. Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned ground beef to the slow cooker. Add the drained kidney beans, diced tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, and all spices including chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  3. Mix and Cook: Stir all ingredients thoroughly to combine evenly. Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
  4. Slow Cook: Cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours until the chili is thickened and the flavors have melded into a rich, savory dish.
  5. Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Before serving, taste and adjust salt or chili powder as desired. Serve hot with your favorite chili toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
  • Beans can be mixed; black beans or pinto beans work well in place of kidney beans.
  • For a spicier chili, add cayenne pepper or chopped jalapeños.
  • Leftover chili stores well and often tastes better the next day.
  • Serve with cornbread or over rice for a complete meal.

Keywords: slow cooker chili, easy chili recipe, ground beef chili, crockpot chili, hearty chili