This super easy crockpot chili is THE BEST Chili Recipe because it’s thick and hearty and filled with ground beef, three types of beans and the perfect blend of chili spices.
Pair this awesome slow cooker chili with my Sweet Cornbread for the perfect southern comfort meal.
I’ve been making this homemade Crockpot Chili Recipe for years, and it’s always a family favorite. I wanted to take the time to update the photos and share this delicious classic chili recipe with you again.
What Makes This The Best Recipe?
This thick and hearty chili only takes a few minutes of prep work and then it’s slow cooked to allow the flavors to blend beautifully.
The chili is filled with the perfect blend of spices, beans and hearty ground beef. It’s one of my go-to recipes for feeding a crowd and it also freezes very well.
Slow Cooker Ground Beef Chili
I’m using a combination of canned beans (feel free to swap in your own favorites) as well as diced onion and peppers.
Ingredients for Beef Chili
- Ground Beef – lean ground beef
- Red Bell Pepper – you can use green bell peppers if desired
- Dice Onion – yellow or white onion
- Canned Pinto Beans – drain the canned beans to remove about 85% of their liquid
- Canned Kidney Beans – I prefer the dark red version
- Canned Black Beans
- Tomato Sauce
- Tomato Puree
- Rotel Diced Tomatoes
- Sugar – just a little to balance the heat
- Chili Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cumin
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt & Pepper
How To Make The Best Chili
Start by browning your ground beef in a skillet, drain off any fat and then add it to the slow cooker.
Do You Have to Brown Beef Before Slow Cooking?
Yes, it’s a good idea to brown the ground beef in a skillet before slow cooking.
Break the beef up with a wooden spoon to crumble it, making it easier to eat, then drain off any excess fat from the skillet before adding it to the crockpot.
Combine Beans and Spices
Next, add in the diced bell peppers, onions, canned beans (make sure to drain the beans about 85% of the way) and spices, as well as the tomato sauce and puree.
Cook on LOW
Give all the ingredients a good stir, then cover and cook on LOW heat for 6 to 8 hours.
Chili Recipe Variations:
- For this recipe I am using ground beef, but you can easily substitute ground pork, turkey or chicken in it’s place.
- Make this a vegetarian chili recipe by omitting the ground beef entirely.
- Switch out the red bell pepper for a green bell pepper if desired.
- Add some diced jalapeños to the chili for an even spicier version!
Let the flavors blend on low for 6 to 8 hours, or if you’re in a bit of a hurry, you can bump it up to high for 3 to 4 hours.
Can You Make Chili In The Instant Pot?
Yes! I’ve converted this slow cooker recipe to an easy to follow Instant Pot version. You can find the recipe HERE.
The Best Chili Toppings:
Of course you can enjoy a big bowl of this thick chili without any toppings, but my favorite thing to do with chili is load it up with some of my favorites.
- Sour cream
- Shredded Cheese
- Freshly chopped cilantro
- Avocado Slices
- Corn Chips
What To Serve With Chili?
Pair your perfect bowl of chili with any one of these delicious side dishes for an out of this world meal!
Give this thick and hearty chili a try in your slow cooker today!
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The Best Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper; seeded and chopped
- 1/2 onion; diced
- 1- 15 oz. can pinto beans
- 1- 15 oz. can kidney beans
- 1- 15 oz. can black beans
- 1- 15 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1- 10 oz can tomato puree
- 1- 10 oz can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, chili fixin’s
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Brown ground beef till no longer pink, drain, and add to crock pot.
- To the crock pot add the bell pepper, onion, all the beans (drain about 85% of the liquid from the beans before adding to the slow cooker), tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato puree. Add all the spices, and give it a good stir.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE THE RECIPE
Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
Charlyn
This is a great and easy recipe. I have tried a few other recipes but I really enjoyed this one. My husband says it has the right amount of spice
Shawn
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Carlie
Can I put all of the ingredients in a crock pot over night but then actually put it on the heat cook it the next day?
Shawn
Hey Carlie, you can definitely do that! Hope you enjoy!
Chloe
Loved the chili!! Spices were just right. I always cook chili on the stove top and it works just as well as the slow cooker.
Shawn
So glad you enjoyed it Chloe!
Vanessa
How do I make it less watery
Shawn
Well, it’s pretty thick on it’s own, but you can add a tablespoon of flour to the spices when you’re stirring them into the chili mixture.
Courtney
Did you update the recipe???? I’ve used it soooo many times but this doesn’t seem like the one I used to use!
Shawn
Hi Courtney, I did update the recipe just a smidgen, but here is all I did. I took out the flour (I didn’t feel like it needed it anymore) and I added a tablespoon of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes and tomato paste. If you’re wanting to make it the original way, you can add 1 tbsp of flour and remove the sugar (oh and add a tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce). Hope that helps!
annie j brokenbourgh
I made this yesterday, for my husband and mom, who are chili lovers and it’s was all thumbs up! Delicious!
Shawn
So glad you enjoyed it Annie!
Brandon Farnsworth
Made this a few times, had a few slight changes. I start cooking onions in skillet then throw in the ground beef to cook.
I also cut 4-5 jalapeno and 3 Anaheim peppers, fine cut jalapenos and rough cut Anaheim peppers. Gives it the right amount of heat. When adding the tomato sauce abd spices also try a cup of merlot. Awsome
Shawn
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Dan
If I add the whole can of stuff will it make it to watery?
Shawn
No, you should be fine. It just wont be as thick.
Marilyn Noel
So I did make this yesterday. It’s quick, easy, and very tasty. It was good yesterday and even better today. Thanks Shawn.
Shawn
Awesome! Thanks for coming back and commenting, Marilyn!
Cheryl Kemp
I would love to try this recipe
Raymond Ross
Try adding a can of beer and a tbls. Of Ole bay seafood seasoning to the chili
Marilyn Noel
It’s supposed to be rainy here, (Fresno, CA) all weekend. This will make for a great dinner on a wet and cold day. Can’t wait for it to smell up the house with all that wonderful comfort-food smell. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Tammy
I’ve made this twice now. My family was in shock and awe over how good it was! I love the fact that you add several different ingredients. It’s far from boring. Of course, i tweeked it a bit, but I wanted to say thank you and give you some thanks for this great recipe!
pat
I just came across your site. I am very excited to try the one bowl chocolate chip banana bread. I also printed the asparagus pasta salad. Thank you for sharing..
Tayane
Can you make this on a stove top ?
Shawn
I have not tested this recipe on the stove top, although you could try it.
Jennie
This looks like perfection in a slow cooker. Can you please share which jalapeno hot sauce you used? I scanned the post and comments for the brand, but didn’t see it — sorry if I missed it. 🙂 Thank you so much!
Elizabeth
Can I cook this on high for half the time?
Olivia
Wow!! This is a killer chili recipe, made it for the BF who up until he tasted it continued to tell me hates chili. One bite and even he woofed it! Delicious!
Karrie
I was just in the grocery store picking up ingredients for this recipe! I can’t seem to find the chili fixings anywhere! I was just in the grocery store picking up ingredients for this recipe! I can’t seem to find the chili fixings anywhere Any suggestions?!? Thank you!
Shawn
If you find some diced tomatoes with peppers and onions that will work too. 🙂
Karrie
Thank you! I ended up with the Hunts chili seasonsed. Making it today, very excited!!
Deanna
how much does this recipe make? How many will it feed?
Leah
I have a 3 1/2 quart slow cooker… would that be sufficient enough for this recipe?
Leah
A response please?
Shawn
I don’t think 3 1/2 quarts would be big enough to hold this recipe. Sorry!
Shawney
I love thick hearty chili verses soupy ones as well, and I just finished making it. My husband absolutely loves it! The only thing I tweaked was I added chili and dark kidney beans to the other beans listed (we just love beans!) and I added a pinch of cilantro. We were also too impatient and have been snacking on it after the 3 hour mark. (I would definitely say the longer it sits the better off it’ll be.) Still good though, I’d recommend this! 🙂
Shawn
Glad you liked it! 🙂
Betti
I have clipped this recipe to Evernote and use it quite often. I prefer thick hearty chili over soupy ones so this works for me!
Debbie
Could I ask at what point you add the flour please?? Do you mix it with water first?
Shawn
Hi Debbie, you’ll just add the flour along with the other spices. No need to stir it in with water. 🙂
Debbie
Thank you! I
Mayte
I must say, I definitely loved this recipe. Tried it out yesterday and getting ready to have leftovers for lunch! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Shawn
Thanks Mayte! It’s a favorite of ours, and we love the leftovers too! 🙂
Steven
Oh important question. What kind of flower is it? I’ve bought some cornflower to add as thats apparently good with thickening up sauces.
Shawn
A regular all purpose flour will work, but feel free to use your corn flour if that is what you have on hand. 🙂
Steven
A quick question about the chili you made, how many will this feed?
Shawn
I would think it could feed 6-8 adults. It’s a good amount of chili, and still my favorite recipe! 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
Carol
Shawn, can I use my crock pot for your peach cobbler?
It looks delicious!! Like you, I am a sweet eater only I
don’t have four children to chase around lol! They are
all grown and on their own 🙁 But I do have a one yr.old
granddaughter 🙂 God Bless You
Shawn
Hi Carol! Yes, use your crockpot for the peach cobbler, it turns out great. Just adjust the cooking time a little. You can cook it on high for 2-3 hours. Just make sure the top of the cake is set. 🙂
Carol
Found you from jacklyn(classycooking) love love love your site 🙂
can’t wait to try so many of your recipes!! Thank You
Melissa
So many good recipes on here…Thanks, can’t wait to try a bunch of them ! .. 🙂
Casey and Brynn
I love your blog! My best friend from high school, Katie Roberts, told me about it! I have made a bunch of your recipes. I live in Colorado. What part are you in?
Pam
It does look thick, hearty, and delicious!
Farida
Very interest this recipe i like chilli, thanks for your great blog and pics.
farida
http://chillichild.blogspot.com
Shawn
Yes, he had seconds! He has been working out 3 to 4 times a week too! He's on a protien trip right now…I wont even tell you what he eats for breakfast – yuck! haha
larzipan
He had seconds?? Wow he might be gaining weight! That Chile looked soooo good! can't wait to make it!