This Slow Cooker Chili simply requires browning the meat, chopping some veggies, and then cooking on low for 8 hours. It doesn't get much easier (or delicious!) than that!
(This recipe for Slow Cooker Chili was originally published in March 2009, but was updated with new photos in 2019).
We're in the midst of an AWESOME (negative) winter storm here in Boston so I figured a little comfort food was in order. I don't use my slow cooker nearly enough, so I figured it was the perfect opportunity to try that out as well. I know part of the whole point of a slow cooker is that you cook dinner while you're at work or out for the day, but I also love the idea of having dinner cooking on my counter while I'm relaxing on the couch all day. I mean, isn't that the point of snow days?
I found a very basic chili recipe packed with flavor on the AllRecipes website. I made a few tweaks to it, but made sure to keep it fairly simple as I don't want you to feel like you have to go out and buy a million ingredients. It ended up turning out perfectly and will definitely go into my regular comfort food meal plans!
SLOW COOKER CHILI RECIPE
One of the best things about slow cooker chilis? They take VERY little work. For this particular recipe, all you have to do is brown the ground beef and then throw everything in the slow cooker. Some slow cookers let you brown meat right in them, so you can definitely do that. Or you can cook in a separate skillet.
OK, I guess the slow cooker won't chop your veggies for you. But there's not too much chopping to be done for this recipe. Basically just green bell pepper, celery, onion, and garlic.
Once your veggies are chopped and your beef is browned, put them all in the slow cooker along with the tomato puree, kidney beans, and cannellini beans. Season with chili powder, parsley, salt, basil, oregano, black pepper, and hot pepper sauce.
It already looks delicious, but now it needs 8 hours of cooking time!
Set the slow cooker to low for 8 hours and cook away. I made this on a snow day so I could "observe" throughout the day, but I feel confident enough now to let it sit at home while I'm at work or out for the day... which I believe is the whole point.
Let me tell you, my kitchen smelled fantastic, so I'm looking forward to the next time I use the slow cooker and coming home from work with dinner already done!
Honey, I'm home!
For such a simple chili, this one is absolutely packed with flavor! I highly recommend serving the slow cooker chili with a little cornbread (I made a jalapeño chili one) because chili and cornbread is just a match made in heaven. I also recommend topping it with shredded cheese and scallions. You can add sour cream, too. Or anything your heart desires!
If you're not a fan of beef in your chili, you can certainly swap out for ground chicken or turkey instead. You could even just use a couple more cans of beans instead!
You can also obviously adjust the seasoning levels however you want and add more or less hot sauce in, too. That's the best thing about chili... you can make a few simple tweaks and have one that's perfectly personalized to you!
But I think the best thing about slow cooker chili is that you barely have to do anything to get dinner on the table. I won't even tell on you if you buy pre-made cornbread from the grocery store.
In the meantime, hopefully spring will arrive soon... But in the event that it doesn't (and I'm sure it won't), this chili recipe makes a lot and the leftovers freeze beautifully. That means you can enjoy this comfort food for more than just one meal... Not that it's difficult to make another batch!
What's your favorite kind of chili?
For more fun takes on chili, check out my Buffalo Chicken Chili or my Red Wine Pumpkin Chili. Also, how amazing does this Chili Mac and Cheese look from The View From Great Island??
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup diced green bell pepper
- ¾ cup diced celery
- ¾ cup diced onions
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2- 10.75 oz. cans tomato puree
- 2- 15 oz. cans kidney beans, (one with liquid and one with liquid drained)
- 1- 15 oz. can cannellini beans, with liquid
- ½ Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ tsp dried basil
- ¾ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tsp hot sauce
- Cheese, sour cream, chives, for topping
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until it's browned.
- Drain beef and add to slow cooker along with pepper, celery, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and beans. Stir in chili powder, salt, basil, oregano, parsley, pepper, and hot sauce.
- Cook chili in slow cooker on low setting for 8 hours.
- Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, chives, or anything else you desire.
Notes
- Recipe slightly adapted from Allrecipes.
VeggieGirl says
Hooray for chili!! Perfect for these bitter-cold temperature days.
Sunday Cook says
OMG - that looks so delicious. Can I come over for lunch? 🙂
Kelly says
I love using my slow cooker. I've been amazed at how many recipes I've been able to adapt for it. It's especially great for cooking things like beans that normally take quite a while. Chili sounds quite comforting with the weather we've been having lately.
merrypsu says
I am making my FOUR bean spicy chili with Bison sausage today in MY slow cooker! 🙂
Louise at Livin Local says
Looks yummy! ... from one fan of AllRecipes' slow cooker recipes to another.
Katie says
i love the pics you took for this one, esp. the one showing all the beans...it all looks so delicious!
lifeonland says
I couldn't believe this when I saw it...I made chili for our snow days (Sun and Mon) in Georgia this weekend and served it in that very same (with an L on it of course) Anthropologie mug! My only regret is that it wasn't as delicious and homemade as yours looks. Us southerners venturing out for ground beef and veggies in the snow is not the best idea due to our lack of winter weather driving skills!
Kevin says
That chili looks tasty! I like the cup bowl!
Hilary says
hi.
just found your blog looks great, i lived in boston for a while, and dig trying new recipies, i going to check out your archives.
xoxo
Anonymous says
When I was a little girl and I first went to Wendy's (this is 25 years ago now) all I wanted was Chilli. I grew up in New Zealand and I think it was the only Wendy's branch in the whole country. It was really popular - actually we only ate out 4 or 5 times a year so it was a big treat. I also thought it was so "american". I had only ever seen chilli on a sitcom.
Well today I cooked your chilli - I had to make some subsitituions chopped tomatoes not pureed, and one can of refried beans instead of the cannellini beans.
It was so delicious - it took me back to that moment. Thanks so much...