Crockpot Chili: Perfect Comfort Food Recipe
This hearty and comforting Crockpot Chili is the perfect easy meal to warm you up on chilly days. Featuring ground beef or turkey simmered with beans, tomatoes, and a blend of classic chili spices in a slow cooker, it’s packed with bold flavors and can be customized with your favorite toppings for a satisfying dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes (using low setting)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound ground beef (or turkey for a lighter option)
Beans and Tomatoes
- 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper (any color), diced
Liquids & Broth
- 1 cup beef or vegetable broth
Spices
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Chopped green onions
- Avocado
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or turkey until fully cooked, making sure to break it up into small pieces as it cooks. Once cooked through, drain any excess fat to keep the chili from becoming greasy, then transfer the meat to the crockpot.
- Add Ingredients to the Crockpot: Into the crockpot with the meat, add kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato paste, beef or vegetable broth, diced onion, minced garlic, diced bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir everything well so the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Cook the Chili: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours to allow flavors to meld beautifully, or on high for 3-4 hours if you’re short on time. The long, slow cooking process will make the chili rich and delicious.
- Serve: Once done, taste the chili and adjust seasoning if necessary. Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with your choice of toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, avocado slices, or fresh cilantro for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for a leaner, lighter chili option.
- For a spicier chili, add some cayenne pepper or diced jalapeños along with the other spices.
- Leftover chili tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.
- This chili freezes well; portion into airtight containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To make this vegetarian, omit the meat and use vegetable broth.
Keywords: crockpot chili, slow cooker chili, easy chili recipe, ground beef chili, comfort food, chili with beans, hearty chili
