This amazing Crockpot Chili recipe is delicious, hearty, and perfect for chilly weather! Super easy to make and perfect for loading up with all your favorite toppings!
Easy comfort food is my FAVORITE. Make sure to try this Easy Lazy Day Lasagna and One Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup!
Crockpot Chili Recipe
Without a doubt, chili is my husband’s favorite food. He asks for it every chance he gets and I’m only too happy to oblige. We are all big time chili lovers.
We make lots of variations of this classic chili recipe, mainly because we’re always trying to see if we can top this. I’ve come to the conclusion based on lots of feedback from friends and family over the years, that this truly is the best chili recipe on the planet.
The Best Ways to Eat Chili
Here’s what I love about chili y’all. It’s easily the most versatile main dish EVER. Think about this for a second:
- Chili is great on it’s own, served in a bowl or bread bowl.
- It can top hot dogs and burgers and take them to new delicious heights.
- It’s great in a nacho bar or served atop baked potatoes.
I mean, for reals people, the options are endless. This is why I’m always secretly hoping for leftovers so I don’t have to be too creative the following day 🙂
This weekend, I will be making this beef chili, yet again. It’s a staple for our Super Bowl party each year and it’s something my family looks forward to.
I look forward to making this chili recipe because it’s incredibly easy to make.
How To Make Homemade Crockpot Chili
- Brown the beef (and sausage if you want to use that as well) in a skillet.
- The onion, bell pepper, and garlic get added to the skillet and are cooked until soft and fragrant.
- Add the meat mixture to your favorite 6 quart crockpot or slow cooker.
- Top with the tomato trio: diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste.
- Add the spices and seasonings to really bring complexity and depth of flavor to the chili.
- Give it a good stir and place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook for at least a few hours (on low or high). It only gets better the more time it has.
- Serve with your favorite toppings! See my suggestions below.
The Best Chili Toppings
As a general guideline, if you put in on your tacos or in your burritos, it can go on chili. Now, I’m not a rule follower so I certainly don’t expect you to be. Do not in anyway limit your chili toppings to these suggestions. Do what feels right 🙂
- Cheese – sharp cheddar is my favorite
- Corn Chips or Tortilla Chips – this extra bit of saltiness is sublime
- Avocados – you can go sliced, diced, or guacamole
- Jalapeños – pickled or fresh
- Green Onions – adds a bright, fresh flavor
- Cilantro – the same as green onions, and my personal favorite
- Bacon – we love to add bacon to this recipe on occasion. It adds a lovely smokiness to the chili. If you don’t want to do that, maybe as a topping? Make it nice and crispy!
What To Serve With Chili
Okay, here’s where I blow your mind. Chris’s mom is Peruvian so he grew up on chili con carne. His mom always served the chili with warmed tortillas that had been slathered with butter. I mean, yes, uber decadent. And I was super skeptical, that is, until I tasted it.
You guys! This is LEGIT the best way to eat chili. Heat the tortillas up, we do it on a griddle, and then immediately spread with softened butter and roll up super tight, like a flauta or taquito. We slice them in half and then just stack them high and serve alongside the chili. Thank me later.
We also like to serve chili with:
- Homemade Biscuits
- The Best Cheesy Mexican Cornbread
- Garlic Parmesan Breadsticks
- Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas
How To Make The Ultimate Crockpot Chili Recipe
The Ultimate Crockpot Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage, spicy Italian sausage or ground beef your choice
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and chopped
- 1 to 2 garlic cloves minced
- 30 oz kidney beans rinsed well and drained (2 15 oz cans)
- 15 oz pinto beans rinsed well and drained (1 can)
- 29 oz diced tomatoes use the entire can, juice and all
- 3 oz tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp brown sugar or granulated sugar
- 8 oz tomato sauce
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until mostly cooked through. A little pink is fine.
- Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic and stir to combine. Cooking cooking over medium heat until onion is translucent.
- Transfer the beef mixture to a 6 quart crockpot or slow cooker.
- Add the kidney and pinto beans.
- Top with diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth and hot sauce.
- Next add the seasonings (chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne, salt, pepper and sugar).
- Pour tomato sauce over the top and stir to combine.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with desired toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, corn chips, tortilla chips, etc.
Nutrition
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Kelly says
If I dont use the italian sausage, do I use 2 lbs of ground beef?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yes, you’ll want to use 2 pounds of ground beef then.
Tiffany says
Made this today but without Italian sausage and cayenne because I didn’t have either. It came out delicious especially since I’ve only cooked chili maybe two times before. Thank you! I’ll try with the sausage next time 😊
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Fantastic Tiffany!
Tina Bortolazzo says
Awesome beer chili
Alanso says
Don’t. Italian sausage has no business in chili. Wrong taste.
Jamie says
I’ve tried this a few times, sometimes with making the seasoning myself and sometimes using premade chilli seasoning. Turns out great either way.
Lynn Lessmiller says
FABULOUS Chili !!! I’ve made it in a slow cooker and on the stove depending on time factors and they are both great. It’s so versatile you can adjust your spiciness so easy depending on your desired outcome. Thank you for my new go-to chili recipe!
John says
I love chili. I’ve made alot of chili in the last few years. This is the best I have ever made. The tangy taste of the tomatoes balanced so well with the chili powder. Can’t wait to eat this for my lunch Monday. Thank you.
Caitlyn says
Made this last night, and it was delicious!
Jamie says
I’ve made this a few times now and always turns out great and kids love it.
Michael says
I made this for the second time. I didn’t go with the sausage this time and I think I prefer straight ground beef. I ended up dumping a bag of frozen corn in it at the end. Also, for the beans I started with dry beans and cooked them to a firm consistency. I think that canned beans tend to lose all texture. Great recipe. It also freezes well and it’s a heck of a lot better than canned chili. I’ll make it again for sure.
Kari says
Have been looking for the perfect chili recipe for quite a while now and am super happy I came across this one! I made it today and in an super pleased with it! My daughter even says it’s delicious! Thank you!
Charlotte Hicks says
I have made this chili several times for my family and as a potluck dish, and it is the best! My husband can’t eat beef so I used ground turkey, turkey sausage, and chicken broth instead. It’s now one of our favorite go-to meals. Thank you for sharing another amazing recipe.
Heidi says
Can anyone please tell me what the serving size is? I see the nutritional facts but I’m not sure what portion they pertain to. Thank you kindly!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
There are 10 servings in the recipe so the calculator adds up all the nutritional information and divides by 10.
Ayla says
So 40 carbs per serving, which is a cup?
Erica says
Made this recipe last night & it was fantastic! Tasted even better the 2nd day! My husband has never liked chili, but he certainly does now! He had 2 bowls last night and some for lunch today!
Thank you for a great recipe to add to my collection!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Love this!
Heidi Meggitt says
This sounds super spicy. Can anyone rate the level of spiciness?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Not spicy at all Heidi!
Lynne says
Ohhh my – was this ever good! I have made the same chili recipe for about 100 years, involving a package of powdered chili mix. I thought it was time to try something new, and I found your recipe. Wow! The flavors are complex and interesting and so good! I didn’t think I had any hot sauce, until I found a bottle of jalapeño garlicky hot sauce in the pantry. Boy – did that add a good flavor! The only change I made was to cook it all on the stove rather than in a crockpot. I cooked it for about 1.5 hours on simmer and I thought it worked well. Thank you so much for a terrific recipe. Happy New Year!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Man, that hot sauce sound so good! What a great addition to the chili! Thanks Lynne!
Gene Morales says
This is the sweetest and most helpful comment I’ve read in well over a month. Thank you for being you, Miss Lynne
Amy says
I found my new go-to chili recipe!! This was delicious!!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yay! Thanks so much Amy!