Make award winning Classic Slow Cooker Chili in your crockpot! Come home to have this hearty chili waiting for you for dinner tonight. This meaty and thick chili will keep you warm all winter long. The best part is that it is super easy to make without a long list of ingredients.
Classic Slow Cooker Chili
Classic Slow Cooker Chili is the perfect meal to make in your crockpot because it gets better when it cooks all day. I call this classic chili because it is my family recipe that has all the traditional flavors you expect in chili. If you like your chili a little more mild feel free to leave out the cayenne and half the red pepper flakes.
I love to make this on a Monday in the morning and let it cook all day long! Another chili recipe I love is this Chili made with chipotle chilis and not a classic chili. But this chili recipe is a standard perfect chili recipe with everything made just right.
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Different Ways to Eat Classic Slow Cooker Chili
I love to make chili one night and eat it for three meals during the week. This recipe is so good I never get tired of eating it. The ideas are endless of what to eat with your chili.
Crockpot Chili goes great with tortilla chips, cornbread, or tortillas.I usually top it with avocado, shredded cheese and sour cream.
While Crockpot Chili is great on its own your can also eat it with baked potatoes, on hot dogs, over french fries or use extras in my Slow Cooker Chili Cheese Dip.
Disclaimer- Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
To Brown or Not to Brown
I think that browning the meat on the stove is an important step to add flavor and really seal in all the spices. If you are short on time you can skip this step and all the flavors will still combine to make a tasty chili.
Healthier Classic Slow Cooker Chili
Looking for a healthier option? You can easily swap the 85% ground beef for 70% ground beef. Or you can take it up a notch and swap it for ground turkey. Just don’t get to lean on the turkey or you might have a lack of fat that is essential to the taste of chili.
Crockpot Chili Party Ideas
One of my favorite things to serve at a party is chili! I even use my three crockpots and serve up different kinds of chili. Then I make a chili bar and load up on all the toppings. Here is usually what I put out.
- Shredded Cheese
- Avocados
- Sour Cream
- Green Onions
- Pickled Jalapeños
- Cilantro
- Limes
- Bacon
- Tortilla Chips
- Corn Chips
- Tortillas (corn and flour)
- Saltines
- Cornbread
How to Make Crockpot Chili
Step 1. Heat oil in large pan over medium heat. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, pepper flakes, oregano, and cayenne; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
Step 2. Increase heat to medium-high and add half the beef; cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink and just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining beef and cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes.
Step 3. Pour all contents into crock pot.
Step 4. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato puree, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into crockpot. Stir everything to combine.
Step 5. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
Food Allergies-
Gluten-Free- I make all my recipes gluten-free since my husband has celiac disease, which means he is allergic to gluten. This recipe normally is gluten free. However if you serve it tortillas, cornbread or crackers make sure they are gluten free. My favorite crackers are these Simple Mills Crackers. Any corn tortillas will work too.
Need A New Crock Pot?
My favorite is this Crock Pot 7 quart Programmable Slow Cooker. First and foremost, I love being able to set the timer in case I’m not home when the food is finished cooking and it just switches to warm. Plus you can lock the lid and just carry it to a party. Not only is it easy to carry but also you will never lose another Tupperware or serving dish again at a potluck party!
Classic Slow Cooker Chili
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 medium onions chopped finely (2 cups)
- 1 red bell pepper cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 6 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 pounds 85% lean ground beef
- 1 can red kidney beans drained and rinsed, 15 ounces each
- 1 can pinto beans drained and rinsed, 15 ounces each
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes with juice
- 28 ounces tomato puree
Instructions
- Heat oil in large pan over medium heat. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, pepper flakes, oregano, and cayenne; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium-high and add half the beef; cook, breaking up pieces with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink and just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining beef and cook, breaking up pieces with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Pour all contents into crock pot.
- Add beans, tomatoes, tomato puree, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into crockpot. Stir everything to combine.
- Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
Sparkle Queen says
Just wanted to point out the ingredients list says 6 cloves cloves. I think you probably meant garlic. That would make the recipe very different. 😂
allisonetreadwell says
Thank you so much for catching that! I will update that immediately. I have a feeling that would not be very good either 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to let me know!
Sue says
I noticed in the picture you have two different kind of beans. You are only listing kidney beans. What is the other kind you are using?
allisonetreadwell says
Hi Sue! Thanks for catching that! I used a can of kidney and a can of pinto. I updated the recipe so it is correct now. Happy Crockin!
Tibbs says
Ninety five percent of people posting recipes with nutritional data that is totally useless. That being said, it matters not that you post this data if you don’t state that actual serving size/amount. State number of serving is totally useless. Imagine people who rely on the nutritional data to manage their food intake for health reasons…number of servings is meaningless. Do you part and actual state serving size/weight/volume for those people who need to manage their health. This post is one of the 95%. I am diabetic…thus, my reason for my comment!
Chuck Friedrichs says
Another set of winning recepies.
Allison Treadwell says
Thanks so much!!!