If you’re a chili fan, you’re in the right place. This slow cooker chili is the best I’ve ever had. Looking for more chili ideas? Don’t miss my comprehensive list of 75 slow cooker chili recipes and my homemade chili seasoning recipe!
There’s nothing like a good bowl of chili. There are so many different ways to make chili, but this slow cooker chili is about as classic as it gets. This recipe makes a big batch, which means it’s great for a party, or you can freeze some for another night!
How do you make slow cooker chili?
The first step in making this chili is to brown your ground beef. The beef needs to be at least partially cooked before it goes into the slow cooker so that it won’t all stick together in one big clump. The rest of the ingredients including onions, garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, spices, and beef broth go into the pot, then it’s time to let everything simmer away!
Tips for crock pot chili
I use 90% lean ground beef. It’s got plenty of flavor without all the extra grease. I pre-measure my spices the night before, which makes prep time go a lot quicker when I’m trying to get everything in the slow cooker in the morning. This recipe makes for great leftovers and meal prep. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to one month. Serve your chili with plenty of toppings such as grated cheese, sour cream, onions, tomato or even bacon crumbles.
Slow cooker chili variations
While this is a classic version of chili, there are many ways to customize it to your tastes.
Turkey: Use ground turkey instead of the beef. Beanless: Use 2 1/2 pounds ground beef and omit the beans. Spicy: Add 1-2 tablespoons of hot sauce to taste. Three Bean: Use a total of 3 1/2 cups of black beans, pinto beans and kidney beans. Meat Lovers: Use 2 1/2 lbs of cubed and browned stew meat instead of the ground beef.
Stove Top Chili
If you don’t want to wait for your chili to simmer all day in the crock pot, you can make this recipe on the stove instead. Simply brown the meat and onions, then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer over low heat for one hour.
What to serve with slow cooker chili
Cornbread is the classic side dish for chili, and my honey cornbread recipe is the best of the best! Other great options include garlic knots or cheese bombs. This chili is also great served over a baked potato, on a hot dog, or poured over french fries. There are so many different ways to enjoy chili and you just can’t go wrong!
More great slow cooker recipes
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup
Slow Cooker Chili Video
