Slow Cooker Chili is a wholesome, easy recipe that’s perfect for chilly days. This hearty, filling dish will please the whole family.
Who loves chili? Up here in North Idaho, it is cold for many months of the year – as I’m sure you can imagine. So we like to make delicious comfort foods that are simple to make.
When we are spending all day moving snow on the property – it sure is nice to come inside and have a nice, hot slow cooker full of delicious chili ready to go.
What I love about this recipe is that I can prep it and toss it all in for dinner that night OR I can prep it and freeze it for another night. It is so nice to know that I have a super easy dinner all ready to go when we need it – just waiting in the freezer.
It sure makes dinnertime so simple – which gives me more time for all the other things pulling at my schedule around here.
I know you’ll love this chili as much as we do!
best crockpot chili
Here are some commonly asked questions
What is the best way to store leftover chili recipe?
After serving, place the leftover chili in a shallow airtight container. Be sure to label with the date before refrigerating. This recipe should keep for up to 4-5 days if not left out for too long. As with most things, it is important to get food into the refrigerator within 1 hour after serving to prevent bacteria growth.
Why use a shallow container to store the leftovers?
Well, when the container is shallow, the contents chill faster than if you were to use a large, deep container. Ideally, you don’t want it to take too long for the leftovers to get to their chilled/stored temperature. As I mentioned, if the food remains above about 35 degrees for more than 1 hour after cooking, the bacteria starts to grow.
So, if the deep container of food takes several hours to finally get to that 35 degrees, the bacteria has been growing in your leftovers for those several hours. Not exactly what you want to happen.
easy chili recipe crock pot
Crockpot Chili Ingredients
- lean ground beef
- tomato soup
- water
- onion diced finely
- chili beans drained, mild or hot
- pinto beans drained
- diced tomatoes with green chilies like Rotel
- worcestershire sauce
- garlic salt
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- black pepper
Can this recipe be doubled?
The recipe above can easily be doubled. Every single recipe will fit in a gallon-size freezer bag.
Be sure to make our Homemade Chili Seasoning to use in this recipe!
easy crockpot chili
How to Make Chili in the Crockpot
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until almost done and no pink remains.
- Add the onions and cook until soft, about 2-3 minutes **see freezing instructions below.
- Drain and add to the crockpot.
- Add all other ingredients to the crockpot.
- Stir well.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
- Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Can this be made on the stovetop?
Yes, you absolutely can make this recipe on the stovetop. It’s really easy since you are already cooking the meat on the stovetop.
Once you have finished cooking the meat – just dump all of the ingredients in a large stockpot & bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low & continue to simmer for about 20 minutes before serving.
slow cooker chili recipe
Freezing instructions:
- Label a large freezer bag (gallon size) or a freezer-safe container with the recipe name, date and cooking instructions.
- After cooking the ground beef and onions, add it to the freezer bag.
- Add the remaining ingredients.
- Remove as much air as possible, seal and freeze for up to three months.
- To cook – transfer from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before cooking.
- Place in the crockpot with 1 cup of water and cook low to 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours
Can this be made in the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker?
Yes, you absolutely can make this recipe in your Instant Pot, pressure cooker, or multi-cooker. It’s really easy.
Once you are done cooking the meat, just dump all of the ingredients in the pot. Stir, place the lid & set it on manual high pressure for 10 minutes. Once it is done cooking, slow-release for 10 minutes & then quick release.
chili recipe crock pot
Can I make this recipe with chicken?
Yes- of course, you can make this with chicken. This recipe is great for using rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken from another recipe. If you want to use fresh chicken, just cut it into bite-sized pieces & saute in a skillet until no pink remains. Then proceed with the remainder of the recipe.
Favorite Chili Toppings
- cheese
- onion
- avocado
- cilantro
- sour cream
- jalapenos
How to Serve
This chili recipe is versatile – here are a few ideas for how to serve this tasty dish!
- in a bowl
- chili dogs
- as a dip- with cheese
- on baked potatoes
best slow cooker chili
Products I love when making chili in the slow cooker…
This chili recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made homemade chili before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this simple crockpot recipe.
If you love this easy chili in the crockpot, you’re going to love these other slow cooker recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
If you love this recipe for Slow Cooker Chili as much as I do, please write a five-star review, and be sure to help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!
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Slow Cooker Chili
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 10.5 oz tomato soup
- 10.5 oz water
- 1 medium onion diced finely
- 15 oz chili beans drained, mild or hot
- 16 oz pinto beans drained
- 10 oz diced tomatoes with green chilies like Rotel
- 1 ½ tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 2-3 tablespoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until almost done and no pink remains.
- Add the onions and cook until soft, about 2-3 minutes **see freezing instructions below.
- Drain and add to the crockpot.
- Add all other ingredients to the crockpot.
- Stir well.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
- Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Freezing instructions:
- Label a large freezer bag (gallon size) or a freezer-safe container with the recipe name, date and cooking instructions.
- After cooking the ground beef and onions, add it to the freezer bag.
- Add the remaining ingredients.
- Remove as much air as possible, seal and freeze for up to three months.
- To cook – transfer from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before cooking.
- Place in the crockpot with 1 cup of water and cook low to 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours
Notes
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
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