Hearty Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili Recipe
A hearty and flavorful Slow Cooker Chili made with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and a blend of spices. This easy-to-make chili simmers all day in a slow cooker, resulting in tender meat and a rich, comforting dish perfect for chilly days or casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (slow cooker, low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes (low) or 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 cup beef broth or water
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Drain and rinse the beans thoroughly to reduce sodium and excess starch.
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until completely browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess fat to keep the chili from being greasy.
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned ground beef to your slow cooker. Add the drained beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, diced onion, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper if using, and beef broth or water.
- Mix and Cook: Stir all ingredients together in the slow cooker until well combined. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours. The chili should become thick and flavors meld together.
- Final Taste and Serve: Before serving, stir the chili and taste for seasoning. Adjust salt or spices if needed. Serve hot, optionally topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or fresh cilantro.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit ground beef and add extra beans or vegetables like bell peppers or corn.
- Soaking beans overnight can improve digestibility if using dried beans instead of canned.
- Slow cooking on low heat allows flavors to develop more deeply, resulting in richer chili.
- Leftover chili tastes even better the next day and freezes well for meal prep.
- Adjust the level of cayenne pepper or chili powder to match your preferred spice heat.
Keywords: slow cooker chili, ground beef chili, easy chili recipe, slow cooker recipes, comfort food, hearty chili
