Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

Easy chili recipe that's made in the slow cooker.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5 15

Total Time 5 25

Servings servings

Calories 162kcal

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef.
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
Drain ground beef and return to pan.
Add onions and garlic, and saute, stirring regularly, for 3 minutes.
1 large white or yellow onion, 3 cloves garlic
Add ground beef mixture to slow cooker along with remaining ingredients.
2-14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes, 8 ounce can tomato sauce, 1-2 tablespoons ancho chili powder, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground coriander, Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Stir all of the ingredients except beans together.
Cover with and cook on LOW heat for 5 - 6 hours.
Stir in kidney beans and allow to heat through, about 10 minutes.
2-15 ounce cans kidney beans
Serve warm with desired toppings.

Ground beef: I like to use 85% or 90% lean ground beef. Sometimes leaner ground beef can dry out in the slow cooker.
Tomatoes with chilies: Ro-Tel will also work.
Chili powder: I like the smokiness of ancho chile powder, but regular chili powder will work, too.
Cocoa powder: The cocoa powder gives the chili an earthiness. Feel free to omit it if you prefer.
Beans: Feel free to substitute a can of black beans for the kidney beans if you prefer.
Nutrition values are estimates.