Slow Cooker Chili Recipe
An easy slow cooker chili recipe with Ground Beef, beans, tomato sauce, and the best homemade chili seasoning. It putters away in the slow cooker for the juiciest beef and rich flavor.
Thank you to Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff for sponsoring this Slow Cooker Chili recipe. I received compensation, but all opinions are my own.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
The Best Way to Cook Chili:
Slow Cooking chili is a classic way to cook chili. It’s the easiest chili because you can set it and forget it and this is how the award-winning chilis are achieved. The low and slow cooking process melds the flavors of the chili seasoning into every bite and the beef becomes so tender, juicy, and irresistible. You can slow cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Chili:
- Ground Beef – no other protein does it quite like beef and Ground Beef tastes amazing. We use lean (90/10 or 93/7) to eliminate the need to spoon out excess fat. If yours has a higher fat content, you can spoon out the excess fat when it renders in the skillet.
- Onion – we love a generous amount of onion because it adds amazing sweet notes to the chili and disappears into the chili as it slow cooks.
- Beans – you can change up the beans based on what you have on hand, but the classic beans for chili are kidney beans (we love dark red), and black beans. Be sure to rinse and drain the beans in a colander for the best chili consistency and color.
- Tomatoes & Tomato Sauce – We love the combination of canned diced tomatoes (with their juice) as well as tomato sauce to give the chili a saucy consistency with great texture. For added flavor, we add a can of diced tomatoes and green chilis.
- Chili Seasoning – we make a simple homemade blend with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Do you Prefer a Spicy Chili?
To keep it kid-friendly, this classic chili is mild and not spicy. If you prefer a spicy chili, you can either add hot sauce to your bowl when serving or if you want the entire batch to be spicier, add an extra tablespoon of Chili Powder and 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of Cayenne Pepper to give it a spicy kick.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chili:
Making chili in the slow cooker doesn’t get any easier. It’s as simple as browning the beef and onions then adding all of the canned ingredients to the slow cooker and turning it on. If you have a multicooker with a slow cooker function, you can saute and slow cook all in the same pot.
- SAUTE the beef and onions in a skillet then add garlic and seasonings to the pan.
- TRANSFER the beef mixture to a 6 Qt Slow Cooker.
- ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS – rinsed and drained beans, diced tomatoes with their juice and tomato sauce.
- SLOW COOK – cover and set slow cooker on low 6-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours then season more to taste if needed.
Our Favorite Chili Toppings:
We love to serve this family-style where everyone can build their own chili bowls with the toppings they love. Toppings can vary based on what we have in the fridge, but these are our favorite toppings for chili –
- Cheese – mild cheddar is the classic choice, but Mexican shredded cheese works equally well
- Onion – chopped green or red onion adds a fresh pop of color and flavor
- Avocado – because we can’t help putting avocado on everything, especially chili.
- Cilantro – for garnish and adding fresh flavor
- Sour cream – balances the dish (especially great when chili is served over a baked potato)
- Sliced jalapenos – you can use any hot pepper for a spicy kick
How to Serve Chili:
Chili keeps really well in the refrigerator so we love to get creative with leftovers. There are so many ways to serve classic chili and really it can be served almost any time of day. Some of our favorites include:
- Chili Cheese Dip – Sprinkle chili with cheddar cheese and serve as an appetizer with tortilla chips.
- Chili Dogs – Top a hot dog with chili and shredded cheese to transform it into a chili cheese dog.
- Chili Stuffed Baked Potatoes – topping a baked potato with hot chili is a delicious gluten-free option and fun way to serve a crowd.
- In a Bowl – loaded with all of the toppings and tortilla chips or pita chips on the side (this is our family favorite)!
Why We Love This Family Friendly Dinner:
With so many families staying home together now, juggling homeschool, and cooking more than ever, it’s a great time to get kids in the kitchen and teach them through cooking. This slow cooker beef chili is a great way to teach your children cooking skills. Children can learn:
- Food safety tips like washing hands after handling raw meat
- The importance of using separate plates and utensils for raw and ready to eat foods to prevent cross-contamination
- How to measure spices and weigh ingredients
If you let kids help with preparing the meal, they are more likely to enjoy eating it. It also makes for a memorable photo-op moment!
More Beef Recipes You Will Love:
- Juicy Burgers – the secret to perfect burgers
- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry – with the best sauce
- Quick Beef Chili – an easy 30-minute recipe
- Beef Stroganoff – classic and packed with flavor
- Beef Tenderloin – incredibly juicy and tender
- Easy Meatloaf – with the best glaze
Get the print-friendly recipe below for this Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili.
Classic Slow Cooker Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lb lean Ground Beef, (90/10 or 93/7)
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 30 oz kidney beans, two 15oz cans, drained and rinsed
- 30 oz diced tomatoes, with their juice
- 10 oz diced tomatoes and green chilis, with their juice
- 30 oz tomato sauce
Instructions
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté beef until it releases fat (4-5 minutes), breaking it up with a spatula.
- Add onion to the skillet and sauté until tender (4-5 minutes). Add minced garlic and seasonings: cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt and pepper. Cook another 30 seconds stirring constantly. Transfer to a 6 Qt slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients into the slow cooker: rinsed and drained beans, diced tomatoes with their juice, diced tomatoes and green chilis with juice and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Season to taste if desired and serve warm.
Nutrition Per Serving
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Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
My first time making chili and I picked the perfect recipe! It’s sooo good, I only did a little adjustment on chili powder (only used 1 tbs) as my daughter can’t have anything spicy. Everybody’s happy with tonight’s dinner. Thank you!!
Love it! I’m happy that you all enjoyed your dinner using this recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome recipe. It’s important to get top quality ground beef.
A version of this just won a chili cook-off!
I used this recipe, with the following modifications and won a chili cook-off (no prize, but it felt good):
– Added a diced poblano pepper
– Used a regular can of diced tomatoes instead of the one with green chilis
– Added two sliced up chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
It came out a bit too spicy for a few of the kids, but the dads loved it!
Hi Nic! That’s amazing! Thank you for the feedback!
This was a hit for my holiday work party! Everyone went for seconds! Thank you for the great recipe! I will make again 🙂
You’re welcome, Rachel! I’m so glad it was a hit!
My first time making chili in a slow cooker. It turned out amazing! I substituted 2 lbs of ground beef with 3 lbs of lean ground turkey, used pinto beans instead of black beans, quadrupled the amount of chili powder(my roommates like spicy stuff), and added Louisiana hot sauce.
Absolutely delicious. It almost tasted like the chili my Grandma used to make!
Thank you!
Hi Ryan, I’m happy to know that you loved it!
Hi I was wondering if I doubled the recipe, would it fit in a 7 qt slow cooker?
Hi Gary, since I haven’t tried doubling this in a 7qt slow cooker, I can’t say it will work or not, however one of my readers doubled this recipe in a 8qt and it worked great. I wish I could be more helpful.
I’ve been using this recipe for years now and absolutely love it. I add another can of chilies for family preference and it’s maxing every time!
I recently started calorie counting and was wondering what is considered a single serving size. The nutrition label doesn’t actually give an amount for a single serving.
Hi Cora! I’m so glad you love the recipe. The number of servings is listed at the top of the recipe card. It serves 10 (bowls) the nutrition facts are per serving.
Love this recipe! Cooked it to the exact directions the first time I made it and it was delicious. Since then it’s become a staple! The only alterations I make are one less can of diced tomatoes (just for less of a tomato taste, family preference), an extra can of kidney beans (light red for some variety, I love lots of beans in my chili), and double the amount of pepper. My family adds Tapatio to our preferences at the end! Lovely recipe, especially on cold days, and it reheats extremely well (I think it’s even better the next day).
That sounds delicious, Braelyn! Thank you for sharing.
Are you suppose to drain the grease before adding in onions?
Hi Rachael, if using 90/10 or 93/7 lean beef you shouldn’t have much grease there. If you have too much you can drain some, but we didn’t have to.
I have made this many times. We love it. I was wondering if I half the recipe, do I half the time in the slow cooker?
Hi Joan, if you halve the recipe you may still need to keep it for the same amount of time per most slow cooker guidelines, this of course will chnage if your crock pot is larger where it may take less time. I hope you love this recipe.
Hi Natasha
I would like to make your slow cooker chili recipe. Can i make this on the stove instead of a slow cooker.
Thanks
Mary
Hi Mary! We have a stove top Beef chili recipe too.
The stove top recipe is completely different ingredients could you follow the stove top directions but keep the original slowcooker recipe ingredients from this page? Or is it just best to stick to using a crock pot ?
Hi Alycia, I haven’t tested it in the slow cooker, but I think it could easily be adapted to the slow cooker after the initial sautéing of beef and onions.
Also want to know if I can make it on the stove. Not slow cooker.
Hi Pam, we have a stove top Beef chili recipe too.
Hi Natashas,
I am going to make your chili recipe , I only have a 5 quart
crockpot, will that work with your recipe.
Thanks
Mary
Hi Mary! I have not tested it in a smaller slow cooker. One of my readers mentioned cutting the recipe in 1/2 for her 4 qt slow cooker, but I am not sure what her results were. Let us know if you experiment.
Will 2 servings be too much for a crockpot to hold? I am having a party and want to have enough for everyone
Hi Taylor! You’d need a larger slow cooker if doubling the recipe.
I have made chili for years and stirred and stirred over the stove. This was easy and delicious. My husband said it tasted like my other chili recipe that I stand over for hours and baby. I’ll be making this chili again…and again!!
Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Lynda! I’m so glad you loved the recipe.
Made this last night. The taste was good but it had a slightly gritty texture. Maybe I didn’t rinse the canned beans enough?
Hi Jim! That is odd, it’s never been my experience. I assume it could be related to not rinsing the beans well.
I’ve made many chili recipes in my time. This is one of only 3 that got 5 stars. And, it has the advantage of being easy to make! Thanks!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
This is the best chili recipe! I do it on the stove top and it comes out delicious every time!
I’m so glad you love it. Thank you for sharing!
Super excited to try this – what would tomato sauce in the UK / London be?
Hi Rani! I’m not sure, but other wording for it could be tomato purée. I hope that helps.
I believe it’s Passata. I believe Tomato Puree is called tomato concentrate in the UK. Hope that helps
I have a great chili recipe but it’s quite a bit of work. I was hesitant to try any other recipe because I love mine but WOAH this is a contender! This is very simple and the ingredients are what I always have around. My entire family really enjoys this chili on SEC Saturdays!! So simple but delicious!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Natalie!
I have a question that might be a bit silly. If my crockpot is too small, or if I want to double the recipe, is there a way to cook half of it on the stove and the other in the crockpot?
Hi Skylar, we have a stove top option! You can use the stove top Beef Chili Recipe.
This chili was so so good!! My husband isn’t a big fan of chili at all because both his mom and I usually just use the box kits, but I wanted to try something different this time. And HE LOVED ITTT!! We all thought it was so good. I’ll never use a box kit again lol
That’s amazing, Michelle! So glad to hear that.
I have this in the crock pot right now. I did switch it up a little, I used Ground turkey instead of beef because we don’t eat much red meat, I added extra of all the seasonings to make up for a more bland meat, I used a little paprika for some smokey flavor, i used basil garlic diced tomatoes because its what i had on hand, and I only used 20oz of tomato sauce because my kiddo doesn’t like things that are too “tomato-y”. I will return and let you know how it goes over!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Andrea! I hope you love it!
Can I cook the ground beef and onion/garlic ahead of time, refrigerate, then slow cook the following morning?
Also, can I double the recipe and still cook on high for 3-4 hours?
Hi Chelsea, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Cooked it last night for Halloween. I have tired several versions of Chili and this was great. I will use it again. I added plum tomatoes for texture..
That’s great to hear, Albert!
So easy, convenient and tasty. Had an older similar one, but this beats it. Thank you so much, Natasha.
You’re very welcome, John!
This recipe is soooon delicious! Perfect amount of seasonings. Great for the cold front we are about to get. I made 10 servings and will freeze the rest. I will make this again because it’s also super easy!
Hi Shawna, great to see your review! Thanks so much for sharing that with us.
I want to try the recipe can I use 80/20 and drain the fat.I have 80/20 in the freezer
Hi Albert, we prefer it with lean Ground Beef, but it may work with 80/20, you may need to drain some of the fat. I hope you love this recipe.
Actual cost in todays America-$40. My shopping receipt was $32 and change and I had some of the ingredients at home already. Smells good though. Can’t wait to try it.
Hope you loved it!
I have made this TWICE this week. Once for my inlaws to test it out because I have a chili cook-off with my office. Epic, thank you very much for THE recipe I only use going forward! I can’t wait for your cookbook to arrive tomorrow! You make my life much easier!
Wuhoo! You’re so welcome, I hope you’ll enjoy all of the recipes that you will try.
By far my favorite chili recipe. My family loves this dish. I even received compliments from extremely picky eaters in my family. I prefer petite diced tomatoes. Also, because it was all I had on hand one time, I substituted the tomatoes with green chilis for petite diced tomatoes with jalapenos and cilantro. It was very tasty!
Hi Danielle! That’s wonderful. Thank you for the feedback!
Can not get this recipe it to print ……. Tried a lot times. Actually can not get any iof her recipes to print
The print friendly recipe is at the bottom of each post. Once you scroll there, click on the print icon in that recipe card which will open a print screen, then you would need to click to print. I hope that helps! If not, please let me know exactly what steps you are taking and where you are navigating to print our recipes.
Best chili recipe ever. I have made it a couple of times & would not change a thing
That’s great! So glad you loved it.
Hello there!
Can this be cooked in a pressure cooker instead?
Hi Alma! I have not tested it to advise.
Do not use a pressure cooker or your beans will be mush! Unless you plan to use dried beans. You will not be happy with the recipe in a pressure cooker.
Super easy and delicious! The kids kept going back for more. Thank you.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Karen!
i wanted to make this however, is there a way to switch out the tomato sauce for beef broth? I am allergic to tomatoes and really loved your recipe!
Hi Ruth! I think you can leave them out, or substitute with some broth. I’m not sure how it would affect the taste without testing it myself, but you can experiment with it.
Great recipe, though I used a pound of dried pinto beans, after the quick-soak method. I dislike red kidney beans and their unpalatable skins. Worked like a charm.
That’s great, Patricia!
If I want to take out the beans, should I add more ground beef or keep it as is?
Hi Amanda. I have not tested this without bean to know how to properly adjust for the right consistency.
Am I missing where it says how much of the ingredients to use?
Hi Mary. Keep scrolling down to the recipe card, or click on “jump to recipe” at the top of the page.
This looks so good and easy. Wondering if I can use ground venison instead of ground beef.
Hi Em! I think that would be fine.
Made this today. Your recipe is very similar to Cooking Classy’s, so I tweaked and combined a bit.
-Instead of using diced tomato and green chilis, I used the diced tomatoes with habaneros. It brought the heat up nicely to a “medium” level.
-I added 2ish tsp of paprika. I honestly can’t tell if it added any flavor, but it did bump up the color of the dish to that distinctive chili color.
-Added 1 med green pepper and the onion right to the slow cooker instead of sautéing it. I like the veggies to have more of a crunch.
-Added elbow pasta in the last 20mins. I like chili mac, and it turned out perfect. 15mins on low, then off for the last 5-10mins. Pasta came out al dente.
Overall, a good recipe. Definitely could be tweaked a bit more, though. Next time, I think I’ll do these:
-Add in a tablespoon of puréed chipotle in adobo sauce. I’ve used this in previous chilis, and think it adds a good smokey peppery flavor.
-Bump up the cumin up to a full tablespoon.
-Add maybe a half tablespoon more of chili powder.
-Use fire roasted diced tomatos. It adds a little more depth in the flavor department.
Thank you for sharing!
I added more chili power, but I used Ancho Chili powder for a different flavor… Yummy. Next time I make it I am going to use your “paprika” trick.
I made this yesterday with very slight modifications based on what I had in my pantry and it was by far the best chili to date. YUMMMMM Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, DeeAnna!
I whipped this chili together when some guest stopped by. It was delicious! I will definitely make this again. I did not use a slow cooker. I just let it simmer for about an hour. Every one loved it!
I’m so glad it was a hit with your guests, Roberta! That’s awesome!
Beware of her slow cooker recipes! She uses an expensive slow cooker and if you have the traditional Rival 4qt crock pot that so many of us own, her recipes may not fit – too much! I found out the hard way.
Hi Tommy! I’m sorry you had that experience. I did mention in the blog post above that a 6 qt slow cooker is what we used for this recipe. You must have missed the note.
Definitely invest in a 6 qt. It’s great to have both sizes for different kinds of recipes and my 6 qt was just $30-40. It works great and is probably the most affordable option at Wal-Mart. I’m sorry you didn’t have a good experience but do try again.
You must have missed where it says clearly….6qt slow cooker?
I have a “traditonal” 6qt Crock Pot slow cooker that cost me a whopping $29 @ Walmart.
This was SO good. I did the kick it up a notch version with a little more chili and cayenne and it was beautiful. I had to cobble things together a bit and didn’t have kidney beans but I did have chili beans so those went in, along with fire roasted diced tomatoes. This was definitely a keeper and will be my go-to slow cooker chili recipe going forward! (Even went in my recipe box in case the internet disappears someday 😂)
Hi Nivole, that sounds great! I’m glad that you found your new go-to recipe.
3rd time I’ve made this recipe. One of easiest and tastiest recipes I’ve found. Highly recommend.
That’s wonderful, Tom! Thank you for the feedback.
Any idea how to scale the recipie up for an 8qt slow cooker? I know recipie says 6qt and don’t want to mess it up, looks delicious
Hi Tyler, while I haven’t tested it, I imagine this will work well in a 8qt slow cooker, if you experiment, please let us know how you like that.
Can i half this recipe? Thank you!!! Your recipes are staples at our house!!
That should be fine, Mia. Enjoy!
Made this tonight and it’s magic! Trying to figure out the serving size for meal prepping it says serves 10 but can you help w measurements or grams per serving?
Wonderful! Thank you for the great feedback. I was not able to measure the per serving size that way though, I wish I did!
Can you freeze the left overs? We are a smaller family but to simplify and take to my kid in college I’d love to be able to freeze it.
Hi Jean! I haven’t tested it with this recipe but generally, chili freezes well, so I think it would be fine. Let us know if you experiment.
I love cooking in the crockpot. I found this recipe online. I cut the recipe in half since there is only 2 of us. I did put a whole can of Rotel in it. I topped it with onion and cheese and serve with corn scoops. It was delicious. I will definitely make this again. Thank for the great recipe.
You’re welcome! Great to know that you loved our recipe, Brenda. Thanks for sharing!
This chili was super super bland! If you like your food to have flavor, I’d triple the amount of the spices. Not even exaggerating.
HI Alison, I’m sorry it didn’t make the mark for you. You can definitely spice it up!
Have you checked to see if your spices are expired? That could be your issue as to why it didn’t have enough taste.
Hi! Just curious – Would this fit in my 4.5qt slow cooker ? I just got one
Hi Sarah! I have not tested it in a smaller slow cooker. One of my readers mentioned cutting the recipe in 1/2 for her 4 qt slow cooker, but I am not sure what her results were. Let us know if you experiment.
That’s exactly what I did although. Still in the slow cooker but the flavours amazing. I used garden picked tomatoes, added mushrooms and peppers since I tend to use whatever is in the fridge when I make chili. Stay tuned!
This is my new go-to recipe! I do modify it: only use 1 lb of meat and add extra can of beans (also switch up the beans every time). I don’t add the salt to keep it low sodium for our 3-yr old. He gobbles this all up. Thank you!
Sounds good! So happy to hear that this is your new go-to recipe. Thanks for sharing and for this review, Joy.
Wonderful recipe! A few additions based on our tastes: 1 T dark brown sugar, 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, chili powder. Used “Chili ready diced tomatoes” and, Bushes Chili beans with another can of mixed beans. Only problem now is that the smell in the house for the next 7 ish hours will drive everyone crazy. I wish I had an alarm on the crock pot for those who sneak a taste throughout the day. 🙂 Thank you, Natasha! Love you, your kids, your funny husband and all of your videos/recipes!
Hi Laura! That’s hilarious! I’m so glad this recipe is loved by all in the house. Thank you for the wonderful feedback and kind words. I appreciate the love and support. Be blessed!
Okay so I changed it a bunch. I used beef pork and veal. Ground up some Italian sausage and some cuts of bacon! No tomato sauce but 2 packs of Pomi diced tomatoes. Everything else was the same and it was delicious!
Thank you for sharing your experiment with the recipe.
You always have great recipes and the second time I use them I change them around but without you I would never have a great starting point. Thank you!
Aaaw, thank you for your wonderfiul comments and feedback. It means a lot to us!
I tried this recipe for the first time yesterday and it was AMAZING!! My whole family loved it including my 6 year old granddaughter. It was very easy to make. Thank you for putting this online for everyone to enjoy.
That’s wonderful, Shirley! Thank you for sharing.
Looking forward to trying this – your recipes NEVER disappoint! Just a quick question before I get started re: the amount of diced tomatoes. The US standard measurement is listed as 30 oz while the metric amount is listed as 425.24, which I believe would be half the amount. I’m assuming 30oz is correct but wanted to double check. Thank you!
Hi Heidi, yes it was a 30oz can of diced tomatoes we used.
This is my sons’ favorite meal! I follow it exactly. Thank you!!
You’re so welcome and glad to hear!
My son (who nevers cooks) made your recipe for a potluck dinner. It was delicious! Everyone who came remarked how good it was. This is a keeper!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Tammy!
I am also making it for a potluck. Did he have to double the recipe to fill a large crock pot?
I made this for my husband and it was really good! I changed it up a bit, I used 1 pound ground Italian sausage and 1 pound ground beef, also doubled the spices and added some cayenne pepper, about a tsp, and it all came together really well! I didn’t have canned tomato sauce but I had a can of crushed tomatoes (which was similar in consistency) and it worked great as a substitution. thank you for sharing this recipe with us!
You’re very welcome, Francis! I’m glad it was a hit. Thank you for trying the recipe. 🙂
Do you use a tomato sauce or a paste? And what kind of tomato sauce?
Hi Jessica, any type of tomato sauce. We love the combination of canned diced tomatoes (with their juice) as well as tomato sauce to give the chili a saucy consistency with great texture. For added flavor, we add a can of diced tomatoes and green chilis.
I love this!! It’s the best chili I’ve ever made. The only thing I changed was the peppers; I chopped fresh 2 fresh Anaheim peppers and 2 fresh Jalapeños, then put them in when the onion goes in!! I will definitely be making this again and again!!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Sadie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I comment on very few recipes, but this one was too amazing not to. The first time I made this, my dad, wife, and daughter all said to make this weekly!!! This is a great chili recipe, so I threw away all other recipes for chili. I like to make bigger batches, so I bump up the seasonings a little, add mushroom’s and celery, and add 3 cans of tomato sauce.
Thanks so much for the lovely comments, we appreciate it! We’re so happy that you love this recipe a lot.
This was the best chili I’ve ever had!! My dad hates chilis and hasn’t had it in years but he tried this and said it has made him like chili again!!!!! Coming from my dad that is HUGE!! LOL It was sooo tender and juicy!!! Very mild, easy cleanup! I didn’t use the small can of tomatoes with chilis and added a handful of dried (natural) bacon bits. Everyone gobbled it up!!!
That’s wonderful, Kelly! I’m so glad it was a hit. Thank you for sharing.
Can I use ground Turkey instead of beef in this recipe? I wasn’t sure if not enough fat content in the turkey
Yes, you can! You may also reference this recipe for my turkey chili HERE.
Hello, I love this recipe but did change up a few things. I only had one can of black beans on hand. My family loves spice so I added half of a dried and chopped chipotle chili, a dash of cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 Tbs cocoa powder, and a few dashes of cinnamon. This was the best I’ve made to date. So happy I found this recipe, I will use this as a base for now on.
That’s great, Danielle! I’m so glad you loved it. Thank you for sharing.
Aha cocoa powder! Gonna run and add some. I also added smoked paprika. I smells amazing so far!
Thank you so much for sharing that with us, Rebecca!
Hi Natasha, just a question about the amount kidney beans needed.
Is it just One 18 oz can OR 2 15 oz cans of kidney beans?
OR both?
Thanks, looking forward to making this tonight 🙂
Hi Barb! It’s a total of 30oz, so 2 cans of 15oz each. 🙂 I hope you love the recipe!
Hi Natasha
If I wanted to make this vegetarian, what would be the best substitute for the ground beef please 🙂
Hi Belinda, I haven’t tested that, but here’s what one of my readers wrote: “Our last pot luck i did a vegetarian version, I replace the ground beef for the plant base meat substitute( have you seen the ingredients in that plant base stuff ? yuck) and it still turn out good. Cant go wrong with this recipe.” I hope this helps!
I use lentils in place of meat sometimes. I’m not vegetarian, but my in laws are. I’ve learned different plant sources of protein along with combination of spices & I don’t miss the meat – in some dishes
Hi Natasha,
Have you even tasted this ?, it is more than not nice, after adding more chilli all you can taste is tomato sauce, I realy can’t undertstand how you state that is your family go to meal, yes if you love tomato sauce and nothing else !!!
Hi David, are you adding the seasonings as stated or making any other substitutions or changes in the recipe? I didn’t find it to be the case that it was overpowering from tomato sauce flavor especially once it’s all been simmering together in the slow cooker.
You sure are tactful, grow some taste buds. This recipe is absolutely perfect. Hormel may be better suited for you. Have a nice day!
It would be so helpful if you could tell us how many ounces or grams are in a serving. This is a great recipe, thank you!!
Hi Tami, If you scroll down to our printable recipe card, most of our recipes have a metric conversion option on the printable recipe card, this recipe has it. We are currently working on adding metric measurements to all of our recipes, but it is taking some time to add them one at a time. Thank you so much for being patient! In the meantime, check out our post on measuring which should help.
Thanks so much for this wonderful recipe! It is such a tasty chili. I just won first prize in a Chili cook-off at my church using this recipe!
Wow, that’s awesome! Congratulations and great job, Dana!
Do i need to change anything if using dry beans not in a can?
Hi Stephanie, We make this recipe with rinsed canned beans, not dry beans. One of my readers has reported using dry beans but they added them after they were already cooked in a pressure cooker first.
Hi!! I want to say I’ve seen this with instructions for a Nutri-pot/Instapot.. Am I wrong? I made it before using your recipe and it was great, but can’t remember where I found the directions for the Nutri-pot/Instapot. (Possibility I may have just winged it)
Hi Angela! I’m not sure, I do not have instructions for making this in an instant pot. Could you have possibly used my white chicken chili instant pot recipe HERE?
Hi! I have a 4 quart slow cooker. Do you think this will fit?
Hi Kirsten, I haven’t tested this in a 4 quart, but only in a 6 quart. I think it would overwhelm a 4-quart. If you wanted to scale it down, click on the servings in the recipe card and you can adjust the list of ingredients.
Hi Natasha,
How much would you recommend scaling it down to fit in a 4quart slow cooker?
Thanks!
Hi Caitlyn, I think it would be easiest to cut the recipe in half for a 4-quart slow cooker. If you click on the serving size, you can shift the servings up or down which will change the ingredient list and make it easier to plan.
Natasha; Great recipe. Thank you for publishing it. I used 3 different beans just to mix the look up a little.
Sounds great, Rick! So glad you love the recipe. 🙂
I would like to make this recipe ,however, I have a question. What is the serving size(oz? cups?)
Thank you
Hi Mariya! This recipe serves about 10 people. I don’t have the exact measurement. You’d have to divide the whole recipe into 10 even servings.
Loved the chili, but not the site!
Way too many ads and I had to continuously scroll back to recipe. I I also had to keep changing the number of people I was making it for from 10 to 8 because it kept reverting back to 10.
Thank you for sharing your concerns and feedback. The only way we can continue providing free recipes is by having ads on our site, so we are not able to remove those at this time. We find that most people would rather see the ads than pay to see the recipes. But we will definitely take note of your feedback and use it to improve our website.
I appreciate your feedback, and I hope you love every recipe you try.
Hi I often change the recipe screen to the print version. It’s a simple black and white page and best of all, no ads! Just click print and it will take you to a clean version.
I made this recipe for church potluck today and everyone loved it! I’ve made it a lot of times before, it is our families favorite!! Sooo delicious! Thank you, Natasha!
You’re so welcome! Good to know that it was a huge hit!
My son brought over your chili in a crockpot for a football game for my family, my other son’s family, and his family. We loved it. I am boing to make it for them today. I am now a subscriber and receiving your emails. Thanks for all your inspiration. I love recipes.
Hi Tammy! That’s wonderful. Thank you for subscribing. I hope you find many recipes here that you’ll enjoy.
Love this chili recipe. It has become a regular in our house, especially today for Super Bowl Sunday!
Great to hear that, Anne!
I prefer to use dried versus canned beans. How would you suggest prepping dried pinto & black beans for a slow cooker?
Hi Tom, this recipe is to be intended to be made with canned beans. You would need to cook the beans to use them here. Here is our post on how to cook dried beans.
Looking forward to making this. When you say Tomato sauce do you mean pasata? I’m from England so will take that literal and throw in a bottle of ketchup.
Hi Nathan! Tomato paste is made by cooking tomatoes for several hours to reduce the water content so its thicker and has a more intense/concentrated flavor. Tomato sauce has a thinner consistency like puree. 🙂
No Hun, not pasta sauce but a can of tomato sauce. They are totally different. Pasta sauce is seasoned and made of other things as to where tomato sauce is just simply tomatoes.
Are you able to tell me how big a serving is, in relation to the nutrition info?
Thanks!
Hi Leah, this whole recipe serves 10 people. I would divide this into 10 to get the exact per serving size.
I’ve made several recipes from this site, this is just another one that turned out great. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Tim! That’s great to hear. I’m so glad you loved it. Thank you for sharing.
I made this tonight for my family, and it was a hit!! I added some liquid smoke and Chipotle Tabasco sauce into the beef while I cooked it. I didn’t have just plain oregano, so that was substituted for Italian seasoning blend. The store didn’t have diced tomatoes so I had to use crushed.
Hi Cheryl! That’s great to hear. Thank you for sharing.
Best chili I’ve ever made! I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfectly.
Hi Hannah! I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you.
Can’t I just put everything in the crock pot without having to cook it first?
HI Kathleen, I would recommend following the process. This recipe isn’t written for using ground beef and you will find the color and flavor better with browned and cooked beef.
I’m going to make this in my Instant Pot, 4 minutes maybe, no hours needed
Let us know how it turns out! 🙂
Made this over the weekend with 90/10 beef. It came out amazing! I have a tiny crock pot 1.5 qt and I adjusted the recipe to fit and used 1lb beef. Topped it with red onion, avocado, lime, and mild cheddar. Sooooo good! Thank u!
Sounds amazing, Kim! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Hello. I was looking for a great chili recipe for a chili cook off at work. This recipe is great and I won the contest. Only thing I changed was used Bush Chili Beans (Kidney) w/medium chili sauce and did not drain. Also pureed tomatoes w/juice, used Rotel w/green chilis and added a small can of diced jalapeno. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Sally! That’s great, thank you for sharing.
This is almost the same as the chili I make I just add pumpkin puree to it and it gives a great favor and texture. Also sometimes add peppers and corn. So good! YUM!
Good to know that you’re using a similar recipe. I hope that you’ll enjoy all the recipes that you will try!
Made this last week and it was delish. Now I know what to make for the Super Bowl.
Hi Jerry! I’m glad you loved the recipe! Thank you for sharing.
Made this today with no revisions. It was perfect! i like mine a little hotter so added jalapenos. Thank for you another great recipe!
That’s a great idea, thanks for sharing, Kelly! We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Thanks Natasha! 5 Stars for you! I followed the recipe exactly, low heat for 7 hours. Fed about 18 people. Absolute perfection. If you want a friendly chili with awesome taste, this is it.
Thank you, Pablo! I’m so glad it was a hit.
I made your chili recipe today! It was delicious! I followed your recipe and the spices were spot on! The only thing I added was a green bell pepper. This will be my chili recipe from now on!
So glad to her that, Sylvia! Thank you for sharing.
Great recipe but I’m not clear on how many ounces/cups are in a serving size if made exactly as stated on the recipe. Can you let me know? Thanks.
Hi Mary Kay, the whole recipe serves 10 people. You can divide this whole recipe into 10 to get the accurate per-serving size, but it should be about one to one and a half cups per serving.
I have a 4QT slow cooker, how much ground beef would be better for that size? Thank you!
Hi Sarah! I have not tested that specific size to give the exact measurements. You may have to do some experimenting to make sure all of your ingredients fit. Currently, the recipe is set to 10 servings for a 6 qt. You have the option to change the number of servings in the recipe card, just hover over the number of servings highlighted in red and slide it to how many servings you would like to make. If I had to take a guess, I would experiment between 5-7 servings. I hope that helps. Let us know how it turns out.
Going to try and make this today. My crock pot is smaller. I’m guessing that I can just use 1/2 of all the ingredients and it will turn out? Thank you!
Hi Jerry, depending on your pot size you may need to make adjustments to ensure it all fits. I recommend clicking “Jump to recipe” at the top of the post, it will take you to our printable recipe where you’ll have the option to change the number of servings. Hover over the number of servings highlighted in red and slide it to how many servings you would like to make. I hope that helps!
Could I add mushrooms to this and if so, would you recommend fresh or whole canned ones?
Hi Sue! Yes, you can if you’d like. I think either would be fine.
I’ve made it as written a couple time with just adding a green bell pepper. It’s fantastic, but how could I made it spicier? Would adding cayenne pepper and a fresh diced jalapeño work with the spices already included? Thank you!
Hi Ericka! I’m glad you love the recipe. I think the jalapenos would be great. You can definitely experiment with it, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, etc.
Does the recipe call for 30oz kidney beans AND two 15oz or just either one? Thanks.
Hi John, this recipe calls fo 30oz kidney beans which we got from two 15oz cans. I hope that helps.
Made this for my family today and we enjoyed it immensely. I added an extra 1/2T of chili powder and also a T of brown sugar. Will definitely make this again; it was easy and delicious, thank you!!!
Wonderful to hear, Paula! Thanks so much for sharing.
Just made this Chile. I did use a pound of hamburger and a pound of sausage. Turned out great!
Wonderful! Glad you liked the recipe, Terry. Thank you for sharing.
Good morning Natasha! I wanted to thank you for all your amazing food and recipes. I wanted to also report that this slow-cooker chili won me 1st place in our churches annual chili cookoff. Thanks again. Looking forward to getting your cookbook this week!
Hi Marie! That’s amazing! Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
Thanks for the great recipe! I made this and it turned out wonderful. I made one adjustment: instead of 30 oz of tomato sauce I used 15 oz tomato sauce, a small can of tomato paste and 30 oz of beef stock. Love it. Thank you again!
You’re very welcome, Kara! I’m so glad you loved the recipe. Thank you for the feedback.
I doubled this recipe and cooked it in an 8-qt slow cooker with these exceptions (to make it fit) and it turned out fantastic! Thank you, Natasha!! I doubled all the ingredients except the beans and diced tomatoes:
1. Beans: I used 2 cans of kidney and 2 cans of black.
2. Diced tomatoes: didn’t double
3. Cooked on high for 4 hours
*I added some cocoa powder, maple syrup and worcestershire sauce. I also added some of the chili and garlic powder while the meat was browning to seal the flavors in.
Hi Chris! Thank you for sharing that with us! I’m glad you loved the recipe.
Great but not crazy about all the diced tomatoes. Any variation to no have so many but still taste great?
Hi John! I suppose you could try to puree them so they are not chunky. That way you will still have the flavor without the texture.
Hi! Is this a gluten free recipe? If not, what can I leave out/substitute so it is?!
Hi Sara! Yes, it should be but you’ll want to double-check your ingredients (specifically those canned or packaged) beforehand to make sure.
Made this exactly as written and it came out beautifully! Flavors were absolutely delicious and just right. I honestly was surprised at how flavorful it was with these simple ingredients. My husband couldn’t get enough and the kids liked it, too! This recipe is definitely one to hold onto and one we’ll be adding into our dinner rotation. Thank you!
I’m so glad you found another favorite to add to your meal rotations. Thank you for sharing, Brie.
This is a really great recipe and I’ve made it a couple times and made my own adjustments according to my family’s preferences. I like to add chopped celery and carrots and a can of sweet corn for more veggies. I also added about a cup of beef broth. I definitely add more spices like paprika and red chili powder. And I also add a spoonful of honey to balance the heat, acids and salt. We love it served with cilantro, cheese and sour cream with cornbread on the side.
This recipe needs to be less ambiguous about the type of beans used. It calls for “rinsed and drained” beans but doesn’t say specifically that you mean CANNED beans.
I just had to throw away my entire chili pot because I used dry beans, which apparently are dangerous unless cooked extremely well
Hi Jacob! I’m sorry that happened. I have updated the wording to prevent this from happening again. Thank you for the feedback.
Tried your chili recipe for the first time. It is now my go to recipe. I’ve been looking for a good recipe for a while. This is very good! Thanks.
I’m so glad you found it on my blog, Rich!
Started making this before I realized my crockpot was 5qt not six. Left out one can diced tomatoes and added 8oz beef broth instead. I also barely like onions so I used half an onion and a green bell pepper. Serving with cheddar cheese and Fritos. Yum.
Unable to find tomatoes with green chillies. What to sub?
Faithful follower and enjoy the results.
Hi Helen, you can make your own by mixing together fire-roasted diced tomatoes, diced green chilies, lime juice, and a little bit of fresh cilantro.
OK, I’m going to ask you a question I have wondered for a very long time. I’ve always been a person who doesn’t drain canned foods, because I figure a lot of the nutrition and good stuff is in the juice. So why are we always directed to drain and rinse beans? Is there anything wrong with keeping the bean ‘liquid’? …especially when it’s going in a soup. TIA 😀
Hi Julie, alot of times that juice can make your recipes taste like tin or discolor your recipe (as in the case of black beans). There is also usually some salt in there that can throw off a recipe and lastly it depends on whether or not you want the liquid in the recipe (a chili can get soupy with too much liquid). The answer is – it depends but I usually drain.
Hi I only have a small crock pot 4.5 qts I want to make your chili. What to do.
Hi Hank! The one I used for this recipe, as shown in the photos above, is a six qt. I hope that helps with your adjustments.
Hank, you should halve the recipe. That’s my plan for my 4-qt slow cooker.
I just had to write a review on this Chili. This is an amazing receipe and my family loves it. On a cold winter night my family came home after a long day in the cold weather and we had this for dinner and they absolutely loved this chili. It was so so easy to make and it was absolutely delicious. They request this dinner at least one a week to get them through the cold winter months. Thank you for sharing this receipe. It’s my favorite and so so easy to make for dinner. Love it from start to finish. I’m a crockpot queen and this is so so easy to make for any occasion. Thank you!!
Hi Patti, it’s my pleasure. I’m happy to know that you and your family too enjoyed this chili recipe!
Hey I am making this tomorrow but I didn’t have a big enough crockpot because I’m using that one for something else. Can I make it in a stockpot? How long??
Hi Tricia! You can use the stove stop recipe here.
Wonderful Chili. Will make again for New Year’s Eve. Only change I make is to use 75 oz of Pork ‘n Beans with juices included.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This is a great recipe. The Chili is delicious. However, I can not prep in 10 minutes like the recipe states. It takes me much longer to prep. How do you prep in 10 minutes?
Hey Natasha! Love your recipes! For the chili – if I make it without beans, do you recommend changing the amount of spices or other ingredients?
Hi Meg. I have not tested that to provide instructions. I would guess that it may require some adjustments. Let us know how it turns out if you experiment.
Natasha,
Does the 10oz of diced tomatoes and green chilis come in one can, or do you buy them separately?
Hi Anne, yes, it comes in one can.
I used Rotel with green chilies. A little spicy but delicious! Natasha, this is the best chili I have ever made. All of your recipes that I have made deserve a five star. I am a huge food snob too! Ha
Hi Rhea! Thank you for sharing your awesome review! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely delicious and easy chili recipe!! I made it exactly as the recipe goes (and added a few Serrano peppers for spice) and loved how it came out. I will definitely be making this again! For my personal preference I will most likely only do 2 cans of beans as it felt like bean overload but that’s a personal preference! Thank you Natasha!!
Thank you for sharing, Amber! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe.
What brand chili powder do you recommend? I’ve found different brands can yield a little different flavor, and would like to try this with what you use since every other recipe of yours I’ve used has turned out spectacular.
Hi Bud! I”m so glad you love my recipes. I don’t have a specific brand that I use but I often will look for well know name brands and organic products when I can.
This is good chili! Just hard for me to give anything 5 stars…sorry..
Anyway I used my large Dutch Oven and cooked the burger. I removed the meat and sautéed the onion and garlic then added the spices and stirred in. Then added the liquid tomatoes, then the beans and finally put the burger back in. Easier for me to get everything incorporated. I used blue agave sriracha and fresh oregano. Finally i added about 3 T of chocolate powder. Everyone seems to like it a lot! THANKS!
Nat probably didn’t actually try to make this in a 6qt slow cooker because it overfills the cooker and drips out the sides onto the counter. Perhaps you meant 1 1/2 lbs of beef?
HI Tommy, I’ve never had that happen before in this 6 qt slow cooker.
What model slow cooker did you use? I used Rival Crockpot, a model probably owned by millions around the country.
I plan to make this today and have chili sauce on hand. Can you substitute chili sauce for tomato sauce?
Hi Cynthia! I have not tested that substitution to advise.
I’ve made the same chili recipe (moms) since a young adult. We decided to switch it a bit and your recipe is a hit!! Thank you!
I’m so glad you love the recipe. 🙂
My favorite chili I’ve ever had. I cut the recipe in half(family of 3) but added a green bell pepper and can of corn. It was fantastic! Will definitely be adding to rotation in the colder months.
Although next time I’m going to add some Serranos for spice because my SUPER picky 4 year old won’t even try it. If only he knew what he was missing out on.
That sounds amazing! I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
Could I just cook it very very slowly on keep warm?? I work very early morning and really don’t have time to cook it tomorrow when I get off
Hi Haley! This reheats well, so it can be made ahead and reheat.