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
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.
Ingredients
- 2 lb lean Ground Beef (90/10 or 93/7)
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 1 1/2 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 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
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Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté beef until it releases fat (4-5 minutes), breaking it up with a spatula.
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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.
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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. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Season to taste if desired and serve warm.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Natasha Kravchuk
Beef Chili Recipe 
Turkey Chili Recipe 
Easy Ground Beef Recipes 
Easy Taco Soup Recipe 
Ground Beef Tacos 
Slow Cooker Lasagna Recipe 
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Made this Chili and it was fantastic! I did it all in the slow cooker so I did not have to transfer the sautéd beef and onion from a pan. So happy I found your website and FB page. Love your videos and recipes.
I’m so happy you’re enjoying our recipes, Larry! That’s so great! Thank you for your wonderful feedback and comment!
Not sure what I did wrong but the chili has a lot of liquid. What can I add to make the chili thicker?
Thank you
Hi Theresa, normally this is a very hearty and thick chili once it has completed slow cooking. Did you swap any of the ingredients? You could simmer it uncovered for a little longer to thicken up if needed.
A great base chili and I think you can dial-up or down the taste depending on what you like. My 3 boys (<15 y-o) and husband loved it! We'll definitely make it again as it was a winner with everyone.
Yes, you’re right about that. This recipe is versatile you can adjust it according to your preference. Thanks for your good feedback!
This tasted great! Family loved it. I would definitely edit the recipe for novice cooks to pre-soak and pre-cook beans for at least an hour as they won’t be cooked properly in the slow cooker– its actually a pretty common issue with slow cooking beans, and the beans cause food poisoning if undercooked. Otherwise a great recipe- tastes like classic chili!
Thank you for sharing that with us Tammy!
But aren’t canned beans already cooked….?
This recipe calls for canned beans. No need to pre-soak or pre-cook. Since canned beans are already cooked, no poisoning here 🙂
Hello- how much is a serving size? 1 or 2 cups?
Hi Krista, a serving size is about one to one and half cups.
I made this Chili Friday I didn’t Make it in a crock pot . I made it on the stove in a heavy pot ( was going to (ut caanged my mind at the last minute) Followed the instructions given and it turned out delicious. Everyone went back for seconds. Thank you so much for the recipe.
You’re most welcome, Ella. I’m glad to hear that everyone loved this chili recipe! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Isn’t the flavor so good! I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe Ella!
hi Natasha! pls what is a substitute for cumin? and also, there are various chili recipes on your blog, so personally, which one is your favourite?
Hi, the one we make the most often is our turkey chili because it’s so quick.
I don’t want to use canned. Can I still use this recipe using fresh tomatoes and dried beans? How would I extend the cooking time?
Hi Lori, I imagine that should work although I haven’t tested that yet to advise of the cooking time.
Hi Natasha. My husband is not a big fan of beans. Have you tried this without them? I’m just concerned it would be to sausy.
Hi Isabel, I haven’t tried doing this without beans yet and I have not tried any other substitute too sorry about that.
This is very similar to mine, except I use coriander, cinnamon and sugar (small amounts of each). My family seems to like it. 4 of us can almost kill the whole pot in one sitting.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me Juan!
hi Natasha! pls can the chili be made with any other type of beans? and I gotta ask, how do u get all these ideas for such amazing recipes?
Hi Annah! Yes! other beans should work here too! We love to take in our reader’s suggestions!
We are just 2 people so I was wondering if I could freeze this into 2 people portions?
Hi Jo-Ann, if you are at the recipe, you may click “Jump to recipe” and you can click on the number of servings to adjust the ingredients. Hope that helps!
I just love your blog! I was getting hungry just reading this, and all of the different suggestions about how to use it!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying our blog, Melanie! I hope you give our recipes a try soon!
Just put this into my slow cooker and sat back with a beer and waiting for the 4 hours to go by… I’m not much of a cook but this recipe looked fool proof, I mean what could go wrong??
I did think 30 ounces of tomato sauce was a lot but thought hey ho, that’s what needed, so must be right. But then it dawned on me that the recipe calls for ‘tomato sauce’ and not ketchup!
In the US they call it ketchup but here in the UK, ketchup is commonly known as tomato sauce. Somehow, I’m not so eager for the next 4 hours to go by after all.
Hi Paul, oh bummer! Yes ketchup is very different from tomato sauce in the US.
Hi Natasha, have you made this in the Instant Pot? How long would it pressure cook for? Thanks!
Hi Nancy, I have not tested that to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Hi Natasha,
I was wondering if this recipe Could be made using a stove at a very low temperature for a few hours instead of using the slow cooker?
I do not have a very big slow cooker it’s only 2.5 QT. If this is not an option, I was thinking about cutting the recipe in half. What do you think?
Just can’t wait to taste this recipe.
Thank you.
Jean
Hi Jean, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
I made your chili and is was the hit. My co-workers and friends loved it
thank you
So wonderful to hear that! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Natasha, This is a winner, even with my Texas friends. We don’t have the tomatoes with Chilly in Australia so just added a chopped red chilly. I also just discovered the metric option for the measurements, I’m so blonde. Many Many Thanks Tarnya
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Tarnya! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Hello i have a 2 quart slow cooker, i usually use 1lb and it’s fine, that being said, what will change if i half the beef part of recipe? What would be the adjustments…i also don’t need it to serve 10 people and this recipe is 10 servings?
Hi Julie, I recommend our recipe serving slider. Scroll down to the printable recipe card. Where is says “servings: X people” Click the red number and that will make a slider appear allowing you to slide left or right to the number of servings desired. Bringing that number down to x amount of servings and that should give you the recipe based on x lbs of meat that you have. I hope that helps.
I made this yesterday as the weather in Northeast Ohio was in the 30s. Brrrrr! I improvised with things I had on hand like ground turkey and fire roasted tomatoes. Also added some ground chorizo. Followed the seasonings though. My house smelled amazing all day! Thank you for a great chili recipe I will definitely be making again.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Could you please share the recipe for home made Chili Seasoning? I can see the ingredients but need the amount of spoon/oz..Thank you much!
Hi Sadeta, we have the amounts listed in the recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post and you will see them in the ingredients list on the printable card option. I hope that helps. See: “2 tsp cumin powder, 1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder, …” etc.
This is the best dinner! My whole family loves it!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
We are a chili loving family around here. This one really hit the spot. It’s so nice to be able to put it in the crockpot, set it and forget it. So good!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
The seasoning you used was perfect! So delicious and I just loved the smell of it cooking all day!
Isn’t it amazing! The flavor is so so good! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
This is such a delicious dinner!! My family loves it! Thanks so much for sharing!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!