Hearty Slow Cooker Chili Recipe with Beans

This hearty slow cooker chili recipe is a deliciously filling family meal any time of year. Includes tips to convert to the stovetop.

Chili is the perfect food for fall and winter. It warms you up and keeps you full on a busy day. This chili recipe can be made quick and easy on the stovetop. It can also be tossed in the slow cooker and left to its business for a few hours while you do something else.

The weather here in Texas is unpredictable and I’ve learned that a hearty and spicy meal is just as good in the summer as in winter. Whether your weather is hot, cold, or somewhere in between, enjoy this chili for an easy, one-pot meal.

What makes this meal perfect is that any ingredient can be substituted. No beef? use ground turkey. Don’t like bell peppers? Any veggies will do. One time I tossed in some leftover corn – so good!

Chili cooking tips and variations

What kind of slow cooker do you use?

I have a Ninja 4-in-1 that is amazing. I can brown everything in the pot on sear, then add the other ingredients to the pot and switch to slow cooker. It automatically holds warm when the timer ends. It’s pretty expensive, but heats evenly and doesn’t heat up my house.

Do you put beans in chili?

I do, but my dad thinks that’s a tragedy. Beans fill out your chili, so you can use less meat. They also add starch to the pot, resulting in a thicker sauce, which is kind of the essence of chili.

How do you make meatless chili?

The great thing about chili is that you can swap out the ground beef for stew beef, ground turkey, or even make it completely meatless. I make meatless chili with multiple types of beans – kidney, pinto, and black beans.

How spicy should chili be?

The amount of spice to put in your chili is really subjective. This recipe is pretty mild. Sometimes I add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper for extra kick. If you really like your chili spicy, chop up a jalapeño and add it with the vegetables.

What’s the best secret ingredient for chili?

There are as many recipes for chili as there are home cooks. While I don’t have a secret ingredient that I put in my own chili, I’ve had quite a few bowls that were really unique.

• Add a tablespoon of cocoa powder.
• Swap the water for beer (one that you like).
• Mix in cornmeal at the end to thicken a soupy chili.
• Add a squirt of lime to each bowl as you dish it up.

How do I cook this slow cooker recipe on the stovetop instead?

If you don’t have a slow cooker or just prefer to cook chili on the stovetop, follow the recipe as written below. Instead of the slow cooker for hours, you can cook it in a large pot on the stove for 20-30 minutes.

How to make slow cooker chili

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped small
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped small
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, grated
• 4 cups canned beans or 2 cups dry beans, soaked
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1-2 teaspoons dried basil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1-2 cups water

 Instructions:

1. Brown the meat. Add the raw veggies if you’ve got them. Saute until the veggies are soft, but not mushy.
2. Combine everything in the crock of a slow cooker.
3. Add enough water so that your food does not dry out, but not so much that it becomes soup.
4. Set the slow cooker on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.
5. Serve with corn chips, crackers, tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, etc.

Printable chili recipe

Yield: Serves 4-6

Slow cooker chili recipe

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Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 5 hours

Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped small
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped small
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, grated
• 4 cups canned beans or 2 cups dry beans, soaked
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1-2 teaspoons dried basil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1-2 cups water

Instructions

1. Brown the meat. Add the raw veggies if you've got them. Saute until the veggies are soft, but not mushy.
2. Combine everything in the crock of a slow cooker.
3. Add enough water so that your food does not dry out, but not so much that it becomes soup.
4. Set the slow cooker on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.
5. Serve with corn chips, crackers, tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, etc.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 479Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 1172mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 13gSugar: 23gProtein: 34g

Nutritional information is only an estimate from online calculators. For more precise information, enter the specific ingredients you are using into your preferred tool.

What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:

• Cheesy Texas Chili Mac Recipe
• Chicken Fajita Mac and Cheese Recipe
• Loaded Oven Nachos Recipe