A nice hearty chili recipe served with a chunk of cornbread is a family favorite meal.

This crockpot chili recipe combines ground beef, tomatoes, and beans in a hearty seasoned broth.

A crock pot makes this dish almost effortless and it reheats and freezes well for meals throughout the week.

cooked Easy Crock Pot Chili Recipe in the pot

No Fuss CrockPot Chili

This is a very simple beef chili recipe made in the Crockpot without a lot of extras; just beef, onions, seasoning, and flavor.

  • Chili is a hearty meal with lots of lean beef, veggies, and beans.
  • It’s budget-friendly and simple to prepare.
  • Perfect for big gatherings or planned leftovers, this recipe makes a big batch.
  • Ideal for busy days; let the Crockpot work its magic and come home to a meal that’s ready when you are!
ingredients to make Easy Crock Pot Chili Recipe with labels

Ingredients for CrockPot Chili

While I a classic stovetop chili recipe, this slow cooker chili is perfect for when you’re out and about.

Meat – Ground beef is ideal for this recipe; use lean ground beef (80/20) with just a bit of fat for flavor. Ground turkey or chicken work well too.

Veggies – This recipe keeps the veggies simple. Onion and bell pepper add flavor, feel free to sneak in extra vegetables like mushrooms or shredded zucchini.

Beans – I love kidney beans as they hold up well in the crock pot. You can replace kidney beans with black beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, or white beans. Rinse canned beans in cold water before using.

Sauce – Canned tomatoes add texture while tomato sauce gives this recipe just the right consistency. A little bit of beer is one of my secret ingredients, and while it doesn’t make the chili taste like beer, it adds really great flavor.

Seasoning – This chili is well seasoned with chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika for a deep, savory flavor. The seasoning mix is doubled and some is added into the meat before cooking.

Spice it up a bit with jalapenos, extra chili powder, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.

How to Make Crock Pot Chili

Crockpot chili is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

  1. Brown seasoned beef with onions and garlic in a skillet.
  2. Drain excess grease, add beer, and simmer until almost evaporated.
  3. Place cooked beef and all remaining ingredients in a slow cooker and cook per the recipe below.

No Beer?! No problem! While you can’t taste the beer in the recipe (and the alcohol cooks off), it really does add an amazing layer of flavor to this recipe. Replace beer with beef broth or try an alcohol-free beer if you prefer.

crockpot chili in a bowl

Tips for a Great Slow Cooker Chili

  • Add half the seasoning mix to the beef before cooking for extra flavor and don’t skip the beer.
  • To thicken crockpot chili, leave the lid off the Crockpot and let some of the liquid evaporate. Or make a slurry and slowly stir it into the chili (you might not need all of it).
  • This recipe is perfect for doubling – ensure your slow cooker isn’t more than 3/4 full.

Serving Suggestions

Set out small bowls of your favorite chili toppings so everyone can DIY! Fave toppings include black olives, jalapenos, sour cream, green onions, tortilla chips, or corn chips like Fritos. For the not-so-faint-at-heart, set out a bottle of hot sauce.

Storing Leftovers

Keep leftover Crockpot chili covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze portions in zippered bags with the date labeled on the outside for up to 4 months.

Reheat on the stove top or in the microwave. To stretch leftovers even further, spoon them over a baked potato or hot dog to make chili dogs.

Did you make this Crockpot Chili Recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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cooked Easy Crock Pot Chili Recipe in the pot
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Easy Crock Pot Chili

This Easy Crockpot Chili recipe is loaded with ground beef, seasonings, & tons of flavor!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 10 servings
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Ingredients  

  • 3 pounds lean ground beef *see note
  • 2 medium onions diced, ½-inch
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 12 ounces light beer about 1 can or bottle
  • 28 ounces canned whole tomatoes with juice, 1 can
  • 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice, 1 can
  • 1 medium green bell pepper diced, optional
  • 14 ounces tomato sauce
  • 15 ounces canned red kidney beans drained and rinsed, 1 can

Seasoning Mixture

  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions 

  • Combine half the seasoning mixture with ground beef and mix until well combined.
  • Brown ground beef*, onions, and garlic until no pink remains. Drain any fat. Add beer and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated.
  • Combine beef mixture and all remaining ingredients, including remaining seasoning, in a slow cooker. If desired slightly mash the whole tomatoes.
  • Cook on high for 4 hours or low 7-8 hours. Once cooked, remove the lid and let cool slightly before serving.

Video

Notes

*This recipe can be made with 2lbs of ground beef if desired and the beans can be doubled. 
Ground beef may need to be browned in batches depending on the size of your pan.
The chili will be very hot after cooking and will thicken as it cools. I allow it to cool at least 30 minutes with the lid off stirring occasionally (and it is still very hot).
This chili has a fairly mild flavor. Add one finely diced jalapeno or a pinch of cayenne pepper to add a little bit of heat.  
Beer is recommended, but if needed, you can replace it with beef broth. I often use a light beer (such as Budweiser), but use your favorite.
You can add vegetables to this crockpot chili recipe. Diced bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms contain water so precook them or leave the lid off the slow cooker for the last hour of cooking.
To thicken leave the lid off the Crockpot and let some of the liquid evaporate. Or make a slurry of equal amounts of water and corn starch in a jar. Shake the jar until the slurry is blended then slowly stir it into the chili (you might not need all of it).
If doubling this recipe, ensure the slow cooker isn’t more than ¾ full.
4.97 from 187 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 293 | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 470mg | Potassium: 1112mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1365IU | Vitamin C: 16.3mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 7.2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Beef, Dinner, Main Course, Slow Cooker
Cuisine American, Tex Mex

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. This was the first time that this old man made chili and it was wonderful. I’m going to try to get it emailed to me so I can print it out and not have to hold my phone while I make it. Rated it 5 stars.5 stars

  2. I love the ingredients that go into this Easy Crock Pot Chili, but my only problem with the instructions is where it states to add 1/2 of the seasoning mixture directly into the uncooked beef before browning the beef with the onions and garlic and the beef is no longer pink. Next step is where my problem lies. The instructions say to drain any fat, but when draining the fat, most of the spices come out of the beef as the fat is released during cooking and so also go the spices with the draining. So why not add all of the spices “after” the draining of the beef and vegetable mixture at the same time as the beer is added so as not to loose any of the spicy flavor, which is the best part of being “chili”? PS…I am now a proud owner of your wonderful cookbook. Thank you so much for all your wonderful recipes!! They truely are Everyday Comfort!!5 stars

    1. Hi Marie, you can add the spices after if you prefer. I can’t wait to see what you make from the cookbook! Tag us on instagram @spendpennies with all your creations!

  3. I loooove this recipe! And so does my partner who from time to time (often) says, “ummmm, are you making that chili anytime soon?!” Lol! Thanks for this delicious recipe!!5 stars