Description
This Ultimate Crockpot Chili Recipe is a hearty and flavorful slow-cooked chili combining ground beef and pork (or turkey) with a blend of beans, tomatoes, and spices. Perfect for an easy, comforting meal, this chili simmers to tender perfection in your crockpot, making it an ideal dish for busy days or cozy gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork or turkey
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Tomatoes and Beans
- 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
Liquids and Spices
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Toppings (Optional)
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Chopped green onions
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Brown the Meat and Onions: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, ground pork or turkey, and diced onion. Cook until the meat is browned and the onion has softened, approximately 5-7 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute to release its fragrance.
- Transfer to Crockpot: Move the cooked meat and onion mixture into your crockpot, ensuring you scrape all flavorful bits from the skillet to include in the chili.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, kidney beans, black beans, beef broth, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper if using, salt, and black pepper to the crockpot. Stir everything thoroughly to combine all flavors.
- Cook on Low Setting: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. This slow cooking intensifies the chili’s flavors and allows the ingredients to meld beautifully.
- Alternative High Setting: If short on time, you can cook the chili on high heat for 3-4 hours instead. The chili will still develop great flavor with this faster method.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: Taste the chili and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, and tortilla chips for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute ground pork with ground turkey for a leaner chili option.
- If you prefer less heat, omit the cayenne pepper or reduce it to a pinch.
- For a thicker chili, cook with the crockpot lid slightly ajar in the last hour or remove the lid to let some liquid evaporate.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- To make this recipe vegetarian, replace meat with additional beans and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
