Here’s a simple and hearty slow cooker chili recipe that’s perfect for cozy meals:
Ingredients (Serves 6–8)
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef, turkey, or sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (28 oz / 800 g) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) tomato sauce
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2–3 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth (optional, for thinner chili)
Instructions
- Brown the meat (optional):
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground meat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- You can skip this step and add raw meat directly to the slow cooker, but browning adds extra flavor.
- Add ingredients to slow cooker:
- Combine meat, onion, bell pepper, garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper in the slow cooker.
- Stir well to combine.
- Cook:
- Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
- If you like a thinner chili, stir in broth about halfway through cooking.
- Taste and adjust seasoning:
- Before serving, taste and adjust salt, pepper, or chili powder as needed.
- Serve:
- Garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or fresh cilantro. Serve with cornbread or tortilla chips for extra comfort.
💡 Tips:
- For extra depth of flavor, add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a small square of dark chocolate.
- For a vegetarian version, skip the meat and add extra beans or lentils.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day because the flavors meld together.
If you want, I can give a super-easy 5-ingredient slow cooker chili version that’s fast to throw together but still very flavorful. Do you want me to do that?
