Servings
Font
Back
4.8 from 246 votes

Classic Slow Cooker Chili

Crafted with ease and taste in mind, this recipe is a great choice.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
9 hrs
Total Time
9 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 8 Servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced small
  • 1 medium red bell pepper diced small
  • 4 medium garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika optional, but delicious
  • 1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 (28-ounce) (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 (16-ounce) (16-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 2 cans cans (15-ounces each) light or dark kidney beans rinsed and drained (see note)
For serving:
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • sour cream

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large, 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and add the onions, bell peppers and garlic. Cook, stirring often, for 2-3 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika and stir to combine. Cook for another minute or so.
  2. Add the ground beef or turkey, salt and pepper to the skillet and cook, breaking up the meat into small pieces, until the ground beef or turkey is no longer pink, 5-6 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
  3. Scoop the mixture into a round 6-quart (or similar size) slow cooker. Stir in the brown sugar, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beans.
  4. Cover and cook 8-9 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high. (The chili will thicken slightly the longer it stands after cooking.) Add additional salt and pepper to taste if needed.
  5. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and any other chili toppings you like.

Notes

  • Beef: this chili is also delicious with beef cubes (a chuck roast cut into 1-inch pieces or prepackaged stew meat). If doing so, you don't need to cook it in the skillet first.
  • Heat: also, if you want to increase the heat (as is, the chili isn't overly spicy), consider adding chopped jalapeños (fresh or from the jar) or additional chili powder.
  • Beans: you can sub in just about any other kind of canned bean that you like (black, pinto, etc)

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Serving Calories 352kcal (18%) Carbohydrates 37g (12%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 40mg (13%) Sodium 674mg (28%) Fiber 11g (44%) Sugar 8g (16%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 Serving
Calories 352kcal 18%
Carbohydrates 37g 12%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 40mg 13%
Sodium 674mg 28%
Fiber 11g 44%
Sugar 8g 16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.