If you know anything at Fit Foodie Finds, it’s that we know how to do chili! We’re midwestern gals and knowing how to make a legit chili is very important.
This is the best slow cooker chili recipe that we have absolutely perfected. We used ground beef, beans, the perfect homemade chili seasoning, and a secret ingredient – maple syrup.
“Absolutely delicious! 5 stars from my hubby and he’s picky with his chili!” – Jenikka
It’s chili season, people! And you know we’re big chili fans here at Fit Foodie Finds. While we love mixing things up with flavors and ingredients, this is a tried and true recipe for classic slow cooker chili. It’s simple, delicious, and oh so easy to make.
A Quick Rundown on How to Make Slow Cooker Chili
- Cook ground beef in a skillet.
- Tansfer it to a slow cooker.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and set it, and forget it!
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
This crockpot chili is similar to our beef chili recipe, with a few tweaks and, of course, made in the slow cooker. There’s minimal prep which makes this recipe a go-to for busy days.
The #1 Ingredient You Don’t Want to Skip!
Every chili recipe needs some form of sweetness to bring out the savory chili seasoning flavors. We like to use pure maple syrup – it’s warm, unrefined, and absolutely delightful. You won’t make another chili recipe without it!
Make this slow cooker chili recipe your own! Use any of the following easy ingredient swaps in your own kitchen:
- Ground Beef: Use the same amount of ground chicken or ground turkey instead of beef. We’ve even make this chili recipe with a plant-based ground to make it vegetarian.
- Beans: Feel free to swap the beans for a different kind such as black beans, garbanzo beans, or cannellini beans. You can also omit them completely, but that’s boring 😉
- Broth: We love using beef broth when cooking with ground beef, but use any broth you prefer.
- Maple: Swap pure maple syrup with a little brown sugar or honey.
- Spices: Use 3-4 tablespoons of our homemade chili seasoning in place of all of the spices OR use 1 store-bought chili seasoning packet (our favorite is Siete!).
Do I have to cook the beef first?
We do recommend cooking the beef quickly before adding it to the slow cooker. It’s important to be safe about fully cooking your beef to 160ºF per the USDA.
Quick Stovetop Directions
Use a large stockpot to cook the ground beef. Then add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and let simmer for 10 minutes.
Store slow cooker chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Slow cooker chili freezes wonderfully! We have an entire guide about how to freeze soup and it works the exact same way for chili. In a nutshell, let the chili cool completely, transfer it to freezer-safe containers, seal, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Got leftovers? Here are a few ways you can repurpose this slow cooker chili:
What to Serve on top of Chili
Never skip the toppings! We love jazzing up bowls of chili with any of the following:
- Tortilla chips
- Sliced avocado or guacamole
- Fresh cilantro
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Diced bell peppers
- Diced red onion
- Lime wedges
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Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat and add the beef to the pan.
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Break the meat up into small pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes.
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Add the yellow onion and garlic to the pan and cook all the ingredients together until the ground beef is almost fully cooked but still has hints of pink.
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Drain off half of the ground beef grease (keeping some in the beef for the chili) and pour the beef mixture into the slow cooker.
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Add the rest of the chili ingredients to the slow cooker and mix until combined.
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Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
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Serve with Greek yogurt, cheddar cheese, and avocado.
- Storage: Store slow cooker chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Chili tends to thicken as it cools, so leftover chili will likely be thicker than when you first made it. Add 1 tablespoon of broth or water at a time to thin out the chili to your desired consistency.
- Freezer Instructions: Let the chili cool completely, transfer it to freezer-safe containers, seal, and freeze for up to 3 months.
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”uAYFT8AY” upload-date=”2021-10-29T16:50:32.000Z” name=”Slow Cooker Chili Recipe” description=”This is the best slow cooker chili recipe on the internet! Our classic crockpot chili calls for ground beef, beans, and the perfect homemade chili seasoning.”]
Calories: 394 kcal, Carbohydrates: 36 g, Protein: 34 g, Fat: 14 g, Fiber: 8 g, Sugar: 12 g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.
