Description

This Crockpot Chili recipe is a hearty and flavorful dish combining lean ground beef, Italian sausage, a variety of beans, and rich tomato elements. Slow-cooked to perfection with a blend of spices, it’s an easy, comforting meal great for chilly days or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound Italian sausage (or spicy Italian sausage or ground beef)

Vegetables

1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced

Beans

30 ounces kidney beans, rinsed well and drained (2 cans of 15 oz each)
15 ounces pinto beans, rinsed well and drained (1 can)

Tomato Ingredients

29 ounces diced tomatoes (use the entire can, juice and all)
3 ounces tomato paste
8 ounces tomato sauce

Liquids & Sauces

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup beef broth
1 teaspoon hot sauce

Spices & Seasonings

2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar or granulated sugar

Instructions

Brown meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage together until they are mostly cooked through. It’s okay if there is still a little pink remaining.
Add vegetables: Stir in the diced yellow onion, chopped red bell pepper, and minced garlic. Continue cooking over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent and the vegetables soften.
Transfer to crockpot: Pour the meat and vegetable mixture into a 6-quart crockpot or slow cooker.
Add beans: Add the rinsed and drained kidney beans and pinto beans to the crockpot.
Add tomatoes and broth: Top the mixture by adding the diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato paste, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and hot sauce.
Add spices: Sprinkle in the chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, ground black pepper, and sugar. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
Slow cook: Cover with the crockpot lid and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours. Stir occasionally during cooking to blend flavors.
Serve: Spoon the chili into bowls and serve with your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, corn chips, or tortilla chips.

Notes

For a spicier chili, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or hot sauce according to taste.
To make this recipe gluten-free, ensure that Worcestershire sauce used is gluten-free.
You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef and sausage for a leaner option.
This chili freezes well – store leftover portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
For thicker chili, cook uncovered in the last 30 minutes or add a slurry of cornstarch and water.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours on low or 2 to 3 hours on high
Category: Main Dish
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 310 kcal
Sugar: 7 g
Sodium: 540 mg
Fat: 14 g
Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0.2 g
Carbohydrates: 24 g
Fiber: 7 g
Protein: 23 g
Cholesterol: 65 mg

Keywords: crockpot chili, slow cooker chili, beef chili, easy chili recipe, comforting chili, hearty chili, chili with beans, homemade chili