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Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe with Ground Beef

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This easy crockpot chili with ground beef and kidney beans is a hearty, deeply savory, and hands-off dinner that simmers away quietly while life happens. It’s the perfect set-it-and-forget-it meal for game days, potlucks, or a cozy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, diced red onion, sliced jalapeños, fresh cilantro, crushed tortilla chips

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink (6-8 minutes). Drain most of the fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  2. Add the diced onion to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Push the beef and onion to one side of the skillet. Add the tomato paste to the empty space and cook for about 1 minute, stirring, until caramelized. Stir together with the beef and onion.
  4. Pour in about ¼ cup of the beef broth and scrape the bottom of the skillet to deglaze, lifting up the browned bits.
  5. Transfer the beef mixture to a 5-6 quart slow cooker.
  6. Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans, diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, and remaining beef broth. Stir to combine.
  7. Add 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Stir again. Cover with the lid.
  8. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Low and slow is preferred for deeper flavor.
  9. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. Add more salt, cayenne for heat, or a squeeze of lime juice if desired.
  10. Ladle into bowls and serve with desired toppings.

Notes

For a thicker chili, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for 15-20 minutes uncovered, or mash some beans against the side of the slow cooker. Chili tastes even better the next day. To make it spicier, add cayenne pepper, diced jalapeño, or chipotle pepper in adobo sauce. For a meatless version, skip the beef and add an extra can of beans and cooked lentils.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot chili, easy chili, ground beef chili, slow cooker chili, chili recipe, comfort food, game day chili, meal prep chili

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