Crockpot Chili Recipe (2024)

Easy Crockpot Chili

Who's ready for a big bowl of steaming chili? I know I am. Today we're making a big batch of Crock Pot Chili, and we're making it extra spicy, just the way we like it.

Truthfully, I'll take chili just about any way I can get it. It's classic comfort food. I have a lot of chili recipes on the site, as I love to make it many different ways, with different choices of meats, different beans or no beans at all, different seasonings, and certainly different chili peppers.

This particular recipe is an easy one, with lots of ground meat, onion, garlic, chilies, beans, fire roasted tomatoes, and lots of seasonings. It's easy because we're tossing everything into the crock pot to cook low and slow, which develops a powerful depth of flavor to your chili.

It really is my favorite slow cooker chili recipe with all the spices, though it's also very easy to adapt and change to your own preferences.

Feel free to change up the ground meats, or use a combination. Use different beans and spices. Try it my way first, then update as you with.

We really love this recipe, and now it's yours!

Let's talk about how to make crockpot chili, shall we?

Crockpot Chili Ingredients

• Olive Oil. For cooking.
• Ground Meat. I use either ground turkey or ground beef for my chili, but ground pork or ground chicken are great, too.
• Onion.
• Peppers. I use a green bell pepper, a couple jalapeno peppers, and a hotter pepper, depending on my mood. Today I tossed in a chopped habanero, but you can use a hot pepper of choice, or even a can of green chilies. Stick with jalapenos for not so hot, or bell pepper only for a milder crock pot chili.
• Garlic. Lots of garlic for me, please!
• Beans. I usually grab kidney beans, though you can use your favorite chili beans, like pinto beans or black beans.
• Fire Roasted Tomatoes. Canned is easiest, 15 oz cans. You can also use diced tomatoes, though I love the fire roasted flavor.
• Seasonings. Ancho powder, guajillo powder, cumin, salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes.
• For Serving. Sliced roasted jalapenos, spicy chili flakes, hot sauce, fresh chopped parsley or cilantro, tortilla chips.

How to Make Crockpot Chili - the Recipe Method

Cook the Ground Meat and Vegetables. Heat the oil in a large skillet and add the ground meat, onion and peppers. Cook them down about 10 minutes, or until the ground meat is cooked through and the vegetables are softened.

Add the garlic and cook another minute, stirring.

NOTE: You can skip the above steps and just dump everything into the crockpot if you'd like, but browning the beef or turkey and cooking the vegetables this way develops more flavor in the final pot of chili. I definitely recommend it.

Transfer to the Crock Pot. Transfer the skillet contents to a crock pot, along with the remainder of the ingredients. Stir to combine.

Slow Cook the Chili. Cook the chili in the crock pot on low for 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours to let the flavors develop, stirring every now and then. Adjust for seasonings if you wish.

You can adjust the cooking time to simmer longer to develop more flavor.

Taste and Adjust for Seasonings. Give it taste and add in more salt and pepper, if needed.

My Favorite Chili Toppings

Everyone has their favorites, but I love the following when I serve up a bowl of chili.

• Roasted Jalapeno Peppers. I love the flavor of sliced roasted jalapenos. Fresh slices are great, too! Or both!
• Hot Sauce. Dash on some of your favorite hot sauce. You really can't go wrong with hot sauce. Don't forget it!
• Red Chili Flakes. Bring on some heat for me!
• Tortilla Chips. I serve them on the side so I can scoop up some chili and get a nice crunchy bite. Addictive for sure.
• Mexican Crema. Sour cream is good, for when you make your chili a little too spicy. Oops! Is this even possible?
• Fresh Herbs. I often use chopped parsley or cilantro, for a touch of freshness.
• Lime Wedges. For squeezing a bit of lime juice over your chili. Adds a nice citrus pop.
• Avocado. You'll be surprised at the flavor avocado brings to your chili as a topping.

Recipe Tips & Notes

• Seasonings. You can use other seasonings for your chili. The recipe includes one of my favorite blends, but consider other chili powders, like chipotle powder, New Mexican chili powder, or your favorite American blend. Consider brown sugar for a touch of sweetness, or bitter chocolate for a surprising flavor addition.
• Add a cup of beef broth for a looser chili that isn't quite as thick.
• Serving Ideas. I love a great bowl of chili, but change it up by topping a baked potato, or making a batch of chili mac and cheese! Make a chili cheese dog, or some fun Frito Pie.

Storage Information

You can store leftover chili in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To enjoy it again, simply reheat it over medium heat in a pot on the stovetop.

You can also freeze chili in freezer proof containers for 3 months or longer. I freeze batches of chili all the time.

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

• The Best Chili Recipe (Classic Chili)
• Real Deal Turkey Chili Recipe
• White Bean Chicken Chili
• Slow Cooker Southwest Beef Chili
• Beef Chili
• Homemade Roasted Tomatillo Pork Chili
• Pork Chili with Roasted Red Hatch Chili Peppers
• Chili Colorado
• Chili Verde
• Chipotle Chili
• Short Rib and Chorizo Chili
• See all of my Chili Recipes