This easy Crockpot Chili recipe has dozens of 5-star reviews and has been awarded “winner” in multiple chili cook-offs!
Loaded with ground beef, Italian sausage, beans, veggies, tomatoes, and the ultimate homemade chili seasoning, this slow cooker chili recipe is the absolute best!
Table of Contents
- The Best Way To Cook Chili Is In the Crockpot
- Slow Cooker Chili Ingredients:
- How To Make Crockpot Chili
- Top Tips for the Best Homemade Chili:
- What Toppings Go With Chili?
- How To Serve Slow Cooker Chili
- Freezing Leftover Crockpot Chili:
- More Beef Recipes To Try:
- Crockpot Chili Recipe (Cook-off Winner!) Recipe
The Best Way To Cook Chili Is In the Crockpot
This chili isn’t your typical “dump and forget it” crockpot recipe like most on my blog.
It’s better because it’s slow-cooked.
Slow cooking is the first secret to award-winning chili. It blends flavors, tenderizes beans and veggies, and makes the meat juicy and tender.
The second secret is browning first. Sautéing the veggies and browning the beef before adding them to the crockpot adds layers of flavor.
Slow Cooker Chili Ingredients:
- Smoky Flavors: Bacon adds a smoky flavor that’s not common in chili but makes a big difference!
- Veggies: Sweet bell peppers, crisp celery, and onions add sweetness and crunch.
- The Base: Chili beans and diced tomatoes make a hearty base, and tomato paste adds thickness.
- Meat: Ground beef and Italian sausage add texture and lots of flavor.
- Flavor Boosters: Spices add warmth, with a bit of sugar to balance it out. Worcestershire adds tang, garlic boosts flavor, and beef bouillon makes it meatier.
Quick Tip
Spicy Crockpot Chili: This chili has a kick! For a milder version, skip the jalapeños and use less cayenne pepper or chili powder. Serve with cheddar and sour cream to cool it down.
How To Make Crockpot Chili
- Fry Bacon: Cook until crisp, remove, and keep the grease (hello flavor!)
- Cook Veggies: Sauté bell peppers, celery, onion, and jalapeño in bacon grease.
- Brown Meat: Cook ground beef and sausage, drain, and add to crockpot.
- Combine in Crockpot: Add veggies, beans, tomatoes, and bacon to the crockpot.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Top Tips for the Best Homemade Chili:
- Slow Cook on Low: Cook for 6-8 hours to blend flavors and make everything tender.
- Use Good Tomatoes: Better tomatoes mean better chili!
- Chill Overnight: Make it a day ahead and chill. This boosts flavor—great for contests! The next day, warm the chili in the slow cooker on low for 1-2 hours.
- Taste and Adjust: Before serving, taste and add more spices if needed until it’s just right.
- Don’t Forget the Toppings: They complete the dish!
What Toppings Go With Chili?
I love serving this crockpot chili family-style, so everyone can build their own perfect bowls. Here are our favorites:
- Cheeses: Shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper Jack.
- Fresh Additions: Chopped cilantro or a squeeze of lime.
- Creamy Toppings: Sour cream or Greek yogurt to balance the spice.
- Crunchy Additions: Tortilla chips, corn chips, or saltine crackers for crunch.
- Avocado: Sliced or diced for some nice creaminess.
- Spicy Elements: Jalapeño slices, hot sauce, or red pepper flakes for extra heat.
- Onions: Diced red or sliced green onions for a sharp bite.
How To Serve Slow Cooker Chili
Crockpot chili is perfect for leftovers and super versatile. Here are some favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes: Top baked potatoes with chili and toppings.
- Navajo Tacos: Spoon chili onto fry bread, then add cheese and sour cream.
- Chili Shepherd’s Pie: Use leftover chili as the base and top with mashed potatoes.
- Chili Mac or Chili Dogs: Mix chili with mac-and-cheese or spoon over hot dogs for a hearty meal.
Variations
- Vegetarian Crockpot Chili: Try my famous vegetarian chili. Cook in the slow cooker for 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high.
- Crockpot Chicken Chili: Check out my popular White Chicken Chili Recipe or this Creamy Chicken Enchilada Chili.
Freezing Leftover Crockpot Chili:
- As a Freezer Meal: Combine all ingredients and place in freezer bags. Freeze flat. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then cook on low.
- Already Cooked Chili: Cool to room temp, then freeze in small portions. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the slow cooker.
More Beef Recipes To Try:
- Beef Burrito Recipe with rice
- Vegetable Beef Soup made with ground beef
- Ground Beef Stroganoff reader favorite recipe!
- Mongolian Ground Beef with garlic and ginger
- Ground Beef Recipes all our favorites in one spot!
Crockpot Chili Recipe (Cook-off Winner!)
Here's a delicious Crockpot Chili with dozens of 5-star reviews and winner of multiple chili cook-offs! This Crockpot Chili recipe is made with plenty of spice and packed with lots of flavor.
Equipment
- 6 quart slow cooker see note 1
Ingredients
- 5 slices bacon chopped
- 1 red bell pepper finely diced
- 1 green bell pepper finely diced
- 1/2 cup finely diced celery 2 stalks
- 1 cup finely diced yellow onion 1 small onion
- 1 small jalapeño pepper optional, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 48 ounces chili (pinto) beans 3×16-ounce cans
- 56 ounces petite diced tomatoes 2×28-ounce cans
- 2 pounds ground beef 80/20
- 1 pound Italian sausage mild or hot
Seasonings
- 4 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, see note 2
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 beef bouillon cubes
- Toppings of choice see note 3
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Set aside.
- Leave the bacon grease in the skillet. Add the bell peppers, celery, onion, jalapeño, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5-8 minutes. Add the seasonings and tomato paste, and cook until fragrant, 1-3 more minutes. Transfer everything to the slow cooker.
- Add the chili beans (with liquid), diced tomatoes (with liquid), sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and crumbled bouillon cubes to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, cook and crumble the ground beef and Italian sausage over high heat. Brown in batches, if needed, so the meat can be in a single layer and is able to sear nicely instead of steaming, which adds more flavor. Cook until deeply browned. Drain excess fat, then add the meat to the slow cooker along with the bacon. Stir everything well.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Taste and adjust seasonings (like salt, pepper, and chili powder) if needed. Serve with fresh cilantro, sour cream, and Cheddar cheese.
Video
Recipe Notes
Note 1: This recipe fills a 6-quart slow cooker to the top. It makes a huge batch, perfect for eating throughout the week, taking to a chili cook-off, or freezing in portions.
Note 2: The jalapeño and cayenne pepper add a lot of heat, so omit or reduce if you prefer a milder chili.
Note 3: Add your favorite toppings such as sour cream or Greek yogurt, diced avocado, sharp cheddar cheese, cilantro, lime, jalapeños, corn chips, etc.
Nutrition
Calories: 620kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 2264mg | Potassium: 1791mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 2165IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 165mg | Iron: 9mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made the bacon chili in slow cooker yesterday- YUMMMOO I love mushrooms so added some as well. Awesome recipe and is definitely a keeper thanks ??
Awesome!! The mushrooms sound delicious 🙂 Thanks so much for the comment John!
How much mushrooms did you add? I plan on making this next week for the cooler weather.
How would you cut this down in order to make it in a 4-quart slow cooker?
Thanks!
I would probably just half it! 🙂
I made this yesterday. About a dozen people and they ALL loved it. The only thing I changed was I added a few canned chipolte peppers.
Incredible recipe. Thank you Chelsea.
Oh YAY!!! That seriously makes me so happy to hear that! And the chipotle peppers addition sounds incredible! 🙂
You are *officially* my favorite person because this recipe helped me win a chili cook-off! Hooray! It really is the best though. and didn’t change a thing. Thank you Chelsea!
What?!? That is SO exciting to hear!! Quite the compliment! Thank you 🙂 <3
I made this according to the recipe, turned on my crock pot, worried at how full it was but gave the recipe the benefit of the doubt, and left for my daughter’s basketball tournament. Thankfully I was able to come home in between the morning and afternoon games because it was a horrendous mess on my counter. I had to pour the chili into a big roasting pan, put it in a low temperature oven, and clean the counter and my crock pot. It’s a 6 quart Rival Crock pot. How in the world is that supposed to work? It tastes good but WHAT A MESS!! How am I the only one with this problem?
That is so strange Collette! I’ve made this dozens of times and heard great things from readers and never had it escape the crockpot! Did you put it on high or change the recipe in any way? I too have a 6 quart and it has never even come close to coming out… Was it boiling over? If so, it may be that the heating elements of your crockpot are off.
It was on low and I followed the recipe. No clue. I just know that if I fill my crock pots (embarrassingly I have 4!) to the very top it always boils over. Does yours not come to a boil or does it not fill it to the top?
Haha! Not embarrassing at all, I have 2 and looking at getting a third haha! 🙂 Mine do fill pretty close to the top with this recipe, but a good inch of space left and I’ve never had something boil over. I did a quick search of your particular crockpot (Rival 6 quart) on Amazon and it looks like a lot of reviewers have had problems with it getting too hot, so that could be it? It shouldn’t be a boil, but a slow simmer. I hope that helps, so sorry about the mess, that is no fun 🙁
Mine overflowed each time I’ve made it. I went ahead and purchased an 8 quart just for this chili!! Everyone loves it 🙂
I’m so glad everyone enjoys it! 🙂
Made this exactly to this recipe and it’s quite spicy hot but very good
I love him, but my wife doesn’t so I’m gonna try this recipe today. We’re gonna cut back on the jalapeño cayenne paprika and the chili powder. Also, make sure you using a mild sausage, the sausage, and really heat things up.
I’ll let you know how things turn out for my chili as I am planning on tripling the bacon and adding Kabasa to the mix?
My husband has a horrible bean allergy if I wanted to make without beans is there anything else I need to add?
I’d add more meat or reduce the amount of liquid 🙂 Enjoy!
Have you maybe tried it with rice? That mght help the chili be more filling, as if it had the beans in it?
Been making this recipe for a couple years now and haven’t even bothered trying any others. Best recipe I’ve ever found by far
Yay! What a compliment! Thanks so much Tracy! 🙂
Same here, there is no other chili recipe out there than this!
This made my day! Thanks Lorena! 🙂
I think you Answered your own question.
Chelsea this looks delicious! My family loves their chili with lots of meat! And who can resist a crock pot meal! It is going on the menu next week!
I’m pretty sure bacon is my life-force. In fact, chili isn’t far behind 😉
Mmm I don’t think I’ve had bacon in my chili before, and I don’t know why because it sounds amazing! What a perfect comfort dish, Chelsea! Love this!
I am loving all the videos, Chelsea. It is so helpful and it makes easy to follow the recipe 😉
Love this recipe! Would like to prepare another batch but I can’t find the chili beans in medium sauce. Any thoughts on how I can adjust the seasoning s?
Chili beans in mild sauce are also great and if you’d like it a little bit spicier, add in some extra chili powder, slowly to taste!
Made this to take to the guys in the field during harvest-nice & thick and they loved it!
I couldn’t find the medium sauce beans either so I used 2 mild and 1 hot 🙂
So happy this was a hit! Thanks Kim! 🙂
I made this for my husband who is a total foodie snob– and he loved it! He said this is THE chili recipe of all time. Thank you 🙂
I am thrilled to hear this! Yay! Thanks Lorena! 🙂
There is literally no liquid in this ? How can this be right?
I promise it works! 🙂
Bush’ makes Chilli beans in multiple sauces including medium
Yes, but some stores don’t always have the medium in stock. I’ve only been able to find mild, sadly.
Made this for the fire department one weekend. Was a hit with everyone on shift, and it was super easy to make and leave alone (read: forget about while on a call). I’ve already made plans to make it again!!
Yay! Thrilled this was a hit 🙂 Thanks for the comment and review!
Amazing recipe, Chelsea!
It’s just was I needed these days. Oh, and the video is really helpful! Thanks!
Awe thank you so much Tania! 🙂