Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili

This Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili is super easy to make, family-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd.  Load it up with all of your favorite chili toppings like cheddar cheese, Fritos corn chips, and cool sour cream!

This Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili is super easy to make, family-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd.  Load it up with all of your favorite chili toppings like cheddar cheese, Fritos corn chips, and cool sour cream! #chili #slowcooker #crockpot

I love chili.  I also love slow cookers.  It's no surprise that slow cooker chili is right up my alley.  Load it up with all kinds of toppings and I am one happy lady.

This recipe is super simple and as basic as it gets, but oh so delicious.  Well, except for the addition of the cocoa powder.  Just in case you were wondering, the cocoa adds a subtle richness and depth of flavor.  Don't knock it til you try it!

This Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili is super easy to make, family-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd.  Load it up with all of your favorite chili toppings like cheddar cheese, Fritos corn chips, and cool sour cream! #chili #slowcooker #crockpot

One of my favorite things about chili, in general, is that it's so customizable.  By substituting a different kind of beans, a different kind of tomatoes, or topping it with sour cream, cheese, green onions or, a family favorite of ours, Fritos corn chips, you can really make a bowl of chili your own.

Having a big pot of chili ready for a party or game day spread is a no-brainer!  Everything stays warm in the crock pot and your guests can top their bowl just how they like it.

This Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili is super easy to make, family-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd.  Load it up with all of your favorite chili toppings like cheddar cheese, Fritos corn chips, and cool sour cream! #chili #slowcooker #crockpot

Not only is this chili super party friendly, it's family friendly, too! It's not too beany, not too spicy, and even the kids love it.

But, that's not all! It's just as good the next day and freezes well.  If you're looking for a quick, easy, flavorful, family-pleasing meal, then you've found it. Bust out your slow cooker and take the stress out of "what's for dinner" tonight!

This Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili is super easy to make, family-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd.  Load it up with all of your favorite chili toppings like cheddar cheese, Fritos corn chips, and cool sour cream! #chili #slowcooker #crockpot

Check out this fun video tutorial for this easy chili recipe here:





Yield: 12 servings   Author:

Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili


This Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili is super easy to make, family-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd.  Load it up with all of your favorite chili toppings like cheddar cheese, Fritos corn chips, and cool sour cream!

prep time: cook time: total time: 4 HOURS 10 MIN

INGREDIENTS


2 lbs ground beef
1 large sweet onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14.5 oz) cans stewed tomatoes
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 (15.5 oz) can light kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

INSTRUCTIONS


1. In a large frying pan cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until the ground beef is no longer pink.  Drain. Transfer meat mixture to your slow cooker.

2. Add all of the cans of tomatoes, breaking up the stewed tomatoes with your spoon.

3. Add beans, chili powder, cumin, salt, oregano and cocoa powder.  You can wait to add the beans for the last hour of cooking, but we like ours mushy, so we add them at the beginning.

4. Cook for 4 hours on low.

NOTES


I make this recipe on the less spicy, less beany side to suit the tastes of my family.  For a spicier, beanier chili, sub the can of plain diced tomatoes with another can of diced tomatoes with green chilies and add a second can of beans.



Nutrition data should not be considered a guarantee. Please see our full Nutrition Data Disclosure.

Looking for something a little lighter?  Try this Easy Crock Pot Chicken Chili!


Original photos updated April 2018. Original photos below:

This Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili is super easy to make, family-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd.  Load it up with all of your favorite chili toppings like cheddar cheese, Fritos corn chips, and cool sour cream! #chili #slowcooker #crockpot

This Classic Slow Cooker Beef Chili is super easy to make, family-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd.  Load it up with all of your favorite chili toppings like cheddar cheese, Fritos corn chips, and cool sour cream! #chili #slowcooker #crockpot

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