Cozy Hearty Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Chilly Days

When winter’s chill settles in, a steaming bowl of slow cooker chili delight warms every corner of your kitchen with rich, comforting aromas.

Packed with robust flavors and tender meat, this chili promises to become a staple in your recipe collection.

Robust ground beef mingles with smoky spices, creating a symphony of taste that dances across your palate.

Beans and vegetables add depth and nutrition to this soul-satisfying dish.

Each spoonful delivers a perfect balance of heat and heartiness that transforms an ordinary meal into an extraordinary experience.

The slow cooker works its magic, melding ingredients into a harmonious blend that will have everyone asking for seconds.

This chili isn’t just a meal – it’s a celebration of flavor that beckons you to ladle up comfort in a bowl.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours and 15 minutes

Total Time: 8 hours 35 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 7

What’s Inside Hearty Slow Cooker Chili

• Ground Beef: Provides hearty, rich protein foundation with deep meaty flavor and satisfying texture.
• Kidney Beans: Adds creamy, earthy protein boost with delightful soft texture and extra nutrition.

• Onions, Garlic: Creates robust flavor foundation with complex, sweet-savory undertones that enhance overall dish depth.
• Chili Powder, Paprika, Cumin, Oregano: Delivers warm, smoky, and vibrant spice profile that transforms simple ingredients into exciting culinary experience.
• Tomato Paste: Concentrates tangy sweetness and helps thicken sauce with rich, deep red color.

• Beef Broth: Builds deep, savory liquid base that infuses entire dish with rich, comforting flavor.
• Red Peppers, Green Peppers: Introduces crisp texture and bright, slightly sweet vegetable notes.
• Diced Tomatoes: Provides juicy, tangy element with fresh acidic brightness.
• Sweet Corn: Offers sweet, golden bursts of sunshine-like flavor and delightful textural contrast.
• Olive Oil: Helps sauté ingredients and creates smooth, silky cooking foundation.

Essentials You’ll Need for Chili Prep

• Large Skillet: Essential for browning beef and sautéing onions with perfect heat control.
• 4-6 Quart Slow Cooker: Your main cooking vessel, perfect for creating rich, deep flavor chili.
• Cutting Board: Needed for chopping onions, peppers, and preparing ingredients.
• Chef's Knife: Sharp tool for precise ingredient preparation.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Helps stir and mix ingredients smoothly during cooking.
• Measuring Spoons: Ensures accurate spice measurements for balanced flavor.
• Can Opener: Required for opening canned beans and tomatoes.

How to Build Flavor in This Slow Cooker Chili

• Beef Preparation

Brown ground beef in a hot skillet until fully cooked, creating delicious caramelized edges that lock in rich flavor. Transfer meat to slow cooker, ensuring all those tasty bits make it into the pot.

• Aromatic Base

Sizzle onions and garlic in the same skillet, releasing their mouthwatering fragrance and creating a foundational layer of deep flavor for the chili.

• Spice Awakening

Sprinkle in a constellation of spices that will transform your chili from ordinary to extraordinary. Let the spices dance and bloom in the pan, releasing their intense aromatics and creating a complex flavor profile.

• Slow Cooking Magic

Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker, allowing them to mingle and develop a harmonious taste over several hours. The low and slow method ensures tender meat and deeply integrated flavors.

• Final Flourish

Stir in corn and additional beans near the end of cooking to maintain their texture and brightness. Taste and adjust seasonings to create a perfectly balanced chili that will have everyone asking for seconds.

• Serving Celebration

Ladle the chili into warm bowls and invite diners to customize with their favorite toppings like tangy sour cream, sharp cheddar, or fresh green onions for a personalized dining experience.

Tips to Keep Your Chili Rich and Robust

• Chili Customization Tricks: Mix ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a leaner protein option.
• Bean Boosting Technique: Drain and rinse canned beans to reduce sodium and improve digestibility for sensitive stomachs.
• Spice Level Control: Adjust heat by increasing or decreasing chili powder and adding fresh jalapeños for extra kick.
• Make-Ahead Magic: This chili freezes beautifully in airtight containers for up to three months, perfect for quick weeknight meals.
• Veggie Sneaking Strategy: Finely dice extra vegetables like zucchini or carrots to boost nutrition without changing the classic chili texture.

Serving Suggestions for Chili That Wows

• Cozy Family Feast Night: Invite loved ones for a warm, comforting dinner where everyone can gather around and enjoy spoonfuls of hearty chili together.
• Toppings Galore Station: Set up a DIY toppings bar with shredded cheese, crispy tortilla chips, diced jalapeños, fresh cilantro, and tangy sour cream so each person can customize their bowl.
• Game Day Comfort Companion: Serve this chili during sports events or movie nights as a delicious, filling meal that keeps everyone satisfied and energized through the excitement.
• Leftover Magic Makeover: Transform extra chili into stuffed peppers, chili mac, or as a savory topping for baked potatoes, ensuring no delicious bite goes to waste.

Chili Storage Advice for Busy Weeknights

• Smart Storage Strategies: Transfer leftover chili to airtight containers, ensuring it cools completely before refrigerating. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal flavor and quality.
• Freezer-Friendly Batches: Portion chili into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty bags. Seal tightly, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 3 months, perfect for quick future meals.
• Reheating Magic: Thaw frozen chili in the refrigerator overnight. Warm gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to maintain consistent temperature and prevent scorching. Add a splash of broth if needed to restore moisture.
• Meal Prep Champion: Prepare double batches for busy weeks. Divide chili into individual portions for grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners. Pack with toppings separately to keep ingredients fresh and crisp until serving time.

Warming Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

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4.7 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 8 hours 35 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Classic slow cooker chili delight merges robust beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, and complex spices into a comforting meal. Rich Mexican-inspired flavors simmer effortlessly, promising warmth that satisfies hunger and nourishes souls.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ½ lbs (0.68 kg) lean ground beef
• 1 (14.5 oz / 411 g) can kidney beans, mashed
• 1 (14.5 oz / 411 g) can chili beans
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 (14.5 oz / 411 g) can diced tomatoes
• ½ cup beef broth
• 1 cup diced yellow onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 diced red bell pepper
• 1 diced green bell pepper
• ½ cup sweet corn (optional)
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 2 tbsps tomato paste
• Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil, seasoning with salt and pepper until caramelized and deeply colored.
2. Aromatic Base: In the same skillet, sauté onions and garlic until translucent, then introduce tomato paste, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano, toasting spices briefly to enhance their flavor profile.
3. Liquid Integration: Deglaze skillet with beef broth, scraping up flavorful browned bits, then transfer the entire mixture to the slow cooker with the browned meat.
4. Vegetable Incorporation: Add red and green peppers, chili beans, and diced tomatoes to the slow cooker, stirring to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
5. Slow Cooking Process: Set slow cooker to LOW for 7-8 hours, allowing flavors to develop and ingredients to tenderize completely.
6. Final Enhancement: During the last 30 minutes, stir in mashed kidney beans and corn kernels, then increase temperature to HIGH to intensify flavors and create a rich, cohesive texture.
7. Serving Finale: Ladle chili into serving bowls and top with optional garnishes like sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, or chopped green onions for a personalized touch.

Notes

• Beef Browning Technique: Caramelize ground beef thoroughly for deep, rich flavor development by using medium-high heat and allowing proper surface contact.
• Spice Blooming Secret: Toast spices briefly in the skillet before adding liquids to unlock their full aromatic potential and enhance overall taste complexity.
• Slow Cooker Timing Precision: Maintain LOW temperature for 8 hours to ensure tender meat and deeply melded flavors, with a final 15-minute HIGH heat boost for flavor integration.
• Texture Enhancement Trick: Incorporate mashed kidney beans near the end to naturally thicken the chili and create a more luxurious, creamy consistency without additional thickeners.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 hours and 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 720 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 8 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg