Easy Slow Cooker Chili
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Easy Slow Cooker Chili is packed to the brim with meat, beans and just the right amount of heat to make your tongue tingle! Cook it low and slow in your crock pot all day, or in just 4 hours on High heat. Dinner doesn’t get much easier than this!
Our annual Christmas party is such a blast. After years of spending all day making the perfect little appetizers and finger foods last year, I planned to simplify this year.
A crockpot meal is exactly what we needed. With temperatures in Phoenix dipping into the frigid 60’s in December {insert sarcasm}, I thought a warm and hearty chili would be perfect!
Easy Slow Cooker Chili
This recipe starts with 4 pounds of meat! That is some hearty chili. Hot Italian sausage and ground beef create a flavorful chili with kidney and pinto beans cooked in a smoky tomato base.
Add the perfect amount of heat and you have the best ever crockpot chili!
We served this at our Christmas party and our guests devoured it. We served it with some easy cheese bread and it made the perfect party meal.
No muss, no fuss. An excellent meal to serve at any occasion, prep and step away. Serve when ready. This chili will keep on a warm setting for hours.
Recipe Notes
Why New Mexico Chile Powder?
Unlike traditional chili powder, New Mexico chile powder has a deep, reddish brown color and features an earthy, sweet flavor and subtle, spicy heat. It is mildly spicy, and it gives a truly authentic flavor to the crockpot chili.
New Mexico Chili Powder can be found in the international aisle, in the bulk spice section, or on Amazon. if you are afraid the spiciness will be too much for you, simply use half New Mexico chile powder and 1/2 regular chili powder.
How to Freeze and Reheat Slow Cooker Chili
To freeze: Cool chili to room temp, and fill a freezer-safe container 2/3 full with chili. It will keep well frozen for several months.
To reheat, defrost and add water to thin it out as needed. Reheat and enjoy!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Hearty Soups and Stews
Easy Slow Cooker Chili
Ingredients
- 2 pounds hot Italian sausage, bulk (we used chicken sausage)
- 2 pounds 93% lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 43.5 ounces kidney beans, 3 – 14.5 ounce cans, drained and rinsed
- 43.5 ounces pinto beans, 3 – 14.5 ounce cans, drained and rinsed
- 84 ounces crushed tomatoes with garlic, 3 – 28 ounces cans
- 4 ounce can diced jalapenos
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons New Mexico chili powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/2-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes, to taste depending on heat preference
Instructions
- Cook hot sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through. Drain drippings and add to a 6 quart crock pot. Cook beef with salt and pepper in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through. Drain drippings and add to a 6 quart crock pot.
- Add remaining ingredients. Stir to combine. Cook on high 4-5 hours or low 6-8 hours.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published December 2013. Updated and republished September 2019.
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looks delicious!!!!
I love chile! I need something hearty and a little more heathy this time of year to counteract all the cookies and sweets.
No chopped onion???
That's a GOOD question!! I was wondering the SAME thing.
Top it with chopped onion like any other chili… hello?
Is this chilispicy
Is this chili spicy
I left out the diced jalapenos and pepper flakes as my wife does not like anything close to mild, medium, or hot. Spice to taste with those ingredients or put on table when serving.
What does "bulk" mean for the sausage?
You can get family size packages of pre-cooked sausage that are equivalent of three or four individual packages at Walmart.
It means a larger amount of meat as in packages of ground meat, sausage, chicken, etc that are usually over 3 lbs. If you get lucky they might have it out of the casing as well. Hope this helps!
"Bulk" sausage refers to ground sausage that is NOT in casing, it is NOT link sausage.
No added liquid? I don't care for thick paste.
Liquid in recipe is from the canned tomatoes.. Also suggest using Bushes canned chili beans in mild chili sauce. Pour it all in… Reserve some liquid from canned tomatoes in case you need more liquid.
Was really good…. A lot easier using "Bushes canned chili beans in mild chili sauce" and canned diced tomatoes with onions and bell pepper. I used the liquid from the cans of Bushes Chili beans with mild chili sauce and of course the diced tomato liquid (Halved) I kept some diced tomato juice in reserve in case of needing more liquid. I drained the canned pinto beans. Then used spices to flavor… I cooked on low for 4 hours instead of high because I didnt want mushy beans. I would suggest that this dish be set overnight in fridge then reheated because like potato salad it is so much better the next day after all the ingredients have time to mingle….
I am vegetarian and would love to make this with just the beans and spices – maybe some type of TVP/vegetable protein. Do you think I would need to reduce the spices since I would not be using meat?
I have a vegetarian chili that I absolutely love. It is a completely different recipe, but it will give you an idea.
http://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/2012/10/the-best-ever-power-packed-vegetarian.html
Enjoy and let us know how it goes!
I love an easy slow cooker meal and this is perfect for our cold days! I made some of your cornbread with it and what and amazing meal!