This easy crockpot chili recipe is loaded with beans, ground beef, and seasonings. It really is the best slow cooker chili recipe ever!
We like to serve it topped with cheddar cheese and with a side of jiffy corn casserole or buttermilk biscuits for a hearty and delicious dinner.
If you love easy comfort food recipes, have I got a treat for you…
Easy Crockpot Chili
A big bowl of chili is the ultimate chilly weather meal. That is why it is one of our favorite meals.
What makes this the best chili is the perfect blend of seasonings and the fact that it cooks low and slow for several hours, which helps add depth to the flavors. Once you give it a try I can pretty much guarantee that you will add it to your regular meal rotation. It is that good.
Plus, you can’t beat how easy it is to make. The crockpot does all the work!
For more crockpot dinner ideas, try our crockpot baked potato soup, crockpot Frito pie, and crockpot brown sugar garlic chicken thighs.
Ingredients
- ground beef
- onions
- garlic
- kidney beans
- crushed tomatoes
- distilled white vinegar
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- crushed red pepper
- salt & pepper (whoops, forgot to include those in the picture!)
CHILI SEASONING MIX: You can also use 4-5 Tablespoons of chili seasoning mix instead of the chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Then add a pinch of crushed red pepper if desired.
How to Make Chili in the Slow Cooker
I also love how easy this chili is to make. Simply brown the beef, onion, and garlic in a skillet, then add it to your crockpot along with all the remaining ingredients. Set to low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-4 hours.
Then go about your day and come home to a delicious slow-cooked dinner.
Can dinner be this quick and easy every night, please?
Topping Ideas
Top your bowl of chili with one or more of these tasty toppings:
- shredded cheese
- sour cream
- hot sauce
- corn chips
- avocados
- jalapenos
- diced tomatoes
- chopped onion
- cilantro
- green onions
My favorite topping? Shredded cheese. It melts right into the steaming hot chili and gives it a bit of added creaminess. So good!
If you love chili, be sure to give my chili cheese dog casserole and crockpot chili mac a try as well!

Crockpot Chili
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Print Pin Save RateIngredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 medium onions, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 15 ounce cans kidney beans, drained
- 2 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes, with juice
- 2 Tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 4 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- pinch of crushed red pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Add onion and garlic, and cook until the onion is translucent. Drain any excess fat.
- Add beef mixture and all remaining ingredients to the crockpot and cook on high for 2-4 hours or low for 4-6 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by a third party and intended to serve as an estimate only. The accuracy of nutritional information is not guaranteed.
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This recipe was shared on Meal Plan Monday & The Weekend Potluck!
I’m making this today
missing one can of brown beans and 2 tbsp brown sugar
Why the vinegar though?
The vinegar is a “secret ingredient” that adds just a touch of acid to round out the flavor. You won’t taste it I promise 🙂
Can I half this recipe?
Yes, you can–although it is also great left over 🙂 Enjoy!
Awesome! I just have myself to cook for so even with half of this I’ll have quite a bit leftover. It’s hard to find meals for one 😆
can I can this in water bath?
I’m sorry I am not very knowledgeable in canning and haven’t tried myself.
No, you need a pressure canner to can this https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_05/chili_con_carne.html
Made this chili recipe the other day for home and work, I substituted the ground meat for ground bison, used pinto beans cause store was out of kidney beans, didn’t add the vinegar (really cause I forgot. Oops) I use 1 big can of crushed tomatoes and 1 big can of petite diced tomatoes.. and because I first cooked it on the stove due to time and I like my chili more soupy I added 1 15 oz can of water. This was the best chili recipe I’ve found yet
Should I leave the drainer in the pressure cooker or remove it before I pour the ingredients inside? Should I add some liquid at the bottom of the pressure cooker (broth or water)?
This chili recipe is for the slow cooker / crockpot.
What size crockpot?
I use my 7-quart crockpot but you should be okay with a 5 or 6-quart.
What size of slow cooker
I make this most often in my 7-quart slow cooker. You would be fine with a 6-quart and possibly even a 5-quart.
I would like to know why the vinegar?? You already have acid in the tomatoes you should use a pinch or two of sugar to cut the acid.
Will be making this chili very soon It looks so easy