Description
A hearty and flavorful slow cooker chili recipe featuring ground beef or turkey, a blend of beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a perfect balance of spices slow-cooked to tender perfection. This easy-to-make chili is perfect for cozy meals and can be ready in just 3-8 hours depending on your chosen slow cooker setting.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef or turkey
- 1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Canned Goods
- 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 (10-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 (15.5-ounce) cans beans (dark red kidney and pinto), drained and rinsed
Spices and Seasonings
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Browning the Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or turkey with the finely chopped sweet onion until the onion is soft and the meat is fully cooked, stirring occasionally to break up the meat.
- Adding Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Transfer the cooked meat and onion mixture from the skillet to the slow cooker, spreading it out evenly.
- Preparing Broth and Tomato Base: In a separate bowl, whisk together the low-sodium beef broth and tomato paste until smooth, then pour this mixture over the meat in the slow cooker.
- Adding Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the diced tomatoes with green chilies, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained and rinsed beans (dark red kidney and pinto), chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, ground cayenne, and season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to distribute the spices evenly.
- Cooking the Chili: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours, allowing all flavors to meld and the chili to thicken to your desired consistency.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef to make a leaner chili.
- If you prefer a spicier chili, increase the cayenne and red pepper flakes to taste.
- Drain and rinse the beans to reduce sodium and improve texture.
- Serve with optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions for extra flavor.
- This chili stores well and flavors often improve a day after cooking, making it great for leftovers.
