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A bowl of hearty crock pot chili topped with shredded cheese and chopped green onions beside a spoon.

Hearty Crock Pot Chili

This hearty crock pot chili is packed with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and bold spices for a comforting, flavorful meal. It's an easy make-ahead dinner that simmers to perfection with minimal hands-on time.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 360

Ingredients
  

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • crock pot
  • wooden spoon
  • cutting board
  • chef's knife

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until slightly softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
  3. Transfer the beef mixture to the crock pot.
  4. Add the kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper if using, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving. Serve hot with your favorite chili toppings, if desired.

Notes

For a thicker chili, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Serve with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or crushed tortilla chips. Ground turkey can be substituted for the beef if desired.