December 2, 2021
Chili is an absolute FAVORITE, made even better when slow cooked! Chili is a dish I remember my mom making a lot. I like to keep it fairly classic when it comes to chili, so this version is made with the ingredients I enjoyed growing up – only made in the crockpot!
We all have a go-to chili recipe that we make whenever we need an easy weeknight meal or a dish for potluck or party. Some have beans and some don’t. Some are mild and mellow and some nearly take your breath away.
t’s no secret that I LOVE my mom’s stove top chili and that nine times out of 10, iI go that route with chili vs reaching for my slow cooker. But the long, slow-cooking time results in a chili that’s thick and concentrated with more developed flavors.
Plus, few things beat coming home after a long day away to a meal that’s ready when you are! And, honestly, what’s better than opening the front door to smell of slow-cooked chili?
Ingredients you’ll need for the Slowcooker Beef & Bean Chili
- Ground beef or turkey
- Yellow Onion
- Green Pepper
- Garlic Cloves
- Tomato paste
- Spices like: Chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper
- Can of fire roasted tomatoes
- Beef broth
- Kidney beans.
Go Wild With The Toppings.
Chili of any sort just begs for alllllll the toppings. Plus it’s fun to serve a crowd or the family and allow them to make their bowl of chili JUST for them with their preferred and favorite toppings. A few chili toppings:
- Finely diced red or sweet onions
- Fresh cilantro
- Shredded sharp cheddar or Monterey jack cheese
- Crumbled cotija cheese
- Sliced jalapeños
- Diced or sliced avocados
- Sour cream, plain Greek yogurt, creme fraiche, or cashew cream sauce (like this one)
- Lime wedges
- Hot sauce
- Corn chips or tortilla chips
- Warm corn tortilla for dipping
How to serve to littles
Chili powder on it’s own without any add in’s like jalapenos or hot sauce can be spicy to some palettes. When I make chili for my family, I usually use a slotted spoon to ladle out the chunky ingredients without any broth. I’ll then run them under water to rinse off some of the spice. Let kids add their own toppings to make it fun!
Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili (Dairy & Gluten Free)
Equipment
- Slow cooker / Crockpot
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 C finely diced yellow onion
- 1 1/2 C diced green pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 C beef broth
- 1 15 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 15 oz can kidney beans
- Optional garnishes: greek yogurt, cheese, avocado, diced onion, cilantro, etc.
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the avocado oil over medium heat. When hot, add the onion, bell pepper, minced garlic and 1 tsp salt. Saute, stirring, until the veggies are tender; about 8 minutes.
- Once the veggies are tender, add the ground beef and the remaining 1 tsp salt and the black pepper, breaking up with the edge of a wooden spoon, and brown; about 7 more minutes.
- Transfer the skillet mixture to the slowcooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients with the exception of the beans. Stir to combine & cook on Low for 6-8 hours.
- 15 minutes before serving, Add the beans.
- Serve with desired toppings & enjoy.
