Nothing beats the chill like chili!
There’s no doubt about it…fall is in the air. The trees are putting on their annual show, all dressed up in red and yellow. The nights are growing longer, and there’s a distinct nip in the air by the time everyone comes in for supper.
Which means, of course, that it’s a perfect time for chili. Isn’t it funny how something so warm and cozy is pronounced just like “chilly”? On the other hand, maybe that makes perfect sense, since it goes so well with chilly weather.
This recipe is a spin-off of my husband’s Famous Vegetarian Chili, the recipe that won my heart—by way of my stomach—all those years ago. The main difference is that it’s now made in my favorite appliance, the crockpot. With the help of this go-to kitchen tool, you can now put a pot of chili on to cook in the morning and have a hot meal ready and waiting when everyone comes home in the evening.
The other tweak on the recipe is that I’ve created a heartier, meaty version of the chili for all my non-vegetarian readers. It’s just a little bit more work than the veggie version, since you have to brown the beef with a touch of seasoning before you toss it into the crock, but it gives this dish a definite stick-to-your ribs boost. But vegetarians needn’t worry…you can still make this a veggie-friendly dish by substituting your favorite brand of soy crumbles.
Serve it up hot, with your favorite toppings. We love it with corn chips and cheese, but sour cream is good too. And if there’s any left over, don’t worry—it will keep beautifully in the freezer, ready to be thawed out on a day when you were too rushed even to load up the crockpot in the morning.
Easy Crockpot Chili
- After beef is browned, and grease drained, place in crockpot. Add in kidney beans, tomato sauce, tomatoes, chili seasoning and water. Stir until well combined.
- Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings, such as cheese, sour cream or corn chips!
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TOOLS USED FOR THIS EASY CROCKPOT CHILI
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Easy Crockpot Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef browned
- 2 15 oz cans dark kidney beans, drained
- 1 14.5 oz can of tomato sauce
- 1 14.5 oz can tomatoes
- 1 packet of chili seasoning
- 2 cups water
- cheese for topping
- corn chips for topping
Instructions
- After beef is browned, and grease drained, place in crockpot. Add in kidney beans, tomato sauce, tomatoes, chili seasoning and water. Stir until well combined.
- Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings, such as cheese, sour cream or corn chips!
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Bruce Rockne says
Easy. Quick and DELICIOUS. I added a second pound of ground meat to this recioe along with a second packet of chile mix. I also added a chopped up green pepper and a chopped up onion.
David says
I added a can of drained black beans just because I could
Delish
Sherry Ratliff says
I used Red Gold crushed chili ready tomatoes. Do I still need tho use who packet of chili seasoning
Corey says
Sorry Sherry, I have only made the recipe as written so I can’t say for sure. Maybe start with some of the packet and add more later if it is to your liking?
Elijah says
Do I drain the diced tomatoes??
Corey says
No. You want the whole can, liquids and all.
Pat Burt says
I made this yesterday but two things….. I’m not sure why it takes so long to cook since everything is already cooked when you put it in the crockpot and also even after cooking for hours the canned taste was still there with the diced tomatoes. I must say it is incredibly easy to make but I don’t think I’ll be making it again.
Elodie says
I never really had Chili before and always look for recipe that is easy to do in the crockpot. I’m not a cook by far and when I found this recipe I thought… I can sure try that. Boy it was the best decision ever! SO good! WOW! Yes I messed up the recipe and didn’t put enough red kidney bean but it was a feast! Thank you so much for the recipe!! Is there an other simple recipe like this one that I could make??
Corey says
So happy you loved it Elodie. A lot of my crockpot recipes are just about as easy as this one. Heck, most of the recipes are pretty simple on this site. So don’t be afraid to give some a try 🙂
Laura says
Making this now. If I double the meat do I double all other ingredients too?
Corey says
Yes. I would double everything
Katie Jones says
We make this all the time in the fall and winter! YUM!
Jim says
I don’t add the water and use 2lbs of hamburger and cook on high for 5 hours..
Turns out great, What do you think.
Dia says
If I double the recipe what size crockpot would I need
Corey says
I would use a 6-8qt
Francesca Bonomolo says
can i use an onion in it?
Corey says
Yes, if you would like to add onion to it, that should work out just fine.
Tracy campbell says
Very easy and tasted great family loved it
Jane says
I used this recipe for my very first time making chili, with some of my own added ingredients like onion and peppers, my husband and I loved it! I cooked on low for 6 hours. Perfect ratio of meat and beans
Christi says
Made this last night! Delicious! I used beef broth instead of water and the chili alarm kit in addition to “hot” chili packet seasoning for a little spice. I also chopped half an onion into my meat while it was browning. It was topped w/ shredded cheese, green onions and sour cream and served w/ jiffy cornbread🤩
Cassandra says
I ❤️ this recipe! This was actually my first time making chili and this recipe was so easy, I’m kicking myself for not doing it sooner. The ingredients at my local grocery store were inexpensive, making this dish around $10? And with ready made stuff, minus the meat, prep was fast and easy. I will definitely make this again- it was absolutely delicious!
Rhonda Southern says
I loved this simple recipe. It exceeded my expectations and it was so easy. I followed the recipe exactly. This is my new go to chili recipe!
Corey says
Yay! So happy you loved it!
Susan Brown says
I doubled the recipe except for the water because I like my chili thicker. Will that be okay? I have a large crock pot so it shouldn’t boil over I hope?
Corey says
Ive only made the recipe as written Susan, so I can’t say for sure. If you try it would you let us know how it turned out?
Anna Costella says
Can I make this with ground Turkey instead?
Corey says
Yes! ground turkey is a great substitute