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Crockpot Chili Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 119 reviews

This hearty Crockpot Chili recipe combines savory bacon, ground beef, Italian sausage, and a blend of colorful vegetables simmered slowly with chili beans and diced tomatoes. Perfect for comfort food lovers, this chili is richly flavored with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and other seasonings, making it ideal for gatherings, meal prep, or a cozy dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Meats and Bacon

  • 5 slices bacon, chopped
  • 2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot

Vegetables

  • 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup finely diced celery (about 2 stalks)
  • 1 cup finely diced yellow onion (1 small onion)
  • 1 small jalapeño, finely diced (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic

Canned Goods & Sauces

  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 48 ounces chili beans (pinto beans in chili sauce, 3×16-ounce cans)
  • 56 ounces petite diced tomatoes (2×28-ounce cans)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Seasonings

  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 3 beef bouillon cubes, crumbled

Toppings (Optional)

  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Diced avocado
  • Sharp Cheddar cheese
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Lime wedges
  • Jalapeños
  • Corn chips

Instructions

  1. Cook Bacon: In a skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper-towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. Set aside for later.
  2. Sauté Vegetables: Leave the bacon grease in the skillet. Add finely diced red and green bell peppers, celery, yellow onion, jalapeño (if using), and minced garlic. Sauté over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and fragrant, about 5–8 minutes. Add the seasonings (chili powder, oregano, cumin, basil, seasoned salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika) and tomato paste, cooking for an additional 1–3 minutes to meld flavors.
  3. Transfer to Slow Cooker: Transfer the sautéed vegetables and seasoning mixture to the slow cooker crockpot.
  4. Add Beans and Tomatoes: Add the chili beans with their liquid, petite diced tomatoes with their juice, granulated sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and crumbled beef bouillon cubes to the slow cooker.
  5. Brown Meats: In the same skillet, turn the heat to high and add the ground beef and Italian sausage in batches if necessary. Brown and crumble the meat, ensuring it sears well rather than steams, to develop rich flavor. Cook until deeply browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
  6. Add Meats and Bacon: Transfer the browned ground beef, Italian sausage, and cooked bacon into the slow cooker. Stir all ingredients well to combine.
  7. Cook the Chili: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours to allow flavors to meld and the chili to thicken.
  8. Final Seasoning and Serving: Taste the chili and adjust seasoning as needed, adding salt, pepper, or more chili powder if desired. Serve hot with your choice of toppings such as fresh cilantro, sour cream, cheddar cheese, diced avocado, or corn chips.

Notes

  • This recipe fills a 6-quart slow cooker completely and yields a large batch suitable for weekly meal prep, chili cook-offs, or freezing.
  • For less heat, omit or reduce the jalapeño and cayenne pepper.
  • Popular toppings include sour cream or Greek yogurt, diced avocado, sharp cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, jalapeños, and corn chips.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave before serving.

Keywords: crockpot chili, slow cooker chili, hearty chili recipe, beef and sausage chili, comfort food, chili recipe for winter, easy crockpot meals

Find it online: https://islawhite.com/crockpot-chili-recipe/