Description
Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili is a hearty, flavorful comfort dish made with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and spices. Cooked low and slow, it develops rich, bold flavors and tender textures, making it perfect for family dinners, game days, or cozy nights in. This hands-off recipe delivers indulgent taste with minimal effort and works well for gluten-free or low-sodium diets.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs ground beef (90/10)
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp cumin seeds
- 2 tbsp mild chili powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup lager beer or beef stock
- 1 can (4.5 oz) green chiles
- 2 cans (15 oz each) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- Olive oil, for sautéing
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Garnishes:
- Sour cream
- Grated cheese
- Chopped chives
- Crispy tortilla strips
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spatula (7–8 minutes).
- Stir in onion, garlic, cumin seeds, chili powder, oregano, and cinnamon. Cook for 2–3 minutes to release aromas.
- Pour in beer or beef stock, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
- Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker.
- Add green chiles, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Stir well to combine.
- Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper before serving.
- Serve warm with desired garnishes.
Notes
- Toasting the spices before adding enhances flavor depth.
- Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent sticking.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey.
- To make it vegan, use plant-based crumbles and vegetable broth.
- Add chipotle peppers, bell peppers, or corn for extra flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on low) or 4 hours (on high)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1½ cups)
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 80mg