The Best Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

Learn how to make chili in the slow cooker, tips to perfect slow cooker chili, and why chocolate helps pull out a bitter flavor that develops a rich, meaty flavor that will make this chili your favorite recipe, ever!

At Ajpal, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Slow Cooker Chocolate Chili

We’re sharing our secret to delicious, easy, rich chili right from your slow cooker…. it’s one you wont ever expect….

today we’re sharing how we add CHOCOLATE to chili to help give a balanced, rich, and delicious bitter flavor that takes this chili over the top, and completely addictive.

Trust me – this is one chili you’re never going to forget!

You’ll love this delicious, chocolatey twist on real comfort food.

This recipe is amazing for gameday, picnics, BBQs, and more – its great with burgers, or on it’s own – and is delicious when you dip buttery soft dinner rolls in it.

• Set and forget – after browning the meat and vegetables, this recipe practically cooks itself. Toss it in the slow cooker and you’ll come back to an amazing meal!
• Grab the cornbread – we love serving this with a piping hot serving of our sour cream cornbread.
• Top with fritos, cheese, sour cream, and chives! Let guests top with their favorite chili fixings.
• Great over hot dogs – if you want the ultimate chili dogs, look no further – this chili is great ladled over dogs!

We hope you love this recipe as much as we do!

How To Make Chili In The Slow Cooker

While this chili is essentially a one pot meal, you will first need to brown and crumble your ground beef on the stove, and we recommend browning vegetables for the most flavor.

Browning vegetables before adding to the slow cooker isn’t strictly essential, but it gives a lovely caramelized flavor, better color, and keeps vegetables from going rubbery and too soft when cooking in the slow cooker.

A little browning does wonders for the color and texture ahead of this chili – don’t skip this important step!

Follow these steps:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef to the man and cook until brown, breaking the beef up as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Drain the beef and add it to a slow cooker.
2. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan with the diced onion and pepper and cook until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic paste, chili powder, cumin, and paprika to the skillet with the vegetables and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly so the garlic doesn’t burn.
4. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker.
5. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beans, and beef stock to the slow cooker and stir in the sugar, salt, and pepper.
6. Cook on high for 2 to 4 hours or low for 5 to 6.

Tips and Tricks For Perfect Slow Cooker Chili

This chili is super simple to make, but there are a couple tips to making perfect chili, every time.

Be sure to brown vegetables and meat separately – brown meats and vegetables before adding to slow cooker for the best flavor.

Add more heat – this dish is only a very little bit spicy, it is ok for young children to eat. Please add additional jalapeños or cayenne pepper for a spicier chili.

Shop the look: click here for the white bowls we served this chili in.

Click here to buy the red plaid napkins.

FAQs

Technically this chili is fully cooked whenever it is piping hot – but we will continue to cook until it has thickened. Since we will be browning and crumbling ground beef before adding into chili, we will be cooking it past the minimum temperature needed for food safety.

This chili can be stored in an airtight container for up to four days in the refrigerator, or up to four months in the freezer.

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Chili

We love serving this chili with delicious Easy Sour Cream Cornbread, The Best Easy Beer Bread, Easy No Knead Bread, Bacon Wrapped Cheddar and Garlic Jalapeno Poppers, The Best Crispy Baked Chicken Wings, and more!

Find some of our recent favorite easy side dishes that go great alongside a big bowl of chili:

Creamy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Pan-Fried Zucchini

The Best Air Fryer French Fries

Butter Poached Potatoes

BBQ Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon

Grilled Potatoes

Charro Beans

Scalloped Corn Casserole Recipe

For more of our side dish recipes, find our complete side dish recipe archives here.

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