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Crockpot Chili

Posted on by Alyssa
Crockpot Chili, semi homemade, easy dinner, crowd pleaser, crockpot, chili

This crowd-pleaser is semi-homemade to cut some prep time before slow cooking in your crockpot!

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Every year at the start of football it’s a tradition in our home for me to make my crockpot chili! Chili is definitely one of those recipes everyone has. I know you are probably thinking well what’s so special about your crockpot chili? I’ll get there but first off when it comes to cooking that’s not my favorite thing to do so the easier the better. This recipe uses some store-bought ingredients making it a semi-homemade easy dinner. I am definitely the baker in our house and my husband does more of the cooking. That doesn’t mean I don’t like cooking or I don’t cook but it just means my savory recipes will be really easy because I’d rather just throw things in the oven/crockpot/instant pot/or on the stove and walk away.

My crockpot chili recipe does require the crockpot but if you are in a rush you can do this on the stove for about 30 minutes to an hour (longer cooking means better flavor). I prefer using my crockpot since it cooks nice and slow helping to develop those flavors. Bonus, you can put a liner in your crockpot, and once dinner is done throw the liner out and there’s less clean up! I know the person who washes the dishes in your home is happy to hear that.

Crockpot Chili, semi homemade, easy dinner, crowd pleaser, crockpot, chili

What is different about my crockpot chili?

I actually use salsa as part of the base but that’s not the only thing I do. My husband has bad heartburn from almost anything so I like to throw cinnamon in my chili, it isn’t much but I find it really helps with the acidity. Lastly, chocolate! Yup, you read that right I put chocolate in my chili. I know you are probably saying gross, but seriously it really deepens the flavor of an already awesome crowd pleaser. I started with just cocoa powder but then I said what the hell I’m putting both in! Don’t put in sweet chocolate though, stick with bittersweet, even semi-sweet is okay, dark is great too, stay away from milk it’s too sweet. Chocolate is what sets my crockpot chili apart! If you like it spicy and have a really good chili oil I recommend you cook your aromatics and meat in that. Every time I make my chili, as a side I always have my Simple Toaster Oven Honey Cornbread, which can easily be made in either the toaster oven or regular oven.

Procedure

While this chili is easy, it isn’t completely hands-off. I like to pack this chili with onions and peppers, so aside from the salsa which has onions and peppers I like to chop up some extra and cook them in a large skillet prior to cooking my meat. Next, I cook the ground beef and while it’s cooking I throw all of the other ingredients into the crockpot. Finally, once the meat has browned and there is almost no pink I strain the fat with this nifty snap-on strainer, cook just a touch longer till there is no pink, then throw it in my crockpot. I then give everything a really good mix and set for 6 hours on low!

Crockpot Chili, semi homemade, easy dinner, crowd pleaser, crockpot, chili
Crockpot Chili, semi homemade, easy dinner, crowd pleaser, crockpot, chili

Crockpot Chili

This crowd-pleaser is semi-homemade to cut some prep time before slow cooking in your crockpot!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 6 hrs 10 mins
Total Time 6 hrs 15 mins
Course Main Course
Servings 8 people

Equipment

  • Crockpot

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil or chili oil for an extra kick
  • 1.5 lbs ground beef more if you like it really meaty
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 pepper chopped
  • 1 14 oz can zesty chili diced tomatoes
  • 2 14 oz cans tomato sauce
  • 1 15oz can red kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 jar chunky salsa
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tbsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
  • 4 oz chocolate dark or bittersweet semi sweet is okay but no milk chocolate
  • 1/4 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder optional
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

Instructions
 

  • in a large skillet heat up 1 tbsp of oil, sauté onions and peppers until translucent over medium heat. When they are done put them in your lined crockpot.
  • To the same skillet, add the other tablespoon of oil, and once hot add your ground beef, salt, pepper, and garlic powder it, then break up the meat. Continue breaking up the meat until there are no chunks, continue to let it cook.
  • While the meat is still cooking combine the rest of the ingredients into your crockpot. Once your meat is browned and there is barely any pink, drain the fat, next let it cook just a bit longer making sure there is no pink.
  • Add your cooked ground beef to your crockpot and set it for 6 hours on low. Serve hot with your favorite toppings and some cornbread!

Notes

Make sure you don’t use sweet chocolate!
If you are sensitive to cinnamon and don’t love it, skip it.
If you like it spicy I recommend using chili oil in place of the olive oil
This makes enough for 8 people, great for leftovers. Keep in the fridge for 3-4 days and 4-6 months in the freezer.
 
Keyword chili, crockpot, dinner, easy, semihomemade, texmex

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