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Isha Joe

Classic Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

An easy Slow Cooker chili recipe with Ground Beef, beans, tomato sauce, and the best homemade chili seasoning. It putters away in the slow cooker for the juiciest beef and rich flavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 10 People
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Tex Mex
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb lean Ground Beef, (85/15 fat content)
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 Tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 30 oz diced tomatoes, with their juice
  • 10 oz diced tomatoes and green chilis, with their juice
  • 15 oz tomato sauce

Method
 

  1. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté beef until it releases fat (4-5 minutes), breaking it up with a spatula.
  2. Add onion to the skillet and sauté until tender (4-5 minutes). Add minced garlic and seasonings: cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt* and pepper. Cook another 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Transfer to a 6 Qt slow cooker.
  3. Add remaining ingredients into the slow cooker: rinsed and drained beans, diced tomatoes with their juice, diced tomatoes and green chilis with juice and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Season to taste if desired and serve warm.

Notes

If you’re sensitive to salt, start with 1 teaspoon and add more to taste at the end. Canned beans and tomato products also vary in salt content, so add salt to taste. 
Recipe was updated in May 2026 to make it more flavorful. The original recipe had 3 garlic cloves, 30 oz kidney beans, and 30 oz tomato sauce.