Description
Savor the robust flavors of classic American Slow Cooker Chili, where tender beef and rich spices meld into a comforting one-pot meal. Warm bowls of this satisfying chili will bring family and friends together around the table with its deep, complex taste and soul-warming goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) lean ground beef (90/10 or 93/7)
Beans:
- 15 ounces (425 grams) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 30 ounces (850 grams) kidney beans, two 15 ounces cans, drained and rinsed
Vegetables and Spices:
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons cumin powder
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Tomato Base:
- 30 ounces (850 grams) diced tomatoes, with their juice
- 10 ounces (283 grams) diced tomatoes and green chilis, with their juice
- 30 ounces (850 grams) tomato sauce
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high flame and thoroughly brown the ground beef, breaking it into small crumbles while releasing its natural fat and developing rich flavor.
- Introduce diced onions to the skillet, sautéing until they become translucent and softened, then add minced garlic and aromatic spices like cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to intensify the meat’s depth of flavor.
- Carefully transfer the seasoned beef and onion mixture into a spacious slow cooker, ensuring all flavorful bits are scraped from the skillet.
- Pour black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes with their juices, tomatoes with green chilies, and tomato sauce directly into the slow cooker, gently stirring to create a harmonious blend of ingredients.
- Cover the slow cooker and allow the chili to simmer on high temperature for approximately 3-4 hours or on low setting for 6-8 hours, enabling the ingredients to meld and develop a rich, complex taste.
- After cooking, taste the chili and adjust seasonings as needed, ensuring a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
- Ladle the steaming chili into bowls and garnish with optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped fresh cilantro for an extra layer of texture and taste.
Notes
- Slow cooking transforms ordinary ground beef into a deeply flavorful, tender chili packed with protein and robust spices.
- Browning the beef before adding to the slow cooker intensifies the meat’s richness and develops a more complex taste profile.
- Layering multiple spices like cumin, chili powder, and oregano creates a well-rounded, authentic chili experience with balanced heat.
- Black and kidney beans contribute substantial texture, extra protein, and a hearty thickness that makes this dish incredibly satisfying.
- Cooking on low heat allows ingredients to meld together, creating a more integrated and depth-filled flavor throughout the entire dish.
- Customize your chili by topping with shredded cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, or diced green onions for added excitement and personal flair.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg