Easy Cozy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Weeknight Dinner

Easy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for a cozy weeknight dinner. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to the perfect chili every time. The warm, hearty aroma of this chili will fill your home and make your family beg for seconds. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Vietnamese Caramelized Fish with Ginger and Vermicelli Bowl and Grilled Lemongrass Chili Corn with Sesame and Lime.

What You'll Need for Easy Cozy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Weeknight Dinner

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Optional: Shredded cheese
• Optional: Sour cream
• Optional: Chopped green onions
• Optional: Diced avocado
• Optional: Crushed tortilla chips

How to Make Easy Cozy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Weeknight Dinner

1. Step 1: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion, bell pepper, and garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
2. Step 2: Transfer the meat mixture to your slow cooker. Add the kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper (if using), and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. If the chili becomes too thick, thin it out with a little water or beef broth.
4. Step 4: Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Storing & Reheating Easy Cozy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Weeknight Dinner

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer. It also freezes well for meal prep.

Freezing Easy Cozy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Weeknight Dinner

Freeze individual portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 20-25 minutes or in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Microwave: Add a little water or broth to the chili before reheating to prevent it from drying out.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a smokier flavor, add a tablespoon of liquid smoke to the slow cooker.
• Best substitution: If you don't have ground beef, you can substitute with ground turkey, chicken, or a mix of ground meats.
• Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer. It also freezes well for meal prep.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your chili is too thick, thin it out with a little water or beef broth. If it's too thin, add a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of water to the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Easy Cozy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Weeknight Dinner

⏱

Prep

15 minutes

🍳

Cook

6-8 hours

⏳

Total

6-8 hours 15 minutes

🍽

Serves

6-8 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free, Low-carb

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

Seasonings

• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Optional Toppings

• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Chopped green onions
• Diced avocado
• Crushed tortilla chips

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion, bell pepper, and garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
2. Step 2: Transfer the meat mixture to your slow cooker. Add the kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper (if using), and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. If the chili becomes too thick, thin it out with a little water or beef broth.
4. Step 4: Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Notes

• Chef tip: For a smokier flavor, add a tablespoon of liquid smoke to the slow cooker.
• Best substitution: If you don't have ground beef, you can substitute with ground turkey, chicken, or a mix of ground meats.
• Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer. It also freezes well for meal prep.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your chili is too thick, thin it out with a little water or beef broth. If it's too thin, add a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of water to the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze individual portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 20-25 minutes or in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Add a little water or broth to the chili before reheating to prevent it from drying out.
• Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer. It also freezes well for meal prep.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 25g
• Fat: 15g
• Carbs: 28g
• Fiber: 8g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sat. Fat: 6g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Cozy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Weeknight Dinner FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Cozy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Weeknight Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!