By Becky Hardin
Updated Sep 24, 2025
There’s nothing I love more than a set it and forget it recipe, and this crockpot chili delivers one hearty and satisfying meal that’s packed with all the good stuff— beef, beans, tomatoes, and so much more! I find it’s perfect for those busy weeknights, but great for game day and parties too.
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5-Star Review
“I have made this recipe 5 times since my family tried it, and we all love it. There are never any leftovers. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us!!!” – Adam
Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe
This crockpot chili always hits the trifecta for me—rich, comforting, and downright delicious! I love how the slow cooker does all the work, letting the flavors meld together into something hearty and satisfying. It’s become a true family favorite in my house. I usually take a few extra minutes to brown the meat first, and it makes all the difference, giving the chili that deep, rich flavor I can’t get enough of.
This crockpot beef chili is one of my favorite recipes to make for game day. It’s super easy to make (you can even make it ahead of time), it feeds a lot of people, and it goes with everything. I love to top it with my favorite toppings, and when there are leftovers, they taste even better the next day!
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Chili:
- ▢ 4 cups or more cold water
- ▢ 4 lbs. ground chuck
- ▢ 2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
- ▢ 1 large sweet yellow or yellow onion diced
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 3 tbsp chili seasoning or homemade
- ▢ 2 tsp kosher salt
- ▢ 1 tsp ground black pepper
- ▢ ¼ cup Heinz Ketchup plus 2 tablespoons
- ▢ 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- ▢ 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- ▢ 1 tbsp cider vinegar
- ▢ 24 oz. Tomato puree
- ▢ 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with juices
- ▢ 30 oz. black beans, drained & rinsed
- ▢ 30 oz. red beans, drained & rinsed
Toppings:
- ▢ hot sauce, cheese, sour cream, onions, black olives, avocado, crackers
Video
Instructions
For the Chili:
- Spray the inside of the slow-cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Set the it to HIGH and add 4 cups water. 4 cups or more cold water
- Brown the beef in a large skillet set over medium heat. Drain the fat and add the beef to the slow-cooker. 4 lbs. ground chuck
- Return the skillet to medium heat and add the oil and diced onions. Cook the onions until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes, and add the garlic. Cook an additional 30 seconds. 2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 large sweet yellow or yellow onion
- Add the onion/garlic mixture to the slow cooker and stir.
- Add all the other chili ingredients and stir well. Season to taste with salt, pepper and chili seasoning (if desired). Stir. 3 tbsp chili seasoning, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp ground black pepper, ¼ cup Heinz Ketchup, 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, 24 oz. Tomato puree, 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with juices, 30 oz. black beans, drained & rinsed, 30 oz. red beans, drained & rinsed
- Replace the lid, and cook on HIGH for 2 hours.
- The chili is ready at this point, but if it is thicker than what you love, add another cup or 2 of water and stir. Cook another 30 minutes for the flavors to meld.
- If the chili is too thin, remove the lid and cook 30-60 minutes or until it has reduced to the thickness you desire.
- Serve with your favorite condiments and toppings and crackers. Enjoy! hot sauce, cheese, sour cream, onions, black olives, avocado, crackers
Equipment
- Crockpot
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make Crockpot Chili Step By Step
Prepare the crockpot: Spray the inside of the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray, set it to HIGH, and add 4 cups of water.
Brown the meat: Brown 4 lbs. of ground chuck in a large skillet set over medium heat. Drain the fat and transfer the beef to the slow-cooker.
Cook the veggies : Using the same skillet, add 2 tbsp of oil and the diced onions and cook them until they are softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add 2 cloves of garlic and cook for 30 more seconds. Cook for an additional 30 seconds.
Transfer the onion/garlic mixture to the slow-cooker and stir.
Add the remaining ingredients: Add 3 tbsp chili seasoning, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp ground black pepper, ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons Heinz Ketchup, 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, 24 oz. tomato puree, 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with juices, 30 oz. black beans, 30 oz. red beans, and stir. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and chili seasoning.
Cook: Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours. If the chili is thicker than what you love, add another cup or two of water, stir, and cook another 30 minutes. If the chili is too thin, remove the lid and cook 30-60 minutes or until it has reduced to the thickness you desire.
Serve: Serve with your favorite condiments and toppings, and crackers. Enjoy!
How to Store
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days and reheat over the stove or in the microwave. To freeze leftovers, let them cool, then scoop them into small portion freezer containers (resealable bags work great) to freeze. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then cook in the slow crockpot on LOW until warmed through. You can also reheat over the store or in the microwave.
It’s best to eat it within two months so it still contains the same fresh flavor and thick texture. The longer it’s kept frozen, the more the flavor and texture change.
Serving Suggestions
This slow cooker beef chili is so hearty and filling, but it wouldn’t be chili if I didn’t add a dollop of guacamole and a drizzle of pico de gallo . For soaking up all the amazing flavors, I’ll make cornbread or buttermilk biscuits .
more chili recipes we love
Loaded Chili Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Chili Verde
Sweet Potato Chili
Buffalo Chicken Chili
Crockpot Chili Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
For the Chili:
- 4 cups or more cold water
- 4 lbs. ground chuck
- 2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
- 1 large sweet yellow or yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tbsp chili seasoning or homemade
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ cup Heinz Ketchup plus 2 tablespoons
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar
- 24 oz. Tomato puree
- 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with juices
- 30 oz. black beans, drained & rinsed
- 30 oz. red beans, drained & rinsed
Toppings:
- hot sauce, cheese, sour cream, onions, black olives, avocado, crackers
Instructions
For the Chili:
- Spray the inside of the slow-cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Set the it to HIGH and add 4 cups water. 4 cups or more cold water
- Brown the beef in a large skillet set over medium heat. Drain the fat and add the beef to the slow-cooker. 4 lbs. ground chuck
- Return the skillet to medium heat and add the oil and diced onions. Cook the onions until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes, and add the garlic. Cook an additional 30 seconds. 2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 large sweet yellow or yellow onion
- Add the onion/garlic mixture to the slow cooker and stir.
- Add all the other chili ingredients and stir well. Season to taste with salt, pepper and chili seasoning (if desired). Stir. 3 tbsp chili seasoning, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp ground black pepper, ¼ cup Heinz Ketchup, 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, 24 oz. Tomato puree, 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with juices, 30 oz. black beans, drained & rinsed, 30 oz. red beans, drained & rinsed
- Replace the lid, and cook on HIGH for 2 hours.
- The chili is ready at this point, but if it is thicker than what you love, add another cup or 2 of water and stir. Cook another 30 minutes for the flavors to meld.
- If the chili is too thin, remove the lid and cook 30-60 minutes or until it has reduced to the thickness you desire.
- Serve with your favorite condiments and toppings and crackers. Enjoy! hot sauce, cheese, sour cream, onions, black olives, avocado, crackers
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
