The Best Crockpot Chili
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Crockpot chili is the best chili ever! It slow cooks all day for an amazing flavor that everyone will be sure to love. It will be your go-to recipe for an easy chili recipe. It’s perfect to warm up to on a cold winter’s day. It gets its amazing flavor from the spices including chili powder, garlic salt, cumin and oregano. We love topping it with sour cream and cheese or layering it on top of corn chips for a fun twist. You’ll see us enjoying this all winter long!
This Crockpot Chili is cooked all day long for an amazing flavor! It’s my go-to recipe for Slow Cooker Chili and everyone loves it. You’ve got to try it today. Plus, it almost makes the cold weather enjoyable! ?
I love that it’s a mostly “dump and go” recipe that can cook all day long, just like this Crockpot Italian Chicken.
Simply brown the hamburger, mix everything together in the crockpot and then let it simmer to develop the flavors. If getting it ready in the morning stresses you out a short cut is to prep everything the night before. Then just pull it out of the fridge and pop it in your slow cooker!
Another one of my favorite twists on this recipe is Crock Pot Chili Mac! The kids LOVE this because it include noodles! Or, if you have a pressure cooker, you might like to try my Instant Pot Chili.
What do I need to it?
If you’d rather skip my (very helpful, I think) tips and tricks, essential cooking info, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this delicious recipe – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
- Hamburger
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Onion
- Tomato sauce
- Chili beans
- Chili powder
- Garlic salt
- cumin
- Oregano
How do I make Crockpot Chili?
- Brown Hamburger – In a skillet brown the ground beef and drain.
- Combine Ingredients – Combine all of the ingredients in the slow cooker, stir to combine. Cover and cook on low all day, 8-10 hours.
- Eat – Garnish with your favorite toppings!
How to make it on the Stove Top
The first step to making easy chili on your stove top is to brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat then drain the grease.
After that mix together the rest of the ingredients into a large pot along with the hamburger. Simmer this over low heat for at least one hour, stirring occasionally.
Can you put raw ground beef in slow cooker?
Yes, you can. We recommend cooking it on high so the internal temperature comes up to 140 degrees F within 2 hours, which is a safe temperature.
How long should you cook chili?
Chili only needs about 30 minutes to simmer on the stove top, but we like to let it simmer longer than that to develop the flavors!
Should I drain ground beef chili?
The only thing you will need to drain is the grease off the ground beef when you prepare it before adding it to the Crockpot.
Can you cook hamburger in a crockpot?
Yes, you can cook hamburger in the crockpot, but it takes about 2-3 hours on high. Since we want the chili to cook 8-10 hours it would add significant time to your total cooking time so we prepare it in a skillet on the stove top.
How do you fix chili that’s too spicy?
The best way to tone down a chili that is to spicy is to add more beans or tomatoes. You can also add dairy to it when you are eating it like topping it with cheese or sour cream!
WOW I’m glad I tried this Crockpot Chili again. It’s simply amazing. It will quickly become your family’s go-to recipe for chili! The secret….cumin.
Curl up in front of your fireplace with a big bowl of this Famous Chili and warm up!
More great chili recipes to try and enjoy!!!
- Easy Chili Recipe
- Light Crock Pot Spicy Turkey Chili Recipe
- Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
- Crock Pot Chili Mac
WATCH THE STEP BY STEP VIDEO FOR THIS CROCKPOT CHILI RECIPE BELOW:
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Which is your favorite? Be sure to comment below, I definitely want to hear from you!!! Are you like me and snap photos of everything you eat? Be sure to tag me on Instagram @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats that way I’m sure to see your pictures!!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs hamburger browned
- 2 14.5 oz cans petite diced tomatoes
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 30 oz can tomato sauce
- 15.5 oz can chili beans
- 2 c. water
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 4 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp oregano
Instructions
- In a large Crock Pot mix all ingredients together.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
- Top with sour cream and cheese if desired.
Tips
After a hour add chili powder, garlic salt, cumin and oregano. Simmer for an additional 2 hours. Top with sour cream and cheese if desired.
Lance says
I cooked this up on a stovetop. I didn’t use any hamburger. I used some leftover smoked brisket, cut into half inch chunks. I added about 2 pounds of brisket. It was very tasty and will be cooking this again.👍
Julie Evink says
Oh man that sounds amazing Lance. I’m going to have to try that!
Jessica says
Question you said this recipe makes 16 servings but how much is a serving size?
Rayne says
I’m going to make this chilli but I just want to do 1 lb of ground beef, what size can of tom sauce and diced tom
And cumin, & oregano ? Thank you there is only 2 of us and we don’t eat that much
Julie Evink says
Oh that’s a hard one because you are essentially cutting it into 1/3s and the cans don’t convert. You could cut it in half which would be easier and only use 1 lb of ground beef. Another idea is to make it and freeze half. This is freezes GREAT!
Lindsey says
Hi! I’m not sure what you mean by chili beans. I just searched my Walmart app and it has some pinto beans in a chili sauce. Is that what it calls for or is another mean I should be using other than pinto?
Julie Evink says
Just type in Chili beans, they usually are in chili sauce 🙂
Indira says
Hi! Do you recommend draining/rinsing the chili beans before putting them in the crockpot?
Michelle Sperr says
Hi Indira! Thank you for your question. I don’t drain or rinse my chili beans for this recipe. There are lots of different levels of spice/heat you can find in the grocery store so you can really make this chili to your liking! Hope that helps!
Elizabeth says
How can I modify if I don’t want to add beans?
Julie Evink says
Just leave them out.
Morgan says
I have about 2 hours left on it. Will some of the liquid go away still it seems a little watery still
Julie says
Yes, it should cook down just a bit!
Alyse says
How many hours on high in the crock pot
Julie says
4-6 hours on high
Sammy says
Can I use fresh garlic ? How much should I use ?
Julie says
Yes, definitely! I would use 3-5 cloves of garlic minced.
Shelby says
Hello!
If I’m doing stove top, what heat should I set it at?
Thank you!
Julie says
Bring to a low boil then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally.
April says
How many people does this feed?
Julie says
I would say it could easily feed 4-6 people.
Christina Lee says
Any idea on what the serving size is? A cup?
Julie says
I would say 1-1.5 cups.
Erika says
Can I brown the meat the night before?
Julie says
Yep that would be fine!
Katie says
How long will the food need to be in the crock pot if the meat has already been browned?
Michelle Sperr says
Hi Katie! I cook mine in low for 8-10 hours!
Taylor says
Do you add the water with everything too? I didn’t see it in the video
Julie says
Yes, mix the water in with everything else in the crock pot.
Smith says
can I use marinara sauce instead of tomato sauce??
Julie says
It will change the flavor a bit but if you’re in a pinch, I think that would work!
Kimberly Sarti says
can i put the slow cooker on high to cook faster?
Julie says
Yes, that would be fine. Cook on high for 3-4 hours.
Tracy says
Hi Julie..can I cook 1/2 the time in the crock pot if I out in high? I think it’d be okay but I just want to ask somebody that knows more than me lol ty
Julie says
Yes, that should be fine!