Ultimate Slow Cooker Chili
“Brrrr 🥶” is how I feel during the winter months! Thanks to the cave people who came up with fire pits, which eventually evolved into the fireplace! I’m not a winter person because I’m cold most of the time and my favorite spot in the house, besides the kitchen, is by the fireplace. Although I complain about winter often, the season gives me a good reason to cook nice, warm, and cozy meals.
My parents never cooked chili at home nor did I have it until my early twenties. Since my first spoonful 🥄 of that delicious dish, I’ve been hooked! Very simple but enormously satisfying, this is a staple in our kitchen during the lovely winter months – I think the intonation on the winter months qualifies as being slightly sarcastic.
Anyway, here’s one of my chili recipes I enjoy making and I call it the Ultimate Slow Cooker Chili! Making chili in a Dutch oven is very good and I use it often but when I feel lazy, I rely on my crockpot. It cooks slowly for hours ⏰ so the flavors have time to blend together.
To me, a slow cooker is like having your own personal chef 👩🍳👨🍳. You prep everything in the morning, throw the ingredients in the cooking vessel, set the timer, and forget about it. When you get home, dinner is ready and all you need to do is pull out a bowl, grab a spoon and a knife – that’s to spread the butter 🧈 on the yummy crusty bread you bought before getting home -, sit down, and enjoy this comforting Slow Cooker Chili!
One important thing to keep in mind is when using a slow cooker, often the food will taste bland 🥱. This is because of the sealed lid that traps steam, preventing the moisture (liquid) from evaporating and watering down the flavor. I like to leave the lid open at the end, and also, just 5 minutes before serving, I re-season the chili.
This Slow Cooker Chili is packed with a ton of flavor that blends so well together! It’s a great comfort food recipe that gives you a warm, cozy feeling inside… it’s so satisfying! With the Super Bowl 🏈 just around the corner, this can also be added to your list of party food recipes.
Bon Appétit!🍽
Besides this one, I have a few more chili recipes that are incredibly delicious 😋: my Turkey Chili Tex-Mex Style, Chili Cheese Fries, and Pumpkin Chili…they’re all amazing so check them out!
Here are more beautiful beef recipes for you to try…😀
– Veal Florentine
– Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps
– Pittsburgh Steak Salad
– Bolognese Sauce
– Veal Milanese
– Mediterranean Eggplant Casserole
– Beef Stroganoff
– Hungarian Beef Goulash
– Braised Beef Short Ribs with Sherry & Shiitake
and for even more slow cooker recipes 🥘, click on this link… Recipe Category • Slow Cooker
Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel 📽 by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube

Ultimate Slow Cooker Chili
Hover to scale
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. olive oil tips & tricks
- 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
- 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground pork
- freshly ground mixed peppercorns, to taste
- 3 cups red onions, finely chopped
- 1 cup red peppers, finely chopped
- 1 cup yellow peppers, finely chopped
- 1 cup poblano peppers, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp. chili powder
- 2 tbsp. ground cumin, or more to taste
- 1 1/2 tbsp. New Mexico chili powder (substitute chipotle chili powder)
- 1 tbsp. brown sugar such as demerara, or to taste
- 1 tbsp. chipotle pepper in adobo sauce tips & tricks
- 1/2 tbsp. hot sauce such as Cholula®, or to taste
- 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tbsp. smoked paprika
- 2 tsp. dried Mexican oregano (substitute oregano)
- 2 tsp. dark cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 5 cups pasta sauce, such as Prego Original®
- 1 can (19 oz.) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (19 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (4 oz.) fire roasted diced green chilies
- 2 large Roma tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped tips & tricks
- 6 large cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 can or bottle (12 oz.) beer of your choice *optional
- light sour cream, for garnish
- grated sharp Cheddar cheese, for garnish tips & tricks
- chopped green onions, for garnish
- 3-4 large lime wedges, for garnish
Directions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add oil. When it gets hot, add ground beef and pork. Cook until brown; season with freshly ground black pepper.
- Drain the meat in a colander and set aside.
- Return the skillet to the stove top and add onion. Sauté until almost translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add red peppers, orange peppers and poblano peppers; cook for 3 minutes.
- Transfer the drained meat to the slow cooker and add the pepper mixture; stir to combine.
- Add chili powder, cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, Cholula®, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, Mexican oregano, cocoa powder, cayenne pepper and beer; stir until well blended.
- Add kidney beans, black beans, Prego®, green chilies, Roma tomatoes and garlic; stir to combine.
- Cook on LOW for 6:30 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Halfway through cooking, quickly stir the chili (*see footnote).
- Just 10 minutes before time is up, taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions and a lime wedge along with crusty bread.
Notes
Don't forget to rate and comment on this recipe!

I use the same ingredients but I cook mine in a pot on the stove. The results are delicious. It makes a lot be prepared to eat it for a few days.
Absolutely. Both cooking vessels work like a charm. Yes, this recipe makes a lot. Have a fantastic day, Kenny 🌞.
super yum thanks
I followed the recipe as written and it came out perfect. The addition of cocoa powder makes the chili bolder. I never thought it would make such a difference. Thank you.
You’re very welcome, Mindy 😉. Oh my! Adding cocoa powder to savory dishes, like stews or chili, intensifies the flavor. I’ll be posting my Coffee Cocoa Rub in June. It’s a great recipe to have, especially during BBQ season. Enjoy your evening 🌛.
I make your pumpkin chili in fall and this one during winter. Both are delicious.
That’s awesome 😀! Have you tried Turkey Chili Tex Mex? It’s so delicious! Enjoy the rest of your day, Martha.
Frankie, you’re totally right when it comes to cooking in a crockpot; open the lid and always season again before serving.
… otherwise the chili will be a little bland. Enjoy your evening, Natasha 🌜.
It was fabulous!!
This is my Super Bowl chili! The boys love it!
totally delicious
It’s one of my go-to chilis. Just like Frankie, I add more seasoning at the end otherwise it’s a little bland.
J’ai bien aimé la recette. Merci.
Au plaisir 😉. Passez une belle journée, Pierre.
It was just okay. It was bland.
As I mentioned in the blog as well as in the directions, taste 🥄 and adjust seasoning just before serving. Have a nice day, Carmen.
Thanks for the share….I just taste that great chilli…
Thank you, Sandra! This is a great comfort food! Have a nice day🌞.
Now that was a great chili!!!
Thank you 🙏. I’m happy you enjoyed it. Have a fantastic day 🌞.
I’m sure Dorothy would love this recipe. It’s always a joy to have chili during the winter months. Have a nice day Francine.
I’m sure she will and I agree, it’s a great comfort food when it’s cold outside. Thank you Terry and you as well 🌞.