Slow Cooker Chili Soup
Easy to make Slow Cooker Chili Soup is a hearty bowl of comfort food with an Italian flare! Loaded with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, veggies and seasonings, it simmers all day in the crockpot for the best rich flavor.
I love that with a slow cooker all you have to do is fill it up and let the crockpot do the work for you! This slow cooker chili soup simmers all day in the crockpot and results in a tender beef chili with loads of flavor.
I have been making this chili recipe for years! A friend of my mom’s gave it to us, but of course now I put an Italian spin on it. It is one of our favorite comforting bowls of soup and tastes amazing during the winter months, not to mention the aroma from the slow cooker is tantalizing!
While I love meatless soups like this vegetarian chili and hearty chickpea soup, this beefy chili bean soup in the slow cooker has become a family favorite!
Why This Is the Best Slow Cooker Chili Recipe
- Hands off: A few minutes of minimal effort prep and then this pot of chili simmers in the slow cooker all day and is ready when you need it!
- Budget friendly: Tender beef, fresh veggies and a few spices combine for a delicious and hearty dinner that is easy on the wallet and good for you too!
- Leftovers taste great: Slow cooking chili tastes even better the next day! Double the recipe to serve on game day today then have some chili meal prepped for busy days all week.
- Family friendly: This crockpot chili recipe is mild and the spice can be adjusted as needed for preference! It is also dairy free and can be gluten-free with the right Worcestershire sauce.
Slow Cooker Chili Ingredients
- Ground beef: I used lean ground beef but you can use whatever ground beef your family prefers.
- Onion and garlic: Both onion and garlic add aromatic taste.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds a savory depth to the slow cooker chili soup!
- Chopped tomatoes: Canned chopped tomatoes, San Marzano tomatoes or even fresh chopped tomatoes can be used.
- Beans: Cannellini beans, white beans or great northern beans.
- Borlotti beans: Pinto beans can be substituted or feel free to use classic chili beans like kidney beans or black beans.
- Spices: Hot pepper flakes or chili powder seasoning add just the right amount of spices.
- Salt: To enhance the flavor.
- Oregano: Adds a subtle earthy flavor to the chili.
- Vegetables: One fresh carrot and celery stalk.
- Water: Needed to thin the soup for consistency. Use beef broth if preferred for extra flavor.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chili Soup
To start, brown ground beef on the stovetop. Add the olive oil and ground beef to a medium or large skillet and cook on medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and saute until onion is translucent. Do not drain.
Transfer the beef mixture to the slow cooker then add the Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, beans, seasonings, chopped carrot, celery, and water.
Cover and cook on low heat. Adjust the salt to taste. Serve this slow-cooker chili recipe hot, topped with shredded cheese.
Substitutions and Variations
- Ground turkey: Substitute ground beef for ground turkey. You may need to add some extra olive oil when browning the turkey to prevent sticking.
- Seasonings: Try adding ground chipotle powder, smoked paprika or ground cumin.
- Crushed tomatoes: If tomato chunks or diced tomatoes aren’t a family favorite, use crushed tomatoes instead.
- Double the recipe: Need more of this best chili recipe to feed a crowd? Double the recipe and cook for the full 6 hours.
- Dried beans: If you would like to use ⅔ cup dried beans, soak them for at least 8 hours before cooking and add them to the slow cooker right at the beginning of cooking time.
- Vegetables: Add chopped green bell pepper or red bell pepper, corn or even jalapeno for a spicy chili.
Favorite Toppings for Chili
One of the best things about this best crockpot chili recipe is topping it how you like! Since everyone has their own preference for topping their bowl of chili, set toppings out family-style for easy customization!
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped green onions or red onions
- Avocado slices
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Pickled jalapenos
- Hot sauce
- Crushed tortilla chips
Expert Tips
- Avoid high heat: Low and slow should be adhered to for this chili soup in the slow cooker! It allows for the flavor to develop, the ground beef to tenderize and the vegetables to soften.
- Mushy beans: If you find that your beans are getting too soft, wait and add them right before serving.
- Flavorful spices: Bloom your spices for more flavor by adding them in during the last few minutes of browning the beef and onion.
- Thicker chili: Leave the lid off the crockpot during the last bit of cooking to let liquid evaporate.
Serving Suggestions
While this crock pot chili is a meal in itself, serving it with crusty Italian bread is always welcome! Cornbread is a popular pairing with chili and a side salad would round out the meal.
For some fun serving options, serve chili stuffed in a baked potato or make a chili dog by topping a hot dog with some chili. You could even make a chili mac by adding some to this macaroni and cheese.
Recipe FAQs
That really depends on your tolerance of spice and preference! While the recipe does call for 1-2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes or chili powder, you can use more less to your liking to increase spiciness or reduce spiciness for sensitivity reasons.
For texture and flavor reasons! If you add the raw beef and onions to the slow cooker it will not have the same taste and texture as it would if you brown them first. No one wants crunchy onions in their chili unless it’s a garnish!
Yes. No crock pot, no problem! Brown beef and onion as directed then add the other ingredients except canned beans and cook over low heat 2-3 hours. Stir in beans and heat thoroughly. If using soaked dried beans, add them to the pot with the rest of the ingredients.
How long does chili leftovers last?
Store leftover chili covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Chili just gets more flavorful the longer it sits and makes a wonderful lunch the next day!
Can I freeze chili?
Chili freezes really well! Cool completely then transfer to a freezer-safe container leaving some headspace at the top for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator then warm on low on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.
Slow cooker chili soup is a hearty, flavorful, and convenient meal that shows off comfort food at its finest. Whether you are serving it on a chilly winter evening, at a game-day gathering, or simply craving a satisfying and effortless dinner, it will never fail to impress! So, dust off that slow cooker and Buon appetito!
Slow Cooker Chili Soup
Equipment
- slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 14 ounce can chopped tomatoes or San Marzano
- 14 ounce can cannellini beans (or white or great northern beans)
- 28 ounces canned borlotti / cranberry or pinto beans
- 1-2 teaspoons hot pepper flakes or chili powder (or more if you like it hot)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½-1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 medium carrot chopped
- 1 medium celery stalk chopped
- 2¼ cups water
Instructions
- In a medium skillet add the olive oil and ground beef cook on medium heat for 2-3 minutes breaking up the meat with a spatula, add the chopped onion and garlic, sauté on medium until the onion becomes transparent. Do not drain.
- Transfer the meat mixture to the slow cooker, add the Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, drained and rinsed beans, hot pepper flakes, salt, oregano, chopped carrot, celery, and water. Cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours, taste for salt. Serve hot, topped with shredded cheese if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Updated from September 29, 2015.
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I made this yesterday. And it was amazing.
Thanks Don, glad you enjoyed it.
Everybody is working on chili!! It is so yummy and I love it with the cool weather. I’m glad you found a slow cooker — we finally got a new one our other one was avocado green — I think it was the original crock pot. Great recipe to have on hand for the crock pot.