Best Chili Recipe in a Slow Cooker
This is the Best Chili Recipe I have ever made in my crockpot/ slow cooker. It is so good! A vegetarian chili loaded with beans, tomatoes, and the right level of spice – it is a great meal for a cold evening. Grab the ingredients and add them to your meal plan this week!
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Best Chili Recipe
There is nothing more iconic in the fall than a big bowl of chili. Whether you are enjoying a bowl of chili next to a bonfire with friends, or simply serving up to your family – this is my favorite recipe.
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, and depending on the ingredients of your canned beans, it may actually be vegan. If you want to mix in ground beef, turkey, chicken, or even sausage, you can, but why mess with perfection?!
What are the Best Beans for Chili Recipe?
The combination of black beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans is my favorite. I prefer the ease of grabbing these in the canned goods department of my grocery store, but you could cook these from scratch and add to the recipe if you prefer.
If you have an aversion to any of these particular beans, you can add a second can of another type of bean, or even sub for cannellini or great northern beans. The only “bean” I am not a fan of in this recipe would be garbanzo beans. While a legume that might fit into other recipes, it doesn’t go well in chili, in my opinion.
You may also try something like a lentil in this recipe if you desired a different flavor and texture!
Can I Cook This on the Stovetop Instead?
If you are pressed for time and forgot to add this to your Crockpot earlier in the day, you can definitely cook this on the stovetop. It is much better when it has time to slowly absorb the spices into the sauce and beans. However, you can put in a large stockpot and simmer on the stovetop for 45 minutes to 1 hour and have a decent result.
Note: this can burn easily on the stovetop, so if cooking in that manner, make sure you check it regularly and stir well. You may even need to add additional liquid to prevent cooking down too thick.
What to Serve with this Crockpot Chili Recipe
This chili recipe is one of my favorite to make because it is so easy for my family to dress up to suit their individual taste buds. I love making a chili “bar” with tons of toppings and letting everyone pick what they prefer. Below are some of our favorite chili toppings.
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, Colby)
- Sliced jalapeno
- Diced onions, green onions, or chives
- Sour cream or Nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- Hot sauce or salsa
- Add in ground beef, ground chicken, or even ground sausage
- Serve over hot dogs or make into chili dogs
- Serve with cornbread, cinnamon rolls, tortilla chips, corn chips, or crackers
Ingredients
- Black beans
- Pinto beans
- Red kidney beans
- Chili beans
- Diced tomatoes
- Onion
- Chili spices
- Cajun spices
How to Make the Best Chili Recipe
You will begin by draining the black bean, pinto bean, and kidney beans and adding to your slow cooker.
Next, you will add in the remaining ingredients and stir until well combined.
Cover with lid and cook on low as directed. Occasionally open and stir to prevent sticking and to make sure all spices are mixed well.
Serve with your preferred toppings.
Ingredients
- 2 cans black beans
- 2 cans pinto beans
- 2 cans light red kidney beans
- 2 cans chili hot beans
- 2 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 Spanish onion, diced
- 1 package of chili spices
- 3 TBSP Cajun spices
Instructions
-
- Drain the juices out of the black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans.
- Pour the black beans, pinto and kidney beans in a crockpot.
- Add the chili beans, roasted diced tomatoes and the broth to the crockpot.
- Add the diced onion. Stir well.
- Add the chili spice package and Cajun spice. Stir well.
- Cook on medium for 4-6 hours.
- Occasionally stir the ingredients to incorporate all of the spices and other ingredients.
