The Best Slow Cooker Chili Has a Secret Ingredient (2024)

Updated: Apr. 09, 2024

Everyone has a go-to method for making chili, but this slow cooker chili recipe is our favorite. It's perfectly seasoned with just the right level of heat!

We might be a little biased, but we think this slow cooker chili recipe is the best chili ever! Whip up a batch as a perfect game day snack, or enter it in this year’s chili cook-off. It has all the beefy, spicy flavor you know and love, but we added a few secret ingredients that take things to the next level. Adding smokey bacon and pickled jalapeno slices really amps up the flavor, and we snuck in one extra ingredient that contributes a malty backbone to the slow-cooker stew.

How Do You Make the Best Chili Ever?

Everyone has a secret chili ingredient, and few people are willing to share theirs. We’ll tell you ours: it’s beer! How do you choose the best beer? Well, you can use any kind you like, but the style will affect the overall flavor. Darker beers like stouts and porters add roasty, robust flavors while lighter beers contribute more moderate levels of maltiness. Anything with a lot of hops (such as an IPAs or pale ales) will add a touch of bitterness to your chili, so it’s best to stick to the low-hop beers. Here’s more information about how to cook with beer.

Have some fun and play around with different styles. If you’re not a huge beer fan, we’d recommend starting with a lager like Shiner Bock or Negra Modelo.

Can You Put Raw Beef in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can totally cook raw beef in a slow cooker. Many slow-cooker chili recipes have a step for browning the beef before it goes into the Crock-Pot. While this step isn’t necessary, caramelizing the meat creates richer, bolder flavors. But, if you don’t want to clean the extra dish or you don’t have time to make it happen, feel free to skip this step!

Psst! Our Test Kitchen’s go-to slow cooker allows you to brown meat and slow cook in one pot. Learn more.

How Long Does Chili Take in a Slow Cooker?

If you’re browning your beef ahead of time, your chili can be ready in 4 to 5 hours on low (or, 2 to 3 hours on high). Because all the ingredients are already cooked, you only need to simmer the chili until the flavors meld together. If the meat is raw, increase the cooking time to 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chili

Taste of Home

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 pound bulk pork sausage
2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes with mild green chilies, undrained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with onions, undrained
1 can (12 ounces) beer
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeno slices
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried basil
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and chopped green onions, optional for garnish

Yield: 12 servings

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the beef and sausage

Start by browning the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. It may dirty an extra pan, but it’s totally worth it because it increases the depth of flavor. Cook the beef for 6 to 8 minutes until it’s no longer pink, breaking it up into crumbles as you go. Drain the fat and transfer the beef to a 6-quart slow cooker. Repeat the process with the sausage.

Step 2: Load up the slow cooker

Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker, except the optional garnishes. Stir until everything is well combined and cook, covered, on low for 4 to 5 hours. Since all the ingredients are already cooked, you only need to heat everything through and allow the flavors time to meld together.

Step 3: Garnish and serve

Ladle the chili into individual bowls and top with shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions, if using. Alternatively, you can spoon the chili over hot dogs, spaghetti, nachos or French fries.

Pro Tip: Don’t worry if you have a ton of leftovers! After the chili cools down, freeze it in individual portions or press it flat in gallon-sized freezer bags for easy storage. It will stay good in the freezer for 4 to 6 months.

For more chili-making secrets, check in with our Culinary Director, Sarah Farmer.

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Taste of Home

Game-Stopper ChiliThis hearty chili with sausage, beef, beans and barley is perfect for the halftime food rush. People actually cheer when they see me coming with my slow cooker! —Barbara Lento, Houston, Pennsylvania

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Get your cozy fix with these slow cooker soups, too!

White Bean Chicken ChiliMy sister shared this white bean chicken chili recipe with me. I usually double it and add one extra can of beans, then serve with cheddar biscuits or warmed tortillas. The jalapeno adds just enough heat to notice but not too much for my children. —Kristine Bowles, Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Try these healthy slow cooker recipes during the cold months, too.

Photo: Taste of Home

Slow-Cooker ChiliThis hearty slow-cooker chili can cook for up to 10 hours on low in the slow cooker. It's so good to come home to its wonderful aroma after a long day away. —Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana

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Is your slow cooker seeing a lot of action? Learn how to clean a slow cooker to keep it working great.

Flavorful White ChiliFor a tasty twist on conventional chili, try this low-fat version. It's packed with plenty of beans, tender grilled chicken and a zippy blend of spices. —Wilda Bensenhaver of Deland, Florida

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Want your chili faster? Learn how to convert slow cooker recipes into Instant Pot recipes.

Texican ChiliThis flavorful, meaty chili is my favorite, and it's so easy to prepare in the slow cooker. It's a terrific way to serve a crowd without last-minute preparation. I got the idea from my mother, who used her slow cooker often for soups and stews. —Stacy Law, Cornish, Utah

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