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Fall is upon us and nothing beats the crisp air and dropping temperatures like a nice hearty bowl of slow cooker chili. Full of spices, this delicious chili is a set it and forget it kind of dish. Just a few minutes of prep and the slow cooker does the work! The perfect fall meal to keep you cozy when it’s cold, or to spice up that football tailgate!
Slow Cooker Chili
The best thing about this chili is how simple it is to prep. The slow cooker does most of the work, so all you really need to do is set it and forget it. Start by browning 1lb of ground beef, 1lb of ground pork, and a diced white onion. I like the fatty richness of ground pork, but you can also use 2lbs of ground beef (I recommend 85/15), or even bison! For a little extra flavor, I sometimes use 1lb of breakfast sausage as a sub for plain pork. Make it your own and use what you have.
Next, drain the fat and add all of the meat to a slow cooker. Now pull out our can openers. To the slow cooker, you will also add:
- 2 14.5oz cans of petite diced tomatoes
- 2 15oz cans of tomato sauce
- 1 15 oz cans of dark kidney beans
- 1 15 oz can of light kidney beans (or 2 dark)
- 1/2 cup of hot sauce
- 2 heaping tbsp chili powder
- 1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder (my secret ingredient!)
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 2 tsp onion powder andgarlic powder
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp black pepper
And that’s it! Give it all a big stir and adjust the spices and hot sauce to your taste. Cook on low for 5 hours or on high for 3 hours, enough time for the meat to get tender, and the spices to really blend together. Serve immediately with whatever toppings you’d like!
Chili Toppings
The best thing about slow cooker chili is how customizable it is! There are countless things you can top this chili with, or use the chili to top! Finish your bowl with any of these:
- Shredded Cheddar
- Diced Red Onions
- Sliced Jalapenos
- Cilantro
- Sour Cream
- Hot Sauce
- Corn Chips
- Fries
- Hot Dogs
- Burgers
Pick one or mix a few up! Either way, this chili makes for a fun and easy dinner, and everyone gets a bowl they love! This is the perfect meal for fall, football season, tailgate parties, and just a weeknight dinner
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Slow Cooker Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef I used 85/15
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 medium white onion diced
- 2 14.5 oz cans petite diced tomatoes
- 2 15oz cans tomato sauce
- 2 15oz cans dark kidney beans or 1 can of light and 1 can of dark
- ⅓ cup hot sauce
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1½ tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp salt
- ½ tbsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a saute pan, cook beef, pork, and onions until the meat is cooked through and the onions are translucent. Drain the fat and add meat to a slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker, adjusting seasoning and hot sauce to taste. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours, or on low for 5 hours. Serve topped with cheese, sour cream, corn chips, and/or red onions.
