This easy Slow Cooker Hearty Beef and Bean Chili is a comforting, nutritious meal perfect for busy days. Packed with tender beef, beans, and rich tomatoes, it’s a flavorful dish you can make with pantry staples. Ideal for chilly evenings, it’s versatile and pairs wonderfully with toppings like cheese, sour cream, or crispy tortilla chips.

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Recipe Ingredients

• 2 lbs (908 g) ground beef
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 (14-oz / 397-g) cans of kidney beans, drained
• 2 (14-oz / 397-g) cans of pinto beans, drained
• 1 (14-oz / 397-g) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (6-oz / 177-ml) can tomato paste
• 1 (24-oz / 709-ml) can tomato juice
• 1 tbsp (8 g) chili powder
• 1 tsp (5 g) salt
• ½ tsp (2.5 g) pepper

How To Make Slow Cooker Hearty Beef And Bean Chili

1. Cook the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Combine ingredients in the slow cooker: Transfer the cooked beef, diced bell pepper, diced onion, kidney beans, pinto beans, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato juice, chili powder, salt, and pepper to a 6-quart (6-L) slow cooker. Stir everything together.
3. Cook the chili: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Recipe Tips

• Brown the beef first: Cooking the beef in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker helps remove excess grease and adds more flavor to the chili.
• Drain the beans: Make sure to drain and rinse the canned beans to avoid extra liquid and any canned taste in your chili.
• Use fresh spices: For the best flavor, ensure your chili powder and other spices are fresh, as older spices may taste dull.
• Stir occasionally if possible: If you’re home, stir the chili once or twice during cooking to mix the ingredients evenly and prevent sticking.
• Adjust the heat level: If you prefer spicier chili, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some chopped jalapeños to customize the spice to your liking.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

Check out More Recipes:

• Slow Cooker Green Curry Of Tofu And Vegetables
• Slow Cooker Fresh Tomato And Capsicum Pasta Sauce With Lemon Ricotta
• Slow Cooker Fragrant Tofu And Vegetables In Coconut Broth