Cozy Tailgate Crockpot Chili Recipe Easy and Perfect for Game Day
A simple, hearty crockpot chili perfect for game day, featuring slow-simmered beef, beans, and classic toppings like cheddar, sour cream, and green onions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes to 8 hours 20 minutes (low) or 3 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours 20 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced (red or green)
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 14.5 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup beef broth
- Optional: 1 jalapeño, minced
- Toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, fresh cilantro (optional), crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until onions are translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- While beef is browning, dice the bell pepper and mince jalapeño if using. Rinse and drain kidney beans and black beans.
- Transfer browned beef, onions, and garlic to the crockpot. Add bell pepper, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, rinsed beans, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. Add more salt, pepper, or chili powder if needed. If too thick, stir in extra beef broth or water.
- Prepare toppings: shred cheddar cheese, slice green onions, chop cilantro, and get sour cream and crushed tortilla chips ready.
- Ladle chili into bowls and garnish with toppings.
Notes
Browning the beef and sautéing onions and garlic before adding to the crockpot enhances flavor. Keep the crockpot lid sealed during cooking to retain moisture and aroma. Rinsing canned beans removes excess sodium and canned taste. Let chili rest 10 minutes after cooking to thicken. Can be made vegetarian by substituting beef with mushrooms and extra beans or lentils. For less spicy chili, omit jalapeño and reduce chili powder to 1 tablespoon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximatel
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 7
- Protein: 28
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