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    Home » Entrees

    Published: May 22, 2020 · Modified: Nov 24, 2020 · By Susan

    Lazy Slow Cooker Classic Chili

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    This slow cooker classic chili recipe is the easiest way to make a traditional favorite. Just toss the ingredients into your slow cooker and let them simmer away all day to produce a thick and flavorful favorite meal.

    white bowl with blue trim filled with beef and beans with a little melted cheese on top

    I heard a rumor once that there are people out there who don't like chili. I refuse to believe it! There are so many variations of this classic dish, there just has to be a chili for every preference.

    What is that, you say? You don't like beans? Bean-free chili recipes abound. You don't eat red meat or beans? We have got you covered. Chicken chili and turkey chili options are great. The list goes on and on.

    But sometimes, all you want is an easy, traditional chili. This easy recipe is for those times!

    top view of chili in a bowl with some cheese on top

    How To Make This Easy Chili Recipe

    The most labor-intensive part of this recipe is browning the ground beef. I am so lazy, that I even do that part in my slow cooker prior to starting this chili recipe (this is how I do it). After the beef is browned and ready to go, just add in some canned beans, diced tomato, tomato sauce, onion, seasonings and red wine. Give it all a good stir and leave your crockpot to handle the rest.

    Delicious Chili Hints and Hacks

    1. Classic chili freezes really well. I like to freeze leftovers in meal-sized containers for easy reheat-and-eat meals.
    2. There are lots of creative ways to serve this delicious chili recipe. In addition to serving in a bowl topped with sour cream and cheese, some other options include: chili stuffed potatoes, chili dogs (chili served on top of a hot dog) and chili bread bowls ( made by slicing the top off of a round roll and scooping out the insides) Chili shown in a bread bowl with melted cheese on a white plate
    3. This is a great dish if your people will be eating at different times. After the cooking time, turn your slow cooker to low and everyone can have a warm and filling meal, no matter what time they are ready to eat.
    4. This slow cooker recipe calls for chopped onions. To keep things as lazy as possible, I purchase these pre-cut. They are very inexpensive and generally readily available in the frozen vegetable section of your grocery store. This saves a lot of tears!
    5. I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price. Here are the liners I buy.
    6. In the market for a new slow cooker? Here is the one I am currently lusting after.
    a large spoon held over a crockpot contents  not yet cooked
    top view of chili in a bowl with some cheese on top

    Lazy Slow Cooker Classic Chili

    Crockpots and chili recipes are a match made in heaven. This hearty crockpot chili is the perfect set it and forget it dish. Add all the ingredients and let them simmer away all day to produce a thick, flavorful dish that will be requested over and over.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 hours
    Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 202kcal
    Author: The Lazy slow cooker
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    Equipment

    • 4 qt slow cooker or larger
    • slow cooker liner (optional)
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • Mixing Spoon

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs Browned ground beef I prefer to use the leanest I can get
    • 2 15oz cans beans I use one red kidney bean and 1 pinto bean
    • 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomato and liquid
    • 1 15oz can tomato sauce
    • 1 cup chopped onion frozen is great!
    • ⅔ cup chili seasoning (homemade or store made both work) see notes below for delicious, homemade chili seasoning
    • ½ cup dry red wine

    Instructions

    • Add browned ground beef and all other ingredients into slow cooker
    • Stir
    • Cook on low 8-10 hours (preferred) or 4-5 on high
    • Yep, thats it!

    Notes

    Homemade Chili Seasoning
    • 4 tbsp    chili powder
    • 1.5 tbsp  cumin
    • 1.5 tsp    Smoked paprika
    • 1 tsp       garlic powder
    • 1 tsp       onion powder
    • 1 tsp       salt
    • 1 tsp       black pepper
    • 1 tsp       cilantro
    add all ingredients into a jar and shake or stir to mix  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 628mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 4434IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 5mg

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Peter HOVE says

      June 30, 2021 at 2:51 am

      5 stars
      Loved it , excellent result and sooooo easy

      Reply
      • admin says

        June 30, 2021 at 8:01 am

        I love hearing that! Thank you for sharing!

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    Photo of Susan, the lazy slow cooker holding a large margarita

    Welcome to The Lazy Slow Cooker. I am so happy you are here! My name is Susan (yep - I am Lazy Susan!) and I am the recipe developer/blogger behind these posts. I am the mom of three amazing but super busy kids and the wife of one awesome and also super busy guy. All 5 of us have very different schedules and I would not survive mealtime without my crockpot. Read More…

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