Crockpot Chili

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This Easy Crockpot Chili recipe has dozens of 5-star reviews and has been awarded “winner” in multiple chili cook-offs!

Loaded with ground beef, Italian sausage, beans, veggies, tomatoes, and the ultimate homemade chili seasoning, this slow cooker chili recipe is the absolute best!

Up-close and overhead shot of the Crockpot Chili in the slow cooker.

The Best Way To Cook Chili Is In the Crockpot

First things first: this chili isn’t your typical “dump it and forget about it” crockpot recipe, unlike most of the slow cooker recipes on my blog.

Instead it’s made better by being slow cooked. 

  1. Slow cooking is the 1st secret to an award-winning chili recipe. This ensures all the flavors meld together perfectly, tenderizing the beans and veggies, and making the meat so tender and juicy it’s irresistible!
  2. The second secret is browning beforehand. Instead of throwing everything into the crockpot, sautéing the veggies and browning the beef first adds layers of flavor thanks to the Maillard reaction. Browned meat equals more flavor. 

Slow Cooker Chili Ingredients:

  • Smoky Flavors: Bacon adds a unique, smoky flavor that’s not common in chili but makes a big difference!
  • Veggies: Sweet bell peppers, crunchy celery, and onions bring in sweetness and texture. Like it spicy? Jalapeños are for adjusting the heat.
  • The Base: Chili beans and diced tomatoes create a hearty foundation, while tomato paste makes it rich and thick.
  • Meat: Tender ground beef and flavorful Italian sausage pack the chili with texture and flavor.
  • Flavor Boosters: A mix of spices add flavor and warmth, with a hint of sugar to balance things out. Worcestershire adds some tanginess, garlic for extra flavor, and beef bouillon to make it all taste even meatier.

QUICK TIP

Spicy Crockpot Chili: As written this chili does have a kick! To make it more mild, leave out the jalapeños and reduce the chili powder. Be sure to serve it with cooling toppings like plenty of cheddar and sour cream!

Step-by-step process photos showing how to make this chili recipe starting with the bacon and veggies sautéing; then adding all of the ingredients to the cooker.

How To Make Crockpot Chili

  1. Fry Bacon: Cook until crisp, remove, and keep the grease (hello flavor!)
  2. Cook Veggies: Sauté bell peppers, celery, onion, and jalapeño in bacon grease.
  3. Brown Meat: Cook ground beef and sausage, drain, and add to crockpot.
  4. Combine in Crockpot: Add veggies, beans, tomatoes, and tomato paste to the crockpot.
  5. Add Bacon: Crumble cooked bacon into the mix.
  6. Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

What Toppings Go With Chili?

We love serving this crockpot chili family-style, letting everyone build their own perfect chili bowls with their favorite toppings. Here are our go-tos:

  • Cheeses: Shredded sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper Jack.
  • Fresh Additions: Chopped cilantro or a squeeze of lime add nice fresh flavor. 
  • Creamy Toppings: Dollops of sour cream or Greek yogurt help balance the spice.
  • Crunchy Additions: Tortilla chips, Fritos, or saltine crackers for a nice crunch.
  • Avocado: Sliced or diced for a creamy contrast.
  • Spicy Elements: Jalapeño slices, hot sauce, or chili flakes for those who like it extra hot.
  • Onions: Diced red or green onions for a sharp bite.

How To Serve Slow Cooker Chili

Crockpot chili is great for leftovers because it stays good in the fridge and is super versatile. Here are our favorite ways to enjoy it:

  • Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes: Try my secret method for baking potatoes in half the time! Then load ’em up with leftover chili and toppings.
  • Navajo Tacos: Spoon chili onto fry bread, then add cheese and sour cream.
  • Taco Salad: Mix a few spoonfuls of chili into your salad base and dressing.
  • Chili Shepherd’s Pie: Spread leftover chili as the base, then cover with mashed potatoes.
  • Chili Mac or Chili Dogs: Combine chili with mac-and-cheese or spoon it over grilled hot dogs for a hearty meal.

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Crockpot Chili Recipe (Cook-off Winner!)

4.99 from 206 votes
Here's a delicious Crockpot Chili with dozens of 5-star reviews and winner of multiple chili cook-offs! This Crockpot Chili recipe is made with plenty of spice and packed with lots of flavor.
Print Recipe

Crockpot Chili Recipe (Cook-off Winner!)

4.99 from 206 votes
Here's a delicious Crockpot Chili with dozens of 5-star reviews and winner of multiple chili cook-offs! This Crockpot Chili recipe is made with plenty of spice and packed with lots of flavor.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword chili recipe crock pot, crockpot chili, easy crockpot chili
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 30 minutes
Servings 10 -12 large servings
Chelsea Lords
Calories 620kcal

Ingredients

  • 5 slices hardwood smoked bacon chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup (~2 stalks) celery, finely chopped
  • 1 cup (~1 small) yellow onion finely chopped
  • 1-2 small jalapeño peppers, optional* seeds removed and finely diced
  • 30 ounces chili (pinto) beans in medium sauce
  • 15 ounces chili (pinto or kidney) beans in mild sauce
  • 56 ounces petite diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 pounds (32 ounces) ground beef chuck
  • 1 pound (16 ounces) Italian sausage

Seasonings

  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt & 3/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 3 regular-sized beef bouillon cubes
  • Optional: fresh cilantro, sour cream, freshly grated sharp Cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and dab off the excess grease. Set aside.
  • Reserve the bacon grease in the skillet. Remove the stem and seeds from the peppers. Finely chop.
  • Finely chop the celery. Remove the peel of the onion and finely chop. Chop the jalapeño pepper and remove the seeds if desired -- leave them in for extra heat.*
  • Add the peppers, celery, onion, and jalapeño pepper to the skillet with the reserved bacon grease. Saute the veggies over medium heat until tender. Transfer to the slow cooker.
  • Add in the three cans of chili beans (undrained and do not rinse), petite diced tomatoes, and tomato paste.
  • In the same skillet used to cook the bacon and veggies, cook the ground chuck and Italian sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain off all the fat and add to the slow cooker.
  • Add all the seasonings to the crockpot. Crumble the bacon (or chop) into very small pieces and stir that in the crockpot. Or reserve the bacon in the fridge and add at the end. Stir everything together.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Taste and adjust seasonings (salt, pepper, chili powder, etc.) Enjoy with fresh cilantro, sour cream and Cheddar cheese.

Video

Recipe Notes

I use a 6-quart slow cooker and this chili fills it to the top! It makes a lot, which we love to eat throughout a whole week, take to a chili cook-off, or freeze in batches. *The jalapeño pepper(s) adds a lot of heat. Omit or reduce as desired.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 620kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 2264mg | Potassium: 1791mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 2165IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 165mg | Iron: 9mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.

A delicious crockpot chili with dozens of 5-star reviews and winner of multiple chili cook-offs! This crockpot chili recipe winner is made with plenty of spice and packed with lots of flavor! via chelseasmessyapron.com #crockpot #slowcooker #chili #easy #quick #dinner #kidfriendly #beans #sausage #beef #cookoff #contest
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Recipe Rating




562 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      Love this recipe! Would like to prepare another batch but I can’t find the chili beans in medium sauce. Any thoughts on how I can adjust the seasoning s?

      1. Chili beans in mild sauce are also great and if you’d like it a little bit spicier, add in some extra chili powder, slowly to taste!

        1. 5 stars
          Made this to take to the guys in the field during harvest-nice & thick and they loved it!
          I couldn’t find the medium sauce beans either so I used 2 mild and 1 hot 🙂

      2. 5 stars
        I made this for my husband who is a total foodie snob– and he loved it! He said this is THE chili recipe of all time. Thank you 🙂

        1. Yes, but some stores don’t always have the medium in stock. I’ve only been able to find mild, sadly.

    2. 5 stars
      Made this for the fire department one weekend. Was a hit with everyone on shift, and it was super easy to make and leave alone (read: forget about while on a call). I’ve already made plans to make it again!!

  1. I made this according to the recipe, turned on my crock pot, worried at how full it was but gave the recipe the benefit of the doubt, and left for my daughter’s basketball tournament. Thankfully I was able to come home in between the morning and afternoon games because it was a horrendous mess on my counter. I had to pour the chili into a big roasting pan, put it in a low temperature oven, and clean the counter and my crock pot. It’s a 6 quart Rival Crock pot. How in the world is that supposed to work? It tastes good but WHAT A MESS!! How am I the only one with this problem?

    1. That is so strange Collette! I’ve made this dozens of times and heard great things from readers and never had it escape the crockpot! Did you put it on high or change the recipe in any way? I too have a 6 quart and it has never even come close to coming out… Was it boiling over? If so, it may be that the heating elements of your crockpot are off.

      1. It was on low and I followed the recipe. No clue. I just know that if I fill my crock pots (embarrassingly I have 4!) to the very top it always boils over. Does yours not come to a boil or does it not fill it to the top?

        1. Haha! Not embarrassing at all, I have 2 and looking at getting a third haha! 🙂 Mine do fill pretty close to the top with this recipe, but a good inch of space left and I’ve never had something boil over. I did a quick search of your particular crockpot (Rival 6 quart) on Amazon and it looks like a lot of reviewers have had problems with it getting too hot, so that could be it? It shouldn’t be a boil, but a slow simmer. I hope that helps, so sorry about the mess, that is no fun 🙁

          1. Mine overflowed each time I’ve made it. I went ahead and purchased an 8 quart just for this chili!! Everyone loves it 🙂

        1. I love him, but my wife doesn’t so I’m gonna try this recipe today. We’re gonna cut back on the jalapeño cayenne paprika and the chili powder. Also, make sure you using a mild sausage, the sausage, and really heat things up.
          I’ll let you know how things turn out for my chili as I am planning on tripling the bacon and adding Kabasa to the mix?

      2. My husband has a horrible bean allergy if I wanted to make without beans is there anything else I need to add?

      3. 5 stars
        Been making this recipe for a couple years now and haven’t even bothered trying any others. Best recipe I’ve ever found by far

  2. 5 stars
    You are *officially* my favorite person because this recipe helped me win a chili cook-off! Hooray! It really is the best though. and didn’t change a thing. Thank you Chelsea!

  3. 5 stars
    I made this yesterday. About a dozen people and they ALL loved it. The only thing I changed was I added a few canned chipolte peppers.

    Incredible recipe. Thank you Chelsea.

    1. Oh YAY!!! That seriously makes me so happy to hear that! And the chipotle peppers addition sounds incredible! 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    Made the bacon chili in slow cooker yesterday- YUMMMOO I love mushrooms so added some as well. Awesome recipe and is definitely a keeper thanks ??

  5. 5 stars
    Thank you Chelsea… We took 1st place in the Chili Cookoff Challenge this past week!

    Not bad for a guy who has never made Chili … EVER!

  6. 5 stars
    I made this last week for the first time and this is the best chili I have ever had and or made. I finished off over 1/2 the crock pot by myself. (took a couple day) and never got tired of eating it. Two Thumbs up on this recipe.

    1. So happy to hear that; what a compliment!! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment Bob 🙂

      1. I made a second batch in a 7 qt. Crockpot and brought with me to work. I arrived at 830 am and it was still warm from the night before. At 845am one of my workers grabbed a bowl and that’s all it took. By 10.15am it was gone. They are requesting another batch next week.

  7. I’m on a low sodium diet, if I reduced the beef bouillon to 1 cube or maybe left them out all together, do you think it would destroy the taste?

    1. I don’t think it would destroy the taste, but it will be a little less flavorful. You can leave it out and add one after a taste test if you want!

  8. I notice in the video you use what looks like Knorr brand bullion cubes. These are usually one cube to two cups of water-while other brands are one cube to one cup of water. So if I don’t use Knorr brand should I be adding 6 cubes?

    1. I’m wondering if the video is making them look larger than they are; I used the regular sized bouillon cubes (1 cup to 1 cup water) Hopefully that helps!

  9. Could I add beer or some other type alcohol(bourbon maybe) to this? If so, what amount would you think? Considering adding either a bottle of beer or 1/4 to 1/2 cup bourbon.

  10. This recipe looks so delicious! I’m planning to make it for a family party this weekend. I do have a question for you, when you let it sit in the fridge overnight, do you still cook it in the crockpot 6-8 hours first and then cool it down and refridgerate over night? Or do you cook everything and mix it all together, but rather than cooking it in the crockpot at this point put it in the fridge and then the 6-8hours in the crockpot is done the next day? Thanks for your help!

  11. So excited to make this for a chili cookoff tomorrow! Had a quick question — have you tried cooking this on high (for 3-4 hours or so) and then refrigerating overnight, instead of low for 6-8 hours?

    1. I hope you take home first place! 😉 I have never tried cooking this on high, but I do find I like beef soups/stews/chilis (other ones I’ve tried) best on low.

      1. It says in your recipe to use 2 cans of beans in mild sauce and one in medium sauce but I didn’t see the medium used in the video (nor can I find it at the store). Can you explain this step? I’d love to make it this weekend.

      1. 5 stars
        This was the best chili recipe. I took second place in a cook off. Next time, I will use San marzano tomatoes and follow the bean ratio. AMAZING since I am not a chili expert chef. Thx for sharing your recipe.

  12. 5 stars
    We took 3rd last year in our chili cook off using a 22qt roaster. Getting ready to fire it up for this year but can’t remember what temp we used. Our toaster doesn’t have low-medium-high settings. Thoughts?

  13. 5 stars
    I want to thank you so much for this recipe. My son called and ask if I would make a pot of chili for a chili cook off at his work. He just called me and your recipe took first place with just a few minor changes. I used smoked paprika,
    1/2 t cayenne pepper, 1/2 t chipotle powder, 1/4 C. Green Tobacco sauce, better than bouillon, and only 1/2 a jalapeño. It turned out amazing. My son was proud of me and that makes me so happy. Thanks For Sharing,

    1. Ahh this made my day!! Those changes sound like they would be great! Seriously you are such an awesome mom! Thanks Melanie! 🙂

  14. This looks great and I’m looking forward to trying it this week. But if I want to leave out the sausage, should I replace with another lb of beef?

  15. 5 stars
    I’m not a fan of beans, so I’m not a huge fan on chili. My daughter’s first birthday party was this weekend and we had a chili bar. I grabbed this recipe offline, had good reviews and looked easy. It was a great decision!!! Everyone at the party raves about how great it was! Apparently it is extremely similar to a family friend’s late mother’s recipe; which is a huge compliment as her mother was an incredible cook. I will definitely be making this a staple for chili cook offs and other events!

  16. 5 stars
    I read where you said that you made this in a 6 quart but I only have a 4 quart so I did it on the stove because I have a 6 quart pot and it still turned out amazing. Low and slow for 4 hrs and I’ve never made chili before. This is even better than my mother’s(RIP) recipe. My kids licked their bowls clean.

  17. I made this according to directions last night .. it filled to the top lip of a (Rival) crockpot but did not boil over. Two thoughts: one, no where in the recipe did it say to drain the grease from cooking the ground chuck and sausage. While that was my natural inclination (kinda gross otherwise) I did drain off a full 16 oz can of grease. If I had not, that 16 oz would have put the crockpot overflowing at some point. I know it sounds logical to drain it off, but since it’s “no draining” on the beans, and the tomatoes, perhaps there was confusion there. I might also guess that depending on the fat content of the beef/sausage, some may cook down more than others – mine was close enough to the top that an extra cup might have made a difference. This chili is now on it’s way to a support station for a team of 41 mile hikers (the full Maryland AT trail segment) as a benefit to Operation Second Chance and I am sure they will all be grateful for this fabulous chili! Thanks!

  18. 5 stars
    I am very excited that I found this recipe. I had originally planned on doing a dump and cook meal but this looks way better. But I need some clarification. I want to do this right and prepare this in advance (a day) and then wake up the day of the potluck lunch and put the chili into the crockpot, warm it up, come home, grab the crockpot and take it to the potluck. Do I warm this on “Low” or “Keep Warm” setting? I will probably want to pick it up around 11:00 AM to have it at the potluck by 11:30 AM.
    I did google reheating Chili in a crockpot and got all kinds of articles about food poisoning so as much as I want to make a good impression with the chili, I don’t want to make anyone sick. Obviously you have done this a time or two so wanted to ask how you have reheated the chili after refrigeration. Thank you in advance for your response.
    Sincerely,
    Mark L. Ferguson

  19. 5 stars
    Sounds great going to try soon. Can I use home canned salsa with jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, and onions?

  20. If I make this the day before in my crockpot, then refrigerate overnight. How do I re heat it in the crockpot? Put it on cook low?? Thank you

      1. 5 stars
        I’m excited to make this for a chili cookoff! After refrigerating overnight, how long do you suggest heating it on low the following day?

  21. Im making your crockpot chili and my question is concerning the bouillon cubes.
    In the video it looks like you’re crushing them into the pot dry but someone asked about water. Do I crush them in dry or dissolve them in water?

  22. Hi Chelsea!
    I have a question, I over looked the ingredients and bought 2 cans of pinto beans and 1 can of kidney beans. None of them are in chili sauce. What would you recommend I do? And would I drain the juices?

    1. I would drain and rinse the pinto and kidney beans. Without the chili sauce, you might just want to bump up some seasonings to taste. Enjoy!

    1. I wouldn’t recommend either because they’ll turn the chili into more of a soup consistency. The boullion cubes gives the flavor without all the extra liquid!

  23. 5 stars
    Best.Chili.Ever! I rarely follow a recipe exactly but almost did with this one! I did substitute 2 cans black beans to the three cans in the recipe since I’m not a huge fan of beans. And I like chipotle chili powder better than cayenne. It’s smokier and although hot, doesn’t quite pack the punch of cayenne. Anyway, I love this chili and although it’s not one of those ‘just throw in a couple items in the crockpot’ recipes, it is so worth the effort. YUM!

    1. Oh yay!! I am thrilled to hear you loved this chili!! Thanks so much for the comment Melissa 🙂

  24. 5 stars
    Hands down the best chili I have ever made. I followed the recipe exactly as written and the chili turned out perfect. Had a crowd in (and boy does this feed a crowd) and everyone loved it. Still had enough left over to freeze.
    Thank you!

  25. I modified this to fit into a 4qt crockpot and made it for dinner for some friends. It did not disapoint. They really enjoyed it.

    1. That’s what I’m going to try tomorrow, – Rotel in place of diced tomatoes…I’ll let you know!! Cheers!

  26. Hi, Chelsea, this looks delicious and can’t wait to try it. I love that this is done in a crock pot. I do have a question about the bouillon. Have you ever used or tried “Better Than Bouillon”? Just wandering if that could be used in place of the cubes. Thanks for any help you can give me. Have a wonderful and blessed day. :).

  27. 5 stars
    Hi Chelsea, this looks delicious and can’t wait to try it. I do have a question about the bouillon. Have you ever used or tried “Better Than Bouillon” in this chili? Thanks for any help you can give me. Have a wonderful and blessed day. 🙂

  28. 5 stars
    Omgoodness!!! This chili came out wonderfully delicious!!! My husband did the shopping for the recipe and preferred to leave the jalapenos out, (which I kind of wanted) so I added a little bit more cayenne…I have never in my life tasted chili this good. I tried to make my mom’s recipe last winter, with no success, but I cannot wait for her to try this!!

  29. 5 stars
    To go along with my first reply…Seriously, I let this cook 6 hours and let my husband taste it, we both had three bowls right now!! I wanted to let it refrigerate and reheat as you suggested, it’s too delicious! And I really am not a big fan of chili, but this is beyond delicious! Thanks again! Looking forward to using your other recipes…and eating this tomorrow after it marinates more

  30. I’m excited to try this! But what on earth are chili beans in mild/medium sauce? I’ve never heard of such a thing. I wonder if it’s regional- I’m in NYC, & found your page from a quick google.

    In any case, I’m going to make this tomorrow, but with jalapenos in adobo sauce instead of straight jalapenos. I could eat that adobo sauce stuff straight from the can!!!

  31. 5 stars
    I made your recipe a few days ago minus the jalapeno’s. My family has a more sensitive pallet to heat then I do! Lol. Thank you sooo much for publishing this recipe. It was absolutely delicious and a perfect way to warm up from the cold and snowy day. I will definitely be making it again!

    1. Haha I’ll take the jalapeño out depending on my crowd too! I’m so glad you guys enjoyed! Thanks so much Melissa! 🙂

  32. I haven’t made this yet – wondering how spicy it is and if I can make a mild version? Our kiddos don’t love spice, but they do like chili! And bacon ?

    1. Hey Lonni! I would leave out the jalapenos, use all chili beans in MILD sauce, and potentially decrease the chili powder, cayenne, and paprika (add slowly to taste!) Enjoy!

  33. 5 stars
    This is awesome. I also added some tortilla flour for a thicker consistency and won 1st place in a chili contest. thanks for the wonderful recipe!!!!!

  34. 5 stars
    I won a Contest with this Recipe. However, I made a few minor changes. I smoked the ground chuck and my sausages in the smoker. I also did not add the celery. Came out Perfect!

  35. 5 stars
    This is the best chili I’ve ever eaten. Sorry I did have to modify the recipe for my son who doesn’t eat beef or pork. I used 3 lbs of ground turkey instead. I also added a can of chipotle salsa, used smoked paprika, and replaced 1 can of tomatoes with Rotel as I was afraid the turkey would be bland. It filled my 6 qt slow cooker to the top and everyone loved it, it was gone in 2 days. I’ll try it one day with the beef, sausage and bacon, I’m sure the flavor is even better. Thanks for posting I added this to my favorite recipes binder!!

    1. I’m so thrilled to hear this makes it in the favorite recipes binder! 🙂 Thank you so much for the comment and review Karen! 🙂

    1. It is definitely thick! But as it slow cooks, a lot of liquids are released. I wouldn’t add water unless you’re looking for a soupier consistency!

  36. 5 stars
    I made this chili exactly as per the recipe for Super Bowl. I used hot Italian sausage. Absolutely amazing!! I will never buy a seasoning packet mix again. I made this on Saturday, put in the fridge overnight and re-heated in the crock pot on Sunday. Amazing. The sour cream on top with grated sharp cheddar and a fresh sourdough loaf for dipping was just amazing!! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe.

  37. 5 stars
    We had a chili cook off at work and I signed up even though I’ve never made chili. I love cooking and when I read your recipe it had all the right elements; texture, technique, good ingredients, and above all great advice! Im happy to announce I just won our first chili cook off with this recipe! It had it all, great aroma, two types of beans, two types of meat, great aftertasteand bacon! Great job Chelsea! Definitely going to come back here for other recipes!

  38. 5 stars
    Hey Chelsea!
    I made this chili last night and followed the recipe exactly, however the consistency is very much like soup. I love to cook, but this is my first time making chili. Do you have any tips for thickening without much flavor or texture compromising because honestly it’s SO good! 🙂
    I’m a huge fan of your blog by the way!

    1. Hey Annielaura! So happy you enjoyed it! The best way to thicken this chili is to make it ahead of time and let it chill overnight in the fridge. It will absorb a ton of liquid and be super thick the next day (and bonus even more flavorful!) 🙂 Thanks so much for your kind words, glad you’ve been enjoying the site <3

  39. 5 stars
    We love this recipe. It’s the only chili we make now. We add a few more jalapeños or sub serrano peppers and add a bit more bacon cause we love bacon! Regardless it’s awesome every time!

    1. Was i supposed to drain the diced.tomatoes before adding them to crockpot? There is alot of liquid in the crockpot.

      What should indo?

  40. Am I the only one who wants to hear the chili cook off story!? What chili cook-off did you win? Or did you adapt the recipe from another winner? Can’t wait to hear the story!

    1. Hey Maris! Just read through the comments; many readers have reported winning their chili cook-offs with this recipe! 🙂

  41. I am making the chili as I write this the recipe calls for 1 tbsp of minced garlic. Is that dried minced garlic or fresh?

  42. Trying this recipe tomorrow. Just wondering if I were to add macaroni noodles, how do you suggest adding those in the process? I was maybe thinking to just cook the noodles separate and then dump the chili over the noodles.

  43. 5 stars
    Thanks for the great recipe. Won 2nd place at chili cook off at church this weekend. Even my daughter that doesn’t eat ground beef or chili tried it and loved it.

  44. Hi! I am having people over tomorrow and serving this chili! Can’t wait to have it. Could you please give me info regarding serving size. I track my food everyday to help me stay on goal and it would really help me if I had an idea of serving size.
    Thanks so much!

    1. Hey Donna! I hope you and your guests love it 🙂 There are 10-12 servings, so if you divide all of the chili into 10 or 12 equal parts, each equal part is one serving. (The nutrition facts indicate 12 servings, so you’d divide it equally into 12 parts and each part would be 275 calories) Enjoy!

  45. 5 stars
    Made this today while preparing for the Bomb Cyclon snow storm here in Denver. I usually make Green chili but decided on this comforting red chili. By far the best chili I have ever had!!! I substituted 1lb of beef for some grnd Viel I had on hand. Only put 1 can of tomatoes because I couldn’t fit it in my crockpot? It is fabulous Chelsie! Thanks for the recipe!

  46. 5 stars
    This recipe was quite good. I followed the directions to a tee and made no tweaks to it. I found the recipe to be a little salty for my taste.
    We did think it has a nice kick of heat to it. Next time I would reduce the cayenne for the kids sake.

  47. The recipe is basic. It really is. But you forgot Cocoa or a piece of high cocoa chocolate and a bay leaf. Also Mexene Original Chili Powder is the only one to use.

  48. Adding sausages could give another flavor in the crockpot chili. Definitely serving this for a family dinner, every member of the family will enjoy this. Thank you for sharing!

  49. 5 stars
    GREAT recipe! I make it with ground turkey, turkey sausage and turkey bacon. My husband always politely ate my chili before but raves about this! We have it on baked potatoes then freeze the rest to eat with pasta, rice or as is! Thanks!

  50. 5 stars
    I’ve been craving chili lately even now it’s summer, I still cant resist. This recipe was so so good!

  51. 5 stars
    I made this for a company potluck and it was a huge success!! Followed the recipe ingredients, just changed the preparation. Mixed all except 1/2 tomatoes and 1/2 the beans the night before, refrigerated the mix overnight. Mixed all in crockpot the next morning and cooked on low for 8 hrs. Since luncheon was at noon, it was an early start but well worth it!

    1. Hello! I am so excited to try this chili but I saw that some people said it had a good kick to it. My husbands not a fan of spicy foods and I would rather it not be too spicy for my daughter. I’m not sure how spicy it comes out but if I reduce the cayenne, will that be enough? Or do you recommend I reduce ingredients elsewhere??

      Thanks so much!

      1. It is spicy! I would leave out all of the cayenne pepper, leave out the jalapeños, and use a mild chili powder brand (maybe 2-3 tablespoons instead of 4 — add slowly!). Also use all chili beans in a mild sauce. Enjoy!

    1. Yes it should be naturally gluten free; I was just confirm with all your spice bottles they weren’t processed in a gluten environment. Also be sure to check the bouillon cubes packaging.

  52. I’m always looking for new chili recipes. This one didn’t disappoint! Even my pickier non-chili-loving kids ate it. The amount of spice was just right. I especially enjoyed the peppers and celery. Also, nice to see you’re still replying to comments so many years after the original post.

    I’m going to tweak it a bit and use it in a cook off next weekend. I plan to increase the bacon, the flavor seemed lost. I also want to boost the sweet/savory-ness. Perhaps a bit of brown sugar, and more seasoned salt? What do the boil lion cubes add?

    1. Hey Jonathan! So happy to hear this was a hit 🙂 Thanks for the comment! I think those changes all sound great; add salt slowly so it doesn’t get too salty with the additional bacon as well! The bouillon cubes add a burst of flavor and intensify the flavors of the meat; (similar to what adding stock would do to the recipe but we don’t want it to be too liquid-y for a chili) Good luck on your cook off!

  53. I’m planning to make your chili for a Chili cook-off at my camp grounds this weekend. I know that different brands can make all the difference in a recipe. What brand beans, tomatoes, and tomato sauce did you use? I am very exciting about this recipe after reading all the comments.
    Thanks for your help,
    Jenny-First time chili contestant

    1. Good luck Jenny!! I use Bush’s Beans and Muir Glen or San Marzano tomatoes (organic) fire-roasted tomatoes and tomato sauce 🙂

      1. Thanks for your reply. I couldn’t find the tomato brands you used but I did find hunts fire roasted tomatoes. I do have one more question in the instructions I didn’t see if you sauté the garlic or add it to the crockpot raw.

  54. 5 stars
    This recipe turned out perfect!! I use my slow cooker all the time so I was happy to try a new recipe. We love chili and we’ll be making this again! So much flavor!!

  55. 5 stars
    I loved this so much. The bacon was a touch I never thought of! Also… totally trying the leftovers as Shepherd’s Pie tonight.

  56. 5 stars
    Love it. Almost ate an entire batch just taste testing it. Made again for a chili cookoff we’re having today. Slightly altered it and used
    -1lb bacon, 1lb ground bison, 1lb prime ground chuck, 3 diced habaneros, 2 diced jalapenos. Didn’t have any bullion so used 1cup beef bone broth and 2tbs brown sugar to cut some of the heat. Thanks for the inspiration!

  57. This is probably such a weird question but — I do not like chunky tomatoes in my chili but with two cans it seems like the tomatoes are a big portion of this chili so I don’t just want to omit altogether. Do you have a recommendation of what I could switch that out with? Replace with tomato sauce and add more beans or something//

    Thank you in advance!!

    1. Hey Jill! Not weird at all; I would try crushed fire roasted tomatoes instead! I think tomato sauce would be too overpowering. Hope that helps 🙂

      1. Thanks Chelsea I will try that! I live in Houston and its FINALLY supposed to be “cooler” this weekend so I can’t wait to try it.

  58. I’ve never made chili before and when I was searching for a recipe to try for my family I came across yours. It was so different from all the others I saw that I just had to try making it. I just finished preparing everything and put it in the crockpot. I’ll let you know how the family liked it tomorrow.

  59. 5 stars
    My extremely picky husband raved about this. I only used 1lb of ground beef as opposed to 2lbs. This was the only change that I made. Turned out perfectly! I will definitely make again soon and freeze for future meals.

  60. 5 stars
    This is the best recipe, I made a few teaks to make it my own and its always a huge hit. I have won two chili cookoffs with it.

  61. 5 stars
    I made this last night, fired up the crock pot today and just had my first bowl. It was AMAZING! I have made a bazillion different chili recipes and this was sooo good. It’s not fancy. It’s simply a fantastic hearty chili with a wonderful layer of flavors.
    And for the record, I have never left a comment or feedback about a recipe I’ve tried. This chili is THAT good. 🙂

  62. Hi from Chicago!
    I made this recipe this past week – overall, flavors were fantastic, but I definitely made some adjustments. I only used half a pound of Mild Italian sausage instead of 1LB, and used just one TB of Chili powder instead of four. I also just used ONE can of 28ounce petite diced tomatoes, instead of two. (I have a 6QT crockpot and it would have overflowed, if I were to use two cans). I didn’t drain the beans or tomatoes, and if I made this again, I would drain at least one can. It was just a little two “soupy,” for my take on chili. I used all McCormick spices, and it really made a difference. My husband and I paired this with crispy garlic bread, and it was perfect. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Hi Nicole! So happy to hear you enjoyed this chili and were able to add your own twist 🙂 The crispy garlic bread sounds delicious!

  63. 5 stars
    Thanks Chelsea! Made it this morning. Had a huge pack of turkey bacon, so I used that and the leftover bacon for BLTs.

    My first time having bacon in chili. I almost couldn’t stop eating when I put all the ingredients in the pot and went for a taste test.

  64. 5 stars
    I’ve made this twice now without the celery and 2.5 pounds of ground turkey in place of all the beef and pork products because I’m allergic. This recipe is great and my husband loves it. Do you have recommendations on freezing and reheating afterwords?

    1. So happy to hear that! Thanks Anna! 🙂 I haven’t personally tried freezing this chili, but I’m sure it would do great! I’d portion it in freezer bags, label/date, and freeze for probably 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and warm through in the crockpot.

  65. 5 stars
    Chelsea, you are right in naming this Award Winning!! I made this and won a #1 at a chili cook off! Thank you for the fantastic recipe!

  66. The chili is very flavorful and delicious but there’s no way it all fits into a 6qt crockpot. I had to use 2 big pots and cook it on low. This would fit into a 12 qt crockpot. Thank you for the recipe, it’s definitely delicious

  67. I want to make this for our office on Halloween, but one of my coworkers doesn’t eat beef. Do you think I could use ground turkey?

    1. I haven’t personally tried so I can’t say for sure how it would be, but I think it would work okay. You might want to add more seasonings to adjust for flavor difference 🙂

  68. 5 stars
    While it took me much, much longer to prep than 30 minutes, it was well worth the effort. The flavor was incredible; I have this recipe bookmarked and will be making again.

  69. Hi! Question! Can you taste the bacon in this or does it just give it added flavor? I don’t care much for bacon (I know, I know)

    Have you ever made it without the bacon?

    1. I have made it without bacon and it’s still super good! The bacon adds flavor, and a slight bacon taste, but it will still be great without it.

  70. 5 stars
    Amazing!! I made this recipe EXACTLY as posted and the chili came out perfectly! We had a party of 20 people and everyone loved it! Thank you Chelsea!

  71. 5 stars
    I can confirm that this recipe is a cookoff winner! I have never made chili before (and to be honest with you, I don’t even really like it), but we had a chili cookoff at my office and I followed this recipe exactly and won out of 12 other chili’s. 10/10 would recommend!

    1. Yay!! So, so happy to hear this was a hit! And CONGRATS on winning the cook off Jessica!! That’s awesome!

  72. I am one of the hosts at my church, so when I announced that we’d be hosting a chili cookoff at our Fall Family Night, I announced that I found a recipe online and was going to use it to compete. I invited others to compete with my online recipe. Funny thing is, last night was the event and I won the contest with this recipe. People were asking to try “Jake’s google chili” LOL ?!!

  73. 5 stars
    I am one of the hosts at my church, so when I announced that we’d be hosting a chili cookoff at our Fall Family Night, I announced that I found a recipe online and was going to use it to compete. I invited others to compete with my online recipe. Funny thing is, last night was the event and I won the contest with this recipe. People were asking to try “Jake’s google chili” LOL ?!!

  74. 5 stars
    This recipe just won me our office’s chili Cookoff! It’s delicious. I made no adjustments (besides not including the salt). So good! Thank you!

  75. 5 stars
    I made this recipe for our chili cook off at work and won first prize (out of 13!). It was a huge hit! I also made it today for our executive team and they loved it. Great recipe! Highly recommend. The only difference I did was did 16 oz of bacon! 5 pieces just won’t do!

  76. Hi! Has anyone every made this with beef chuck instead of ground beef? I prefer big chunks of meat in my chili but I’m wondering if replacing the ground beef with 3 pounds of chuck would be right? Thanks!!

  77. If the jalapeños make it spicy is there anything I can substitute it with or just use half of one instead and de-seed it?

    1. So sorry it was too spicy! If you try it again, you can leave out the jalapenos, cayenne pepper, and slightly reduce the chili powder!

  78. 5 stars
    Great recipe. I made a few minor changes: 1 jalepeno, and 2 serrano peppers instead of the 2 jalepenos, A poblano in place of one of the green bell pepper, doubled the garlic. and added my own homemade Spicy Italian sausage instead of the pound of Italian sausage. I also ground my own mix of mild chilis rather than store bought chili powder. AI generally grind my own chuck and pork should so I can use a chili grind rather than regular grind. Might be the best chili I have ever tasted.

  79. 5 stars
    I made this chili for a group last night. Everyone said it’s the best chili they’ve ever had! I will definitely be using this for my upcoming chili cook off. I used 1 jalapeño, and it was still pretty spicy. If you don’t like heat, you might want to omit.

  80. 5 stars
    This recipe was super easy to follow and it turned out AMAZING!!!!
    We had a Chili Cook-Off at work and guess who won?………………………. This girl right here!!!
    Thank you so much Chelsea for sharing this award winning recipe. ♥

    1. YAY!! Congratulations Charis 🙂 So happy you won the cook off! Thanks so much for the comment and review 🙂

  81. 5 stars
    I have made this twice and nothing but rave reviews. I followed the recipe exactly and would not change a thing! This recipe is a keeper. Thank you!

  82. I’m making this over the eve before Thanksgiving.
    I’ll be enjoying this for a while. It suits my style as it is a very thick chili. I’ll update how it turned out.

  83. 5 stars
    I have to say that this is the best chili I’ve ever had!!! 10 stars!! I recommend just half a jalapeño and I add a packet of taco seasoning. I also only do 1 lb of ground beef because more wouldn’t fit in my crockpot!! It’s fabulous!!!! I highly recommend this recipe!! You won’t be disappointed!!! My husband just raves about it and he can be a tough critic!! We’ve had friends over and I served this and everyone loved it! I’ve made it twice now!

  84. Hi! Would this stretch to feed 15 in a large crockpot? Wondering if I could add an extra can of tomatoes and an extra can of beans without changing the consistency/flavor too much?

  85. The only misleading thing here is the “2 stalks of celery”, 2 stalks would make several cups so I’m assuming you meant “2 ribs of celery”. I made this exactly as directed and it was wonderful. I got one large jalapeno and removed the seeds, this gave the chili a “mellow bite” and rich depth of flavor.

  86. 5 stars
    This is the best chili recipe I have tried! I followed the recipe as written and it was fabulous! My boys love it! Thank you for sharing!

  87. I skipped the hot peppers because im not a spicy fan. And i skipped the bacon because i already had 3 lbs of meat.( Glad i did because i barley had room in my 8qt. Crock pot after filling it)
    Anywho, i made this for dinner one night and l was told it was the best chili that hes ever had. And so i decided to make it again for the packers play off party and EVERYONE who tried it said it was LITERALLY the best chili that theyve ever had. And there was lots of people eating it. There wasnt a single drop when i left! Felt amazing. Also they requested it for next weeks packer party???? one lady asked if i would make it for her for dinner in a few weeks as well. All in all i had so many compliments and some asking if i can cater !! You wont regret this low and slow chili. Also dont be afriad to use some garlic.. mmmhmm

  88. 5 stars
    I changed a couple things (2 pounds sausage 1 beef – and a can of rotel) but won my Church’s annual Chili cook-off with this recipe!

  89. 5 stars
    This really was a great recipe. I won my chili cook off today with it! All I added was chipotles in adobo sauce that I puréed for added smokiness to go with the bacon. Also a little cocoa into the spice mix.

  90. 5 stars
    Ok, this really is good chili. My first time making chili and I won my office chili cook-off. I used a 7 quart slow cooker and cooked it on low for 6 hours, put in the fridge overnight and then reheated for about two hours before the event. Putting it in the fridge did thicken it up when it was reheated. I did use 3 jalapenos instead of 2, smoked paprika, doubled the garlic and used hot ground Italian sausage. Besides that, I followed the instructions exactly. Chelsea – thanks very much for recipe!

  91. 5 stars
    All I can say is wow????????!! Hands down, the best chili I’ve ever had and I’m happy to say it’s a direct result of this recipe. I replaced the Italian sausage with a hot ground sausage. I also didn’t have enough beans so I added a can and a half of water instead and it still came out delicious!!! Thank you!!

  92. 5 stars
    Loved it!!!!. by accident got 1 jar diced tomatoes and 1 minced. cooked it for 8 hours and it seemed that it had too much liquid (not sure if its because of tomatoes mix up). unfortunately i didn’t have time to fridge it before use, so i removed some of the liquid from the top as i like it thicker… it still come out delicious and was devoured by 5 people. will do it again soon.

  93. 5 stars
    Super Bowl Sunday was a huge hit with your chili recipe. It’s my first time cooking chili and I was blown away by how easy and amazing your recipe was. Everybody loved it including my two children who are in culinary. Will definitely be making more again soon.

  94. Hi. Bacon Chili is so yummy. Trying to do keto and I noticed a serving you list as just 6.5 g net carbs (total carbs minus fiber = net). Is this accurate because the bell peppers and mostly the beans would add a lot of carbs to it. Just wondering but I can do without both of those and I’m sure it will still be outstanding. Thanks.

    1. I plug in all the ingredients to an online calculator that creates a nutrition label so it’s as accurate as I know how to do that 🙂 If you want to double check in My Fitness Pal or a different online calculator, I definitely recommend doing that!

  95. 5 stars
    Made this chili almost exact. I did omit the celery but might add it next time. I used fresh sweet Italian sausage and cut off the casings. Used 1 jalapeno with the seeds and used the Hunts salt free petite diced tomatoes, cento tomatoe paste and Bush’s slow simmered chili beans. It was spicy at first but after letting it sit in the fridge for 2 days, the flavors really mingled. It started off like a mild chili, but then the spice hit you in the back of throat. I made this for a chili cook-off at my church for super bowl Sunday and came in first. Had A LOT of compliments about how it was the best chili in the whole bunch out of 20 chilis. Will definitely be making this again.

  96. 5 stars
    I made the chili just like the recipe with the exception of the jalapenos. It was good and spicy without being too hot. I made it for a club meeting and chili cook off . The panel of six judges voted mine the winner out of ten entries unanimously ! Everyone at the meeting loved it . Mine was the first one to disappear. This was my first time making chili and my first cook off. The chili recipe is truly a winner .
    Thank you !

  97. Ran out of Chili Powder while making this recipe and still came in 3rd place (only had 2.5 tablespoons in it). If I had the correct amount of chili powder I would’ve taken first for sure! Great recipe.

  98. 5 stars
    I was looking for a good recipe to stand a chance in winning our annual company chili cook-off. This is the recipe I chose. Award winning indeed. Thanks to you, I am the 2020 Chili Champion! ????

  99. Can this be made with dry beans vs. canned? If so, will that affect any of the spice/liquid ratios? Also, how long would it cook in an instapot?

    1. I haven’t personally tried dried beans, but I do think it would change it a lot since dried beans would need a lot more cooking time. I’d cook them separately and then use them in this chili.

  100. 5 stars
    This chili is amazing! It’s packed with so much flavor and just the right amount of heat. I’ve made three times now and I’ve discovered it’s also really good with beer added in (I used a 12 oz bottle of Guinness Extra Stout and let the chili cook with the lid off for a while so it wasn’t too runny.) I was originally going to make it for a chili cookoff at my office, which ended up getting cancelled (stupid pandemic!) but I’ll have this recipe up my sleeve for the next one. Thanks for the great recipe, Chelsea!

    1. Thank you so much for this amazing comment! I really appreciate it and I’m so glad you loved it so much! 🙂

  101. INCREDIBLE the best I EVER had….My husband loves when I make this. He uses the left overs on just about everything, chili omelette for breakfast the next day. He also adds it to can tomato soup…he can not stop eating it until it is all gone!!

  102. 5 stars
    Just put it in the slow cooker a few hours ago but I can already tell it’s delicious! I used 1lb of ground chicken & no sausage because all I have is chicken sausage & added a can each of black/kidney/cannellini beans because that’s what I had on hand. Added a tablespoon or 2 of brown sugar & a few splashes of chicken broth. I can tell already it’s fantastic. Thank you.

  103. 5 stars
    this is seriously the best chili ive ever had i swear by this recipe!!!!! I use the frozen onion and bell pepper mix and substitute one can of dice tomatoes with crushed tomatoes and it is so good!!! Thank you for this recipe my family and friends love it!!!

    1. Yay! I am so happy you love this Crockpot Chili! Thanks so much for your comment and the tip on the frozen veggies! 🙂

  104. 5 stars
    Made this Chili and it’s still winning awards. I do tell people I got it online. But I take credit for how well I execute the recipe.

  105. 5 stars
    The chili was a great success. Flavor is wonderful, the texture is sublime, and the meal is very filling. It did take me over an hour to put the entire “pot” together but well worth it. This will be a keeper recipe and for me, a diabetic, the low carbs are an added plus.

    1. I am so happy to hear this Mitch! So glad you enjoyed this Crockpot Chili! Thanks for your comment! 🙂

  106. 5 stars
    I just made chili for the first time in my life (I’m 55 yrs old.) I do not enjoy cooking AT ALL, but was accidentally/jokingly entered into a chili cookoff. UMMM…WHAT?!? Oh Lord, what the heck I’ve never made chili!!!🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ There were 11 entries total, all had pride in their tried and tested recipes, and then theres me, Mrs. Burnt toast is a staple food.
    I WON overwhelmingly. 😳😳😳🤷‍♀️
    These are strange times indeed…😁
    I modifed a little. Omitted oregano, added a half bottle of really dark beer (like Guinness) and my crockpot was only 2.5 qt, so I used my Dutch oven on the stovetop and simmered for 2 hours.😁🤷‍♀️

  107. 5 stars
    Knocked it out of the ball park, Love Love Love this recipe! Won a family chili cook off! Thanks so much. This one goes in my recipe book forever!

  108. 5 stars
    Just finished making this chili recipe. I really like it. Tastes great. I will add this recipe to my book and make it on a regular basis. Thank you for this, my family will love it.

  109. 5 stars
    My favorite chili recipe ever! I’ve been making it for a year now and the family always goes crazy for it. Just got a new 10 quart crock pot and I’d figured I’d share with everyone that if you use 1.5 of everything listed it will perfectly fill a 10 quart crock pot.

  110. Video is misleading and so is the recipe. Followed to the letter as was. The video & recipe omitted the yellow pepper. So when following down the steps one doesn’t realize it until near the end after other peppers are cooked Found it to be bit dry but that could be because the canned tomatos were more tomato then liquid. Over all, not bad at all. I tossed in a handful of the chopped yellow pepper before allowing it to cook. I added smoked paprika and a splash of tomato juice to make it a little more saucier. Thank you very much for sharing your recipe.

    1. I’m a little confused about what you’re talking about with the yellow pepper; there is no yellow pepper in this recipe which is why it’s not in the recipe or video.

  111. I have a 5 quart slow cooker, so I’m assuming it won’t fit. Any way I could modify it to have it fit? Or should I just half the recipe? I need to feed 5 hungry so I want to have enough.

  112. 5 stars
    Thanks for the recipe! Everyone loves it!! I made it once with the beef bouillon cubes and once without and didn’t notice a difference. Is it ok to leave them out? Thanks again! Colleen

    1. I’m so happy you enjoyed Colleen! If you didn’t notice a difference then you absolutely can omit it! Thanks! 🙂

    1. The entire chili divided into 12 equal parts; each part is one serving. Sorry I don’t have exact cup measurements of that

  113. 5 stars
    I made this last night and it was a huge hit! The best chili I’ve ever made by far and my two boys, 12 & 23, ate two huge bowls. I was hoping we’d have leftovers but the whole crockpot full was gone in one meal! Definitely a keeper recipe!!!

  114. 5 stars
    This recipe is really, really good. I can see why it is a cook-off winner. I used it as the basis for the recipe that I am making now, which does a few things differently based on personal preference. Though I have also made the recipe above exactly, and it is so amazing without any alterations!

    1) I omitted the bacon, but used maple Italian sausage instead of regular Italian sausage. I love bacon, and it’s a super good add-in, but for my alterations it was just too many flavors happening at once
    2) I only drain half of the diced tomato liquid, and use regular drained beans (pinto, kidney, and black). I cook the meat in a half a can of beer, and add the rest of the ran directly to the crock pot.
    3) I dump a can of chipotle peppers in adobo in a food processor, and process until it is uniform (sauce+peppers both) and stir that into the mix as well. I found that this gives a really nice level of heat without being overly aggressive. I’ve always disliked too-spicy chili, and this definitely provides a tolerable level of heat for someone who enjoys spicy food but isn’t a maniac. Sometimes I omit the jalapeños when I do this, depending on who I am serving.
    4) I add all of these ingredients into the biggest bowl I have (since my crock pot is on the smaller side), and stir until all of the ingredients are mixed well. I put as much as I can fit in my crock pot and freeze the rest in a bag. The bagged stuff seems to thaw out normally, and then I just cook that for 8 hours when I’m ready to use it.
    5) (Last thing, I promise!) I like to cook the mixture in the crock pot for the full 8 hours, refrigerate, and reheat in the oven in a pumpkin (I find that this is an especially nice addition around Halloween!).

    Thank you so much for this recipe!!

    1. We prefer the long cook time as it allows flavors to really meld and chili to thicken, but doesn’t necessarily have to be the whole time if you’re in a hurry.

  115. Currently making this in my cooker. Uh, I don’t what size it is, but I had to leave out one can of diced tomatoes. I also hope my pot doesn’t overflow because it is right near the top. ~_~ It’s simmering, right, so should be fine… Thanks for the recipe; first time ever making chili and I went with this one.

      1. I had to sub out ingredients due to unavailability; used a different type of sausage. Not sure that I was happy with the canned beans I used either. Turned out spicy and very well seasoned. Next time I’ll add less spice because my brother can’t handle it, but he took a bunch to work and everyone loved it. Already thinking about making the next batch. Thanks again for a great recipe.

  116. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe. The chef of our family (my dad) gave it two thumbs up and it really meant a lot!! ❤️

    1. I have only used 28 oz. today and then I added in two more cans of beans and it was better than it was the last 2 times I made it.

  117. 5 stars
    I made this recipe for a local chili cook-off. It was delicious, and yes, I won! Easy to make and well-worth the effort.

  118. 5 stars
    This is my first time making Chili and I entered a Chili cook off contest here in my town and chose your recipie to make it. I made this Chili the night before and kept it warm the following day until the contest. In a matter of 2 hrs my Chili was gone out of 4 of us. Later that evening I was announced the winner! I now will make the Chili on Dec 5th 2020 for our yearly Blanket Run and Chili cook off contest for our county. Thank you for making such a great recipie and glad I chose urs to make for the first time! This time I will need to make double the recipie… Great Chili!

  119. Hi! Am I missing something? What are the liquids to reduce? I made this and it was way to thick. On the recipe I don’t see water or broth….only the bullion cubes.

    1. Its supposed to be very thick! As it cooks, it does naturally get more liquid-y, but it is intentionally a thick chili

  120. I’ve made this at least every month since it was posted…..it is an absolute hit! I used it for a chili contest and I got 2nd…..but they resounded it was because there were no jalapeños. I wasn’t about to add something I couldn’t eat in case there were leftovers so I wasn’t upset at all. Turns out there were no leftovers. It was a complete success in my mind! I just made this for my Mom today and she doesn’t get chili often. My late father didn’t like it so she never made it for herself. She was amazed at how good it was!

  121. Have not made this yet but will tonight, my only concern is I am very good at following a recipe but if I have to add anything to taste, I cannot tell what item is missing? ie: salt, pepper, chili powder. I would hate to make this just to find I ruin it by adding the wrong spice. Will it work as is?

    1. Sorry, I’m not sure what you’re asking. The spices are listed out in the amount to add, listed under “seasonings” in the recipe card

  122. Hi Chelsea! I’m making this crockpot chili today, but I’m actually going to be doing it on the stovetop in my 7qt. Dutch oven. Should I add more liquid to this chili?

    1. I don’t think so! As it cooks, it becomes more liquid-y 🙂 If you don’t want it super thick you can certainly add in a cup or so of beef broth or stock

  123. Okay so I’ve never made chili before and I love your recipes so I thought I would give yours a try and it was amazing! This recipe was super easy to follow and tasted so good. Not surprising though because all of your recipes are 10/10. Thanks for giving us your chili secrets!

  124. 4 stars
    Great recipe! I’ve made it several times now. I did feel it needed more beans. There is 3 pounds of meat and only 3 cans of beans. I made it today and it turned out the best it has yet. I added 2 more cans of black beans and omitted 2 cans of diced tomatoes. I also have never added the beef boullion because I can’t find any that don’t have processed ingredients. I think it tastes just fine without the beef boullion and I’ll usually add a little extra pepper or garlic salt.

  125. The first attempt is cooking as I write. I plan to serve it over spaghetti squash. I also have a 6 quart Rival and after two hours the chili is beginning to boil. Should I be concerned? I have it on slow cook

  126. My husband hates anything resembling a vegetable or chunk of tomato in his chili. Wondering if I could saute the veggies and puree them and the tomatoes together so i still get the flavor?

  127. 5 stars
    I made this for the second time and it came out perfect both times. I used the mild Italian sausage and in place of the jalapeño peppers (since I had none) I used about 2 table spoons of chopped up Rio Luna nacho peppers I had in the fridge. The heat and sweetness of the sausage was spot on. My wife, who is not a Chile fan loved it. Even better a couple days later after reheating.
    My go to chili recipe.
    Thank you.

  128. 5 stars
    I love this chili recipe! I seriously cooked it for three weeks straight. My old man and I can eat on this for days during our busy work weeks! I even one time added too much cumin and it still tasted wonderful! I do have a question though – can I replicate this recipe in the Instant Pot on the slow cooker setting? My old man (bless him) accidentally broke the tempered glass lid to my slow cooker so I got an IP instead. I don’t want to ruin the integrity of the recipe but I also really wanna use my new kitchen accessory! Any advice? Have you used the IP for chili before?

  129. 5 stars
    I have been using this recipe as the base for my chili for a long time now. I usually tweek it every time but this is my go to starter. Every one always loves it. Browning the vegetables was a great idea and i always do it now. The spice combo rocks. Thank you for this recipe and the extra tips!

  130. 5 stars
    I made this chili yesterday and reheated it today and yes it was a full 6 quart crockpot full to the rim. There was four adults and two young children here and it was devoured except for maybe two cups which will be mine tomorrow. So yes I would say it was an outstanding recipe. Very delicious. Thank you !!! It will be used again and my daughter took a copy with her. 😊

  131. 5 stars
    I have used your chili recipe probably 7 or 8 times since finding it and it is soooo good every time. Thank you for sharing it!!

  132. 5 stars
    Just made it for the super bowl get together. Didn’t find petite diced tomato so I used regular. It tastes delish. Going to let it cool off and in the fridge it goes. It’ll taste even better on Sunday! Just gonna make some biscuits and enjoy!

  133. 5 stars
    The absolute best chili I’ve ever had. This is coming from a firefighter that has had some good ones throughout my career. Amazing!

  134. 5 stars
    Made this chili today. WOW. So damn good. Cornbread and this recipe is excellent. Thank you for this. It does fill a 6 qt crockpot. Worth every bit of the effort. YUM. Will make it
    again.

  135. 5 stars
    Have I made this recipe? Oh boy have I MADE IT! If YOU haven’t, you’re missing OUT! My family goes nuts for this chili. Hands down best chili ever. Thank you for this lovely recipe!

  136. Hi, I’m wondering if I can make this with just regular canned beans, you know, the kind you rinse and drain? Would it make a huge difference to the final taste?

      1. Thanks for the quick response! The beans in the recipe seem to be in a sauce of some kind and are added undrained and unrinsed. I would like to add regular canned beans that are not in a sauce, like kidney beans that you rinse and drain the liquid off of. Will it still work or would I need to make up for the liquid in some way?

        1. Oh! The chili beans? Yes they’re in sauce, but it won’t really affect the liquid, more just the flavor. You may want to compensate with some extra sugar and spices

  137. I’ve used this recipe for several years now and everyone that has tried absolutely loves the chili. This is my go to chili all the time. I believe I’ve made this recipe about 7 times now. Currently, my 8th one is slowly cooking as I type this up. Thanks for this awesome recipe!

  138. I have a question. Can i substitute the beef chuck for ground beef instead? I think that was how I made my first chili.

  139. 5 stars
    Hunted all over the internet for the ‘perfect’ recipe. Tried 5… yours is it. Bacon. The magic ingredient along w/ sausage.
    Slight changes as I didn’t have paprika nor basil. Added ancho chile instead. LOVELY. And I also added a masa harina slurry (1/2 c masa harina whisked w/ 1 c water). Thickens it nicely plus adds a hint of ‘corniness’…

      1. 5 stars
        Chelsea,
        Seriously, this is quite a spectacular recipe. I confess a big nope on cooked celery. I just picked up thai chili peppers. Wish me luck. We love beans so I used 4 cans of regular kidney beans, no sauce & only 1 lb each of ground beef & sausage. Not quite vegetarian… lol. Thank you again for sharing!

  140. Currently have this slow cooking for a chili cook off at my job tomorrow and WOW it smells amazing. I snuck a taste and it blew me away. Can’t wait to try it tomorrow it’s going to be even better. I will be back for updates lol

    1. Yay! Can’t wait to hear what you think of it tomorrow 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the sample today and good luck on your cook-off!

  141. 5 stars
    This is really a fantastic recipe. I’ve used this very recipe a few times now and it’s a hit every time. No alterations, it’s perfect. Thanks for sharing.

  142. 5 stars
    This chili is amazing and worth the time. I like to strain the water from the tomatoes and reduce down the tomatoes as well as the tomato paste for a deeper more complex flavor. Enjoy!

  143. I’ve made this a bunch, and it’s delicious. My question is…does it freeze well? If so, how long can it be kept in the freezer and still be good?

  144. 5 stars
    I made this chili for the first time in 2019 and entered in a chili cook off @ the campground I was staying at. It won first place! I will be making it again this year. Thank you for this recipe!

    1. Sorry, I don’t have exact cups measured out. If you divide the entire pot into 10 or 12 equal servings, you could measure out what each serving is cup-wise! 🙂

  145. Made this chili for a large family gathering. Everyone commented that it was the best chili they had ever tasted. This is a real winner.

  146. I’m making this right now for the third time! I love it !! Tonight is chili cookoff night vs my dads recipe he’s been making us for 30 years.. I’m ready to knock him dead! Just kidding. And for those worried about it not having liquid.. it does, don’t drain the beans. I also use some of the beef fat. I too with chili cheese Fritos and avocado.

  147. When you add the bouillon cubes are you just adding them to the chili mixture? Or boiling the cubes and then adding the liquid? Thanks!

  148. 5 stars
    My Dad is a everything but the kitchen sink kind of cook & loves all variety of beans. He always has something cooking in the crockpot but this is now His absolute favorite recipe & everyone else in the family loves it to. So thanks so much for a great chili recipe.

  149. 5 stars
    Great recipe! Thank you 🙂 Made this during Christmas week last year and the in-laws looooved it. Heading back into the rainy season, I’m making it again tonight. The first time I ground the chuck fresh myself and it was incredible

  150. 5 stars
    I’ve made this multiple times over the years, and have shared the recipe with almost everyone who tries it because nobody can resist making it their chili recipe after eating! Wonderful dish! (Making it tonight for ToT as I type this 😉 )

  151. 5 stars
    This chili REALLY does win chili cook offs💪🏼🥇 I have made it multiple times and have won 3 chili cook offs now. It even beat my famous dads “SMOKED” chili which is to die for!!! Definitely 5 Stars!!! Will always make this now! Thank you!

  152. 5 stars
    I have to start with, I don’t like chili… I grew up in Minnesota.. Everyone here eats chili, its like a state food for the 9 month of winter we have every year.. I LOVE THIS CHILI. I CRAVE it all the time. This is what all chili should be! The ingredient list looks intimidating, but DO NOT let that stop you! Make this recipe and you will never make another chili again!

  153. 5 stars
    I just won my second chili cook off with this recipe! I follow the recipe exactly, using two jalapeños. Refrigerating and serving next day does take it up a notch. ❤

  154. I work for a shipping company and every year on the busiest shipping day we do a potlock, and the last few years I’ve made this recipe and it’s a winner! They adore it and it keeps really well in the crock pot as people run back through the day to grab a quick meal. It’s just spicy enough to make everyone happy and not too spicy.

  155. 5 stars
    I made this wonderful chili yesterday and it was great, I substitute some sliced thin in chunks pork & venison sausage instead of bacon. Sure was good.

  156. 5 stars
    I’ve made this recipe several times… Awesome!!! Great job!!! It’s a keeper!! Don’t be shy, with the cheddar cheese and sour cream!!!

  157. 5 stars
    I spent more hours that I’d like to admit looking for the perfect chili recipe to take to our church cook off. I finally decided on this one after reading all the great reviews and it WON! 😍🥇 Soo good, thank you, Chelsea!

  158. 4 stars
    Recipe is delicious! My only complaint would be what others have said about it being to much to fit in a 6 or 7qt crockpot. Should be changed to 8qt or larger. I made it twice and the second time I payed attention to all measurements. 1st-Bush’s Chili are 16oz cans. Hunts- Petite Diced Tomatoes are 14.5oz per can (58oz for 4 cans) I couldn’t find cans to equal 56oz. I got everything to fit in my 7 oz crock pot, but I left out a little bit of beans and tomatoes and only used 1 1/2 lbs of ground beef and it came to the tippy top. Maybe can sizes have changed. It would be helpful to at least change the crockpot size to a minimum of 8qt. Again recipe was delicious, calculations just slightly off ☺️

    1. So strange! It fits great (albeit to the very top!) in my 6-quart slow cooker! Thanks for the feedback though 🙂

  159. 5 stars
    Best Chili I have ever had!!! I use 1 lb chuck,1 lb hot sausage , 1 lb ground veil. Also substitute one can of chilie beans for can of pinto beans drained. They tend to stay more whole Also double chili powder. Yummy!

  160. Hello!
    I want to start my saying my family loves this recipe! It’s my go to chili and it’s really delicious. Maybe you can help me though. The prep time on the recipe says 30min, but I’ve made it several times. And it usually takes me at least an hour to get everything mixed in the crock pot. I don’t necessarily mind that it takes me that long, but I’m curious if it’s just me lol

    In either case, thank you so much for this incredible chili recipe! I’ve got a pot on right now and can’t wait until it’s finished.

  161. 5 stars
    Best chili ever!! Used ground venison and venson sausage..love that it makes so much.. freeze it and have it to pull out for a quick meal!!

  162. 5 stars
    I love this recipe. Family loves it too. have made it your way but now I substitute ground turkey for the beef. taste exactly the same. Delicious!

    1. I am so happy you guys love this Crockpot Chili! It’s definitely delicious with ground turkey! Thanks Maura! 🙂

  163. 5 stars
    I’ve made many of your recipes but have never written a review until now. I made this chili for the super bowl (made it the day before as you suggested and reheated). There are only 4 of us here and the recipe makes a HUGE amount so I intended to freeze a lot of it. I can’t. There’s none left! It disappeared during the week for lunches, snacks, leftover night, etc. Its the best chili I’ve ever had!! Seriously….if you’re reading this review….make this chili!!

  164. 5 stars
    Just made this for our youth chili cook off for church and I won best overall chili out of 26 entries!! Thank you for the great recipe!

  165. 5 stars
    I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to rate and comment on this recipe. This is my go to chili recipe. I like heat so I add an extra jalapeño but, flavor and consistency are on point.

  166. 5 stars
    Thank you sooo very much for sharing this recipe. My kids and I love thick chili, and since I work nights this is an easy one to dump in the slow cooker before I go to sleep. I have made this quite a few times at this point, tweaking it to our tastes (some of us can’t handle spicey to well) so I swapped the jalapenos and cayenne with a small can of chipoltles and a little more sugar.

    1. I am so thrilled to hear how much you guys are enjoying this recipe! Thank you so much for your comment Ryan! 🙂

  167. 5 stars
    I’ve made this countless times in the crockpot and it has been fabulous! It’s everyone’s favorite. I do have one question though: on days where I’m short on time, would I be able to do this in the instant pot? Has anybody tried it to see if it still maintains the same flavor? Thanks!

  168. First time making this. I don’t like chili. However hubby loves it. I will say there is alot of pre prep so start early!! Fingers crossed he loves it.

  169. 5 stars
    I entered a chili cookoff and I followed your recipe. Not only did I win first place, but I also didn’t have any leftover. The taste was amazing! Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    1. You’ll want to confirm on spices, bouillon cubes, and cans they are produced in a gluten-free facility, but recipe is naturally gluten-free

  170. 5 stars
    I halved this recipe because my Rival runs hot and I didn’t want a boil over. I wish I didn’t! This was the best chili we’ve ever had! My husband has requested it again next week. Definitely a keeper recipe. Thank you!

  171. 5 stars
    I’ve been making this chili every wince I found the recipe, it’s awesome as is! I have since added using pepper bacon, the diced tomatoes have green chilis, hot Italian sausage and tomorrow I am smoking ribeyes and then cubing and putting in the chili, can’t wait!

  172. 5 stars
    Made this recipe and entered it in a cook off.I won second place after a tie.I got beat by a pot pie tasting chicken chili.

    1. WAHHOOOO! Although it definitely sounds like you should have taken first 😉 Thanks so much for our comment! 🙂

  173. 5 stars
    I’ve made this recipe for two fairly large chili contests and won both people’s choice award and overall! It’s always a hit with my family too.

  174. 5 stars
    This recipe is AMAZING!! I have made it so many times it’s referred to in my family as “Char’s Chili” 😄 thank you for sharing this recipe. It is now part of my family and my own cooking legacy.

  175. 5 stars
    This is great chili! Made it today and turned out just right. Didn’t put in the jalapeño and used chipotle chili powder instead of cayenne and fire roasted tomatoes so just a hint of spiciness which was just right for my taste buds! Looking forward to trying it again after it sits for a day in frig then gets reheated as always better that way. Thanks for sharing.

  176. 5 stars
    This was amazing! I followed everything except for adding the hot pepper & it still had a touch of kick at the aftertaste. You have to make it ahead of time to let all flavor absorb. And the bacon was genius. Cooking the veggies in the greese gave them so much flavor. It is the 1st time I have ever made chilli. And this is the 1st time I ever entered the much coveted chili cookoff at my church & I won 🏆 1st place. There were 7 chilis & 1 comment that was made to me was “when I think of the way chili should taste, this is what I imagined perfectly” that is what I wanted. It was the chili from my childhood made with love & care. If you want to win a contest you better make this chili. Thankyou Chelsea.

  177. On this website I do not see any way to print this recipe. I tried printing part of the pages but the printout exceeds the width of my paper. How can I print it?

    1. Divide it exactly in half! (If you click “print” on the recipe card, then at the top of the page scale down so it says “5” out of 12 servings, that will be half of all the quantities! And I’d check it at the lowest cook time.

  178. 5 stars
    I made this yesterday for a chili cook off at my job today and I won! I made it exactly to the recipe, it was the perfect amount of heat and flavor. The mouthfeel was spot on and it was a really big hit with my coworkers. I will definitely be making this again

  179. 5 stars
    My husband has been searching for a chili recipe he could call his own so I started looking around for some ideas and came across this. I loved this has bacon in it and that the ingredients were easy to adjust to our taste.
    Some of the changes I made were using only half the suggested amount of diced tomatoes and substituted Rotel for the remaining half. I like a milder chili so I only used beans in mild chili sauce and 3/4 tsp of cayenne. I also chose to go with smoked paprika and added a teaspoon of liquid smoke. I doubled the amount of bacon, added black beans, a can of beef broth and since my family doesn’t care for chunks of tomatoes, peppers and celery, I pureed the veggies to their liking.
    I served it up with shredded cheese, fire roasted corn kernels, sour cream, corn chips, flour tortillas, a variety of hot sauces and jalapeños as add-ins and it was a hit.
    Really enjoyed working with this recipe and putting our own spin on it.

    1. So thrilled to hear this! Thanks for sharing all your fun ideas with this chili! So happy this was a hit! Thanks Brandy! 🙂

  180. 5 stars
    Made this again, to great reviews. This one takes a little more time in trouble, but it is definitely worth it.

  181. 5 stars
    I realize this is almost 10 years later, but I came across this recipe in a Google search and it is now in the crockpot as prescribed! Looking forward to trying this once it’s ready! Pete in Delware County, PA just outside Philly.

  182. 5 stars
    A relative made this recipe when hosting family almost five years ago. It was so good that I got the recipe from him. I’ve made it at least 3 times a year since. We LOVE it! Since it’s just my husband and I, we freeze a lot of it and pretty much always have some in the freezer. Thanks for this awesome recipe! I can’t imagine making another.

  183. 4 stars
    I followed the recipe exactly as written.But I used 1/4 of one jalapeño. It is a little spicy for me. Should I reduce the cayenne pepper next time? If I wanted to make the chili a little soupier, what would you suggest? Thank you!

  184. Hi it looks amazing, what would you change if you add leftover smoked Brisket? besides not using the ground beef, and sausage? Any changes to seasoning?

  185. Such a waste of time and money. SOOOO mediocre with no depth of flavor. I even tried to jazz it up with additional seasoning to no avail. I’m baffled how this could’ve won anything. So disappointing.

    1. I’m so sorry to hear this. Did you change the recipe at all? Did you season with salt and pepper to your preference? And did you sauté the veggies in bacon grease? That should add so much flavor!

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