Slow Cooker Chili (or Dutch Oven Chili)
Flavorful and comforting, Slow Cooker Chili is easy too and a perfect cold weather meal. Works as Dutch Oven Chili too! 
If it’s winter, it’s time for chili. Is there another dish more fitting when the snow flies?
Years ago, I used to eat lots of winter soups. On Saturdays, with both of us off from work, my husband would handle driving the kids around and I’d pull out the big kettles.
I liked to do 2-3 bulk recipes and freeze in meal sized servings. In a few weeks, I had lots of tubs stashed away and I knew I was safe from future dinner panic.
Killer day at work? Forgot to thaw the meat? Pull out some soup, add bread/muffins and salad. Easy and healthy! Who could use easy and healthy as we move into 2021! 
How to Make Slow Cooker Chili (or Dutch Oven Chili)
Whether you use a slow cooker or adapt this to make Dutch Oven Chili, it is super easy.
You start by sautéing the ground beef in a saucepan or Dutch Oven.
Then you add the onions, garlic, peppers and tomatoes and cook until just tender. 
Transfer to slow cooker (unless doing Dutch Oven Chili), then stir in beer or broth, beans and spices. Cover and cook–details in recipe below.
Gather up fun toppings and serve!
Chili Accompaniments
Of course, a big part of chili fun is the chili toppings. Some great ideas include:
- Sour cream
- Chopped onion
- Grated Cheese
- Corn chips
- Chopped Cilantro
- Chopped Avocado
Let me know if I’ve missed any of your faves! 
I like to put out bowls and let everyone serve up their own. Then it’s tasty, healthy and FUN!
Happy winter!
Slow Cooker Chili (or Dutch Oven Chili)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 poblano pepper chopped
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 1 1/2 cups dark beer or beef stock
- 1 quart canned tomatoes home canned or commercial
- 2 cans kidney beans or beans of your choice
- 1 6- ounce jar tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sautee ground beef until browned, crumbling well. Drain excess fat if needed (some should remain). Add garlic, onion, bell peppers and poblano peppers. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer mixture to slow cooker if using. Stir in beer (or stock), drained beans, tomatoes, tomato paste and spices. Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or high heat for 4-5 hours. To oven bake, cover and bake in 275 oven about 5 hours. Check liquid periodically
- Serve with bowls of whatever garnishes you like and let everyone add their own.
Nutrition
Slow Cooking Suppers
- Pulled Pork Chili by That Recipe
- Slow Cooker Asian-Style Pot Roast by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Slow Cooker Chili by Art of Natural Living
- Slow Cooker Cottage Ham by Palatable Pastime
- Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini and Sausage Soup by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Slow Cooker Garlic-Parmesan Chicken by Making Miracles
- Slow Cooker Meatball Sliders by Blogghetti
- Slow Cooker Pork al Pastor by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Vegetarian Chili Mac by Magical Ingredients
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I’m a big fan of chili and like it both summer and winter. A bowl of your chili would be most welcome at our table.
We are total chili heads! This looks so rich and delicious. Perfect for cold weather.
This is so hearty and I love the flavor from the beer in the chili! Nothing like chili when it is cold outside.
I look forward to giving this a try this winter. The weather is turning cold again tomorrow, and comfort food like this will be necessary!
Ahh, here we’re complaining it’s too warm and we don’t have enough snow 🙂
Now this is what you call comfort food! Yum
A warm chili is always comforting. It’s great to come home, relax, and eat.
I so need to do more soups this winter!
I also have freezer meals for in case! And this looks like a good one to add to them.
I used to do that all the time when the kids were small. Need to get back to stocking the freezer with pre-made foods. It’s a godsend on a rough day!
Perfectly comforting bowl of delicious for any winter day.
Beer in chili? Mind blown!
And hubby has some good 805 I might sneak a bottle of to make this.
Any time a recipe gives a beer vs broth option I go with the beer!
This looks so thick and hearty. The perfect stick-to-your-ribs meal on a cold day.
Hearty chili hits the spot on a winter’s day. I love that you can make this in the slow cooker or the Dutch Oven
Happy New Year!
A warming chili is always welcome
Isn’t that the truth! Happy New Year to you too!