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Healthy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

Slow Cooker Chili is a hearty, protein-packed comfort food made with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and warm spices. This easy crockpot chili delivers deep, rich flavor with minimal hands-on time and is perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 360
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 large yellow onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 3 8 oz cans tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 15 oz can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 oz can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sauté onion until softened.
  2. Add garlic and cook briefly until fragrant, then transfer mixture to slow cooker.
  3. Brown ground beef in the same skillet until fully cooked and drain excess fat.
  4. Add beef to slow cooker along with diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth.
  5. Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, cocoa powder, sugar, coriander, salt, and pepper.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 5–6 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
  7. Stir in kidney beans during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

Notes

Browning the meat and onions before slow cooking adds deeper flavor. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to maintain heat and proper texture.