Description
A hearty, smoky, and comforting slow cooker ground beef chili that requires minimal prep time. This one-bowl dinner is perfect for weeknights, meal prep, and freezing, featuring deep flavors from chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2–3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced, plus 2 tablespoons sauce
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (fire-roasted preferred)
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (plus more to taste)
- 1 oz dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Optional: 1 cup corn, 1 large bell pepper diced, sour cream, cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no pink remains (5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat if desired, but leave some for flavor. Transfer beef to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, add a little oil if needed. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Add minced chipotle peppers with adobo sauce, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, black beans, kidney beans, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. If the chili is too thin, cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
- Stir in chopped dark chocolate and apple cider vinegar. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve topped with sour cream, cheese, cilantro, and avocado.
Notes
Brown the beef first for better flavor and texture. Use brand-name chipotles in adobo sauce for best results. Do not skip the salt when seasoning the beef. The dark chocolate adds depth and richness, not sweetness. Add apple cider vinegar at the end to brighten flavors. If chili is too watery, cook uncovered for the last 30-60 minutes. If too thick, add a splash of broth when reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 25
Keywords: slow cooker chili, ground beef chili, chipotle chili, easy dinner, meal prep, one pot meal, comfort food, weeknight dinner