Description
A hearty and flavorful slow-cooker chili made with lean ground beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, and a blend of spices. Perfect for an easy, comforting meal with optional toppings like shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 1 medium green pepper, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Optional Toppings
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sliced green onions
- Chopped red onion
- Sliced jalapeno peppers
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Cook the Beef: In a large skillet, cook the lean ground beef over medium heat for 12 minutes or until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the cooked beef to a 5-quart slow cooker. Add the rinsed and drained kidney beans, undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chopped onions, chopped green pepper, minced garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Slow Cook the Chili: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on the low setting for 8 hours to allow the flavors to develop and the chili to thicken.
- Serve: Once done, ladle the chili into bowls and serve hot with your choice of optional toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, chopped red onion, sliced jalapeno peppers, and sour cream.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce fat content and prevent greasy chili.
- For a spicier chili, add extra chili powder or jalapenos.
- Rinsing and draining the beans reduces excess sodium and starch.
- If short on time, you can cook on high for 4-5 hours instead of low for 8 hours, but low and slow yields better flavor.
- Leftover chili stores well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and freezes well for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
