🌶️ Easy Crock Pot Chili Recipe 🌶️
Get ready to cozy up to a bowl of hearty goodness with this Easy Crock Pot Chili recipe! Perfect for those busy weeknights when you crave something comforting, this recipe from lovewithrecipes.com packs in all the flavors you love in a chili, simmered to perfection in your trusty slow cooker. Let’s dive into the details!
🕒 Time Table:
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 8 hours | 8 hours 15 minutes |
🛒 Ingredients:
- 1 onion
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 lb beef stew meat (or substitute with ground beef or buffalo meat)
- 30 oz canned red kidney beans
- 28 oz diced tomatoes
- 16 oz tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1/8 – 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to your spice preference)
- 1 bay leaf
📝 Instructions:
-
Prepare the Meat:
- If using ground beef or buffalo meat, brown it together with onion and garlic until lightly browned and fragrant. For stew meat, simply brown the meat without fully cooking it. Drain excess fat if needed.
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-
Combine Ingredients:
- In your trusty crock pot, mix the meat/onion/garlic mixture with the remaining ingredients: canned red kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and the bay leaf.
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Slow Cook It:
- Set your crock pot to low heat and let all those delicious flavors meld together for 8 to 10 hours. This low and slow cooking method ensures a rich and flavorful chili that’s perfect for warming you up on a chilly evening.
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Final Touch:
- Before serving, don’t forget to remove the bay leaf. This little herb adds a wonderful depth of flavor but isn’t meant to be eaten!
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Spice it Up:
- 🌶️ Want to add a kick? I recommend using Frontier Co-op spices, which you can find at your local health food co-op. Their 90,000 HU cayenne pepper is perfect for slow-cooking recipes, giving your chili that extra zing!
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Vegetarian Option:
- 🌿 For a vegetarian twist, simply skip the meat and amp up the beans! Black beans are a fantastic addition that adds both texture and protein to this chili. Yum!
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Serving Suggestions:
- 🍚 Serve this Easy Crock Pot Chili over a bed of fluffy rice for a satisfying meal. Or, if you’re like me, enjoy it straight out of the bowl with your favorite toppings!
🍲 Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 401.2
- Fat: 6.6g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Cholesterol: 72.6mg
- Sodium: 1260.4mg
- Carbohydrates: 50.3g
- Fiber: 16.3g
- Sugar: 15.3g
- Protein: 39.5g
📋 Recipe Notes:
- Spice Level: Adjust the cayenne pepper to suit your taste buds. Start with a smaller amount if you prefer a milder chili.
- Storage: This chili freezes beautifully! Make a big batch and store leftovers in airtight containers for easy meal prep.
- Garnish Ideas: Top your chili with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, sliced jalapeños, fresh cilantro, or even some crunchy tortilla strips for added texture and flavor.
Whether you’re a meat-lover or looking to go meatless, this Easy Crock Pot Chili recipe is versatile and oh-so-satisfying. Let the slow cooker do the work while you enjoy the enticing aroma wafting through your kitchen. 🌶️✨ Grab a bowl, snuggle up, and savor every spoonful of this comforting classic!
