Hearty Beef Chili in Slow Cooker Recipe

A homemade hearty crock pot chili that's chunky and loaded with beans, vegetables, beef stew meat, AND kielbasa. Savory, tangy, salty, and spicy with a unique twist - cinnamon and cocoa powder! You've got to try this easy, comforting, and delicious slow cooker recipe - ready to make it?

Crock pot chili served in a white bowl with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.

Best Homemade Beef Chili in Slow Cooker!

Chunky and Hearty! My favorite thing about this crock pot chili (besides the fabulous flavor) is that it's so chunky, loaded with beans, veggies, and protein from the beans, beef stew meat, AND kielbasa sausage!

Flavorful with a Twist. From fire-roasted tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, and cocoa powder, you'll be addicted to the savory, salty, tangy combination of flavors! Make it spicier by adding red pepper flakes, and don't forget to top it with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

Crock Pot Convenience. It's easy to prep ahead of time, then set it and forget it till you get home after a long day! All the ingredients go in, except the beans, bell peppers, and sausage. Add 30 minutes before serving to heat, and enjoy!

Beef Chili Crock Pot Ingredients

Ingredients needed for making crock pot chili on a white wooden board.

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this crock pot chili:

Beef Stew Meat
Smoked Beef Kielbasa
Canned Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Garlic: I used canned fire roasted diced tomatoes with garlic, but plain are fine too! The fire-roasted adds such a nice flavor!
Canned Tomato Sauce
Tomato Paste
Canned Red Kidney Beans
Vegetables: onion, celery, green bell pepper.
Seasonings: chili powder, ground cumin, cocoa powder (yes, chocolate), sugar, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, salt, ground black pepper.
Herbs: dried oregano leaves
Garnish: shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.

For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!

Be sure to save this pin to Pinterest! 🙂

Pinterest pin of a white bowl of crock pot chili.

Substitutions and Variations

Use cooked lean ground beef, chicken, or turkey instead of beef stew meat.
Make it low carb and keto by omitting the beans and using a sugar substitute.
Use turkey kielbasa instead of smoked beef kielbasa.
Use any other bean variety you would like to, such as pinto beans or black beans, or use a combination of any.
Adjust the amount of spice in the recipe by increasing the cayenne pepper or adding fresh diced jalapeno.
Use any onion variety in this recipe.
Substitute regular diced tomatoes for fire-roasted if you prefer.
Add other vegetables such as corn, diced zucchini, or sliced carrot.
Add a little beef broth to your crockpot to thin it out if needed.

How To Make Slow Cooker Chili

This is intended as an overview only. For detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below. Enjoy!

Browning the kielbasa for the crockpot chili.

1. Brown the sliced kielbasa in a skillet or crockpot (if it has browning capability). Remove, let cool, and store in fridge.

Adding all the ingredients to make crockpot chili.

2. Add all ingredients except sausage and bell pepper to the slow cooker. Stir.

Slow cooking the crockpot chili with the lid on.

3. Cover and cook on low until the beef is tender.

Making crockpot chili in a black oval slow cooker.

4. Add kielbasa with juices and bell pepper. Continue slow cooking until the pepper is soft.

How to Serve Hearty Crockpot Chili

Keep it easy and ladle it right out of the crockpot, then top it with your favorite chili toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced green onion, or crackers.

Serve with your favorite warm crusty bread, cornbread, or garlic bread.

Meal idea! Pair your chili with a small fresh side salad and this crockpot cornbread recipe. Make chili mac by adding cooked noodles to the chili, or just serve the chili over the top of the noodles.

A white bowl with handles served with crock pot chili with beef and sausage.

Chili in Slow Cooker Recipe Tips

The chocolate and cinnamon give this crock pot chili flavor and depth - don't be afraid to use it!
Browning the kielbasa before adding it adds even more flavor. If you are in a hurry, you can skip this step.
You can cook the chili on high if you need it done sooner. Cook until the beef is tender, and then do the finishing steps.

Crock Pot Chili FAQ's

How to store it

Once cooled, transfer to an air-tight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How to reheat

From the fridge: transfer the amount of crock pot chili you want to reheat in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave for 60 seconds, stir, and continue to cook in 30-second increments until your desired temperature.
From the freezer: pull the container from the freezer and thaw it in the fridge for 24 hours. You can then follow instructions to reheat from the fridge.

How to freeze

Once cooled, freeze your chili in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

What is the secret to a really good chili?

Adding different layers of flavor, seasonings, and herbs will elevate a traditional chili. Multiple proteins, bean variety, fire-roasted tomatoes, spices, seasonings, and herbs, and kick it up a notch by adding cinnamon and cocoa powder for extra depth of flavor!

How long is too long to cook to chili in crockpot?

Ideally, you want to cook your chili until your meat is cooked through and tender. If you overcook the chili, it will result in drier meat that's tough to chew. Depending upon the crockpot (some run very hot even on low) and meat used, you shouldn't need to cook the chili longer than 8 hours.

Do you have to brown meat before crockpot chili?

If you are using ground meat, you do need to cook it beforehand. For other meats, you do not have to brown your meat before adding it to the crockpot. However, if you sear it to brown it before adding, it will add flavor and seal in the extra juices for a more tender piece of meat.