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Cozy Hearty Slow Cooker Chili Recipe for Six

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A rich and hearty slow cooker chili perfect for family meals and potlucks, featuring tender beef, smoky spices, and a blend of kidney and black beans. Easy to prepare and full of comforting flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes, fire-roasted if available
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce or cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spatula, until no longer pink and lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet, add diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Combine ingredients in slow cooker: Transfer browned beef and sautéed veggies to the slow cooker. Add kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and beef broth.
  4. Add spices: Sprinkle in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together well to combine.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. The low setting is preferred for deeper flavor melding.
  6. Final taste and seasoning: About 15 minutes before serving, taste and adjust seasoning as needed — add optional cayenne or hot sauce if you want more heat. Stir well.
  7. Serve and garnish: Ladle chili into bowls and offer toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or fresh cilantro.

Notes

Brown the meat first to develop flavor and reduce excess fat. Drain and rinse canned beans to reduce salt and tinny taste. Stir mid-cooking if chili thickens too much. Adjust seasoning at the end as slow cooking concentrates flavors. For vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with extra beans or plant-based meat and use vegetable broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chili, hearty chili, easy chili recipe, family meal, comfort food, ground beef chili, slow cooker recipe

Find it online: https://twinkletaste.com/cozy-hearty-slow-cooker-chili-recipe-for-six-easy-and-perfect-meal/