Slow Cooker Two Bean Spicy Chili
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It’s that time of year again. The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are falling… or as recently as this weekend, snow if you live in the Northeast! It’s the perfect time to pull out the slow cookers and whip up some delicious food. Even though I’m usually home when I’m using my slow cooker, I love it because I don’t have to stand in the kitchen for an extended time. Best of all it makes the house smell amazing. It’s slightly torturous but in a good way. It just feels right to have yummy food smells wafting through house and even sneaking through vents and filling the air outside!
Speaking of this past weekend, I had this chili made the day before the snow hit. It was gone before Saturday night. Apparently it was just that good. How could you not love a hot bowl of chili on a cold Fall day? The Mr finished up the last of it before we lost power. Yep… we lost power. We got 10″ of heavy snow and were without power for nearly a full day, but it could have been a lot worse. I’ll have my fingers crossed that it’s an easy winter but definitely won’t be holding my breathe! Mother nature has not been nice this year.
I hate to think that we have five to six more months of cold weather but that means lots of yummy comfort food, new and old, both in and out of the slow cooker. I’m always looking for new ideas so send them my way!
As for this recipe, I’ve made a beef chili once before. That was before I owned a slow cooker and I promise, the slow cooker makes it so much easier. Not that chili is hard but there’s just something about throwing ingredients in the bowl and walking away. There isn’t much that’s easier. This requires slight prep work but in general is super easy. As always, this can be adjusted to your liking. If you’re not a fan of spicy food, cut back on the red pepper flakes or leave them out completely. This chili would be perfect for any week night or for a big sports weekend. Throw your ingredients together in the morning and by game time or dinner, you have a delicious crowd pleasing spicy chili.
Slow Cooker Two Bean Spicy Chili
Ingredients
- Optional toppings: Shredded cheddar cheese Sour cream Chopped green onions
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion
- 1 C green bell pepper
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 30 oz whole tomatoes partially drained
- 15 oz dark red kidney beans drained and rinsed well
- 15 oz great northern beans drained and rinsed well
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Toppings:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Green onions
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef until heated through. Reserve drippings, if removed from skillet while cooking.
- Prepare vegetables; chop pepper and onion, mince garlic. Drain and rinse beans well in a strainer. Partially drain tomatoes. Set aside. Add tomatoes to slow cooker, press down on each tomato with a fork to break apart just slightly. Add remaining ingredients to slow cooker, including reserved beef fat. Gently stir. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Divide among bowls. Top off with optional cheese, sour cream and onions. Serve with crackers if desired. Can be refrigerated or frozen, label well with the contents and date made.
Notes
I love that you made this in the slow cooker!
we eat sooo much chili in the winter. I love having a hot meal ready when I get home form work.
I typically use turkey so I don’t brown it and drain it before putting it in the slow cooker. I just dump it all in at the begining. ha!
Alright you win. In NJ we only had a few inches, nothing compared to you. We don’t have a slow cooker yet – I’m trying to convince Rachel they aren’t a fire hazard and that you really can “cook” while you aren’t home. This looks like great comfort food. I’d load mine up with tabasco because I’m weird like that ;)
This has enough heat already you may not need to add tobasco but give it a try and see! No harm really right? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a house burning down due to a slow cooker ;)
Yum! This looks like delicious chili :) And you can’t beat slow cooker meals!
My family would love this delish chili! Great recipe :)
I love chili- I need to use my slow cooker more often.
Gah there was more that I wanted to say but I’m still trying to figure out my phone. Anyhoo- I love love love your wavy bowls. Love them! And so funny about making chili as this storm hit. It is a weird tradition in my house but I ALWAYS make chili and cornbread on the first snow. :)
I agree, slow cookers are where it’s at! The chili looks hearty and comforting. Just, lovely!
I can’t believe how much snow you had – WOW.
So happy it’s chili season again…
I’ve never tried great northern beans in chili but I like the idea! Now I want chili. Boo.
I love slow cooker soup! I have never made chili in the slow cooker but I really need too!!!
I made chili in the slow cooker over the weekend too! We used ground turkey and tequila, and it was definitely nice to have in the midst of the snow. Your variation looks delicious!
Great minds think alike! :)
That’s definitely the best part of a slow cooker. Even if you’re home, you get to do all sorts of things while your house smells like heaven. This sounds perfect on a cold day. Hope you got power back!!
My slow cooker is cooling down now from wiping up a big batch of chili. If it’s gone by the end of the weekend I will be so thankful! lol. 6 months of comfort sounds like Im going to go need to get some new pants ;)
Slow cookers are such a life saver! Bet your house was smelling tasty around dinner time!
I like jalepenos in my chili… but I love the looks of your recipe. I’ve literally turned my friends faces red because there is so much heat in my chili! Never done it in slow cooker, I like to do my ribs that way, but will try it now. THANKS!
I dream of owning one of these (slow cooker) after we move into our own place. (We’re bunking with the in laws to save money). 3 more long months to go ugh.
Maybe you can hint to them that you’d love one as a housewarming gift! :) They’re a lot of fun.
Rachel, another amazing recipe I will have to try. I have the ground beef, might have to make this next week.
This looks delicious! Often, I’m not at home when my slow cooker is working its magic and I miss all the good smells. I need to start making meals like this on the weekend when I’m home to enjoy it cooking :)
There is nothing better than a bowl of chili on a chilly day! I love that this recipe is put in a slow cooker too! Easy and delicious! :)
I just love trying new chili recipes. Now I have another one on my list – yours! This looks like a really and delicious version.
I think you meant to write “cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours” and not the other way round. ;-)
Going to try this out today!
Whoops! Sorry about that and thanks for catching the typo! I hope you enjoy it!