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Award Winning Crockpot Chili Recipe

Try this award-winning crockpot chili recipe packed with beef, bacon, vegetables, and flavorful spices. Perfect for cozy dinners.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Cook Time 6 hours
Servings 10 -12 Servings
Calories 430kcal
Author Meghan Birnbaum

Ingredients

Spice Mixture:

  • 4 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Meat, Vegetables, Beans:

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 5 slices thick sliced hardwood hickory smoked bacon
  • 2 bell peppers chopped
  • 3 ribs celery chopped
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • ½ - 1 jalapeno seeded and diced
  • 10.5 oz beef consomme or beef stock
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 can chili beans pinto beans in mild or medium sauce
  • 1 can kidney beans in mild chili sauce

Instructions

  • Prepare the vegetables by chopping the bell peppers, celery, and onion, and dicing the jalapeno pepper.
  • Cook the bacon in a large cast iron skillet until lightly crisp, then remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Saute the vegetables in the bacon grease for about 5 minutes, until tender, then remove and drain as much bacon grease as possible.
  • Cook the ground beef in the same skillet with the bacon grease, breaking it into pieces about 1-2 inches. Cook one pound at a time so that the meat has enough room to brown and not steam.
  • Mix together the spice mixture ingredients in a small bowl.
  • In a slow cooker, mix the beef consomme or beef stock with the tomato paste. Add the Worcestershire sauce and spice mixture, and stir to blend. Taste the mixture and adjust spices as desired.
  • Add the cans of undrained tomatoes and beans, sauteed vegetables, and cooked ground beef to the slow cooker. Chop or cut the bacon into about ½ inch pieces and add to the chili mixture.
  • Cover and cook on low for about six hours.
  • Serve in a bowl with desired toppings. 

Notes

  • Use a large cast iron skillet to cook the bacon, vegetables, and ground beef separately.
  • Drain the excess bacon grease from the vegetables and ground beef to avoid a greasy chili.
  • Brown the ground beef in small batches to ensure it browns properly.
  • Mix the spices together in a small bowl before adding them to the crockpot to ensure even distribution.
  • Taste the chili and adjust the spice level to your liking.
  • Serve with your favorite toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and avocado.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 25g