Best Darn Chili–a bold, hearty chili made with lean ground beef, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, and warm spices, all simmered low and slow in the crockpot for big flavor with minimal effort.
Best Darn Chili
Mmm! This chili lives up to its name. Seasoned ground beef is mixed with a trio of peppers (Anaheim, jalapeño, and red bell) that give it just the right amount of kick without burning your mouth off. The combo of Better than Bouillon, Worcestershire sauce and a splash of white wine vinegar adds amazing depth. Toss it all in the slow cooker with your spices and tomatoes, then basically forget about it for a few hours while your house smells incredible. Stir in some kidney beans at the end, and you’ve got a big pot of hearty chili that’s perfect for topping with Fritos, sour cream, and green onions. It’s great the night of but even better the next day! (Recipe adapted from Best Damn Chili on All Recipes.)
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Lean Ground Beef–or ground turkey or beef stew meat
- Diced Onion
- Red Bell Pepper–or green bell pepper
- Anaheim Pepper–or poblano pepper
- Jalapeño–or serrano for more heat
- Garlic Cloves–or jarred minced garlic
- Garlic Powder
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Better Than Bouillon Beef Base–or beef bouillon cube
- Water
- Crushed Tomatoes–or fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
- Tomato Paste
- White Wine Vinegar–or red wine vinegar
- Chili Powder
- Cumin
- Brown Sugar
- Dried Basil
- Smoked Paprika
- Dried Oregano
- Black Pepper
- Kosher Salt
- Kidney Beans–or pinto beans
Steps
Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the ground beef and break it up. Add in the onion, bell pepper, Anaheim pepper and jalapeno. Brown for 5 minutes. Add in garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Transfer to slow cooker.
Stir in the garlic powder, Worcestershire, bouillon, water, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, basil, paprika, oregano, pepper and salt.
Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours. Stir in the beans and cook for 10 more minutes.
Ladle into bowls and top with Fritos, green onions and sour cream.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with cornbread.
- I used a 6 quart slow cooker. You can easily double this recipe in a 6 quart pot.
- Can I make this on the stovetop? Yes. Simmer covered on low for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste at the end and adjust salt or sweetness depending on your tomatoes.
- This recipe is gluten free and dairy free.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with tomato paste are Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Pork and Instant Pot Uncle Gary’s Chicken.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Best Darn Chili
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours on high
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
A bold, hearty chili made with lean ground beef, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, and warm spices, all simmered low and slow in the crockpot for big flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 20 oz lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1/2 of one red bell pepper, diced
- 1 Anaheim chile pepper, diced
- 1 jalapeno, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Pinch of garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp Better than Bouillon beef base
- 1 cup water
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Instructions
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the ground beef and break it up. Add in the onion, bell pepper, Anaheim pepper and jalapeno. Brown for 5 minutes. Add in garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Transfer to slow cooker.
- Stir in the garlic powder, Worcestershire, bouillon, water, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, basil, paprika, oregano, pepper and salt.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours. Stir in the beans and cook for 10 more minutes.
- Ladle into bowls and top with Fritos, green onions and sour cream.
- Category: Beef
- Method: Slow Cooker
More slow cooker recipes…
Slow Cooker Nacho Mama’s Chili
A super easy chili recipe that is a cross between chili and nachos. Toss all the ingredients into the slow cooker and let them simmer all day for maximum flavor! I serve this with lots of crunched up tortilla chips. This recipe is perfect for game day and tailgaiting.
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Chili
Addictive and delicious creamy chicken chili with bacon!
Slow Cooker Frito Pie Chili
All the flavors from frito pie except in the form of stew. You might want to double this recipe and have it for lunch all week!
Homemade White Chili (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker)
Make white chicken chili from scratch using dried beans and tender chicken breasts. It’s thick and creamy and comforting. Although this recipe is homemade it’s made quickly in your Instant Pot or your slow cooker.
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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