Can I make this easy chili spicier?

For a spicier chili, stir in additional chili powder, cayenne pepper, or diced jalapeños with the other ingredients before cooking.

How can I thicken this chili?

To thicken the chili, stir in finely crushed saltine crackers until the desired thickness is achieved. You can also leave off the lid to cook off excess moisture, or add a cornstarch slurry at the end of cooking.

Can I double this easy chili recipe?

This chili recipe can be easily doubled—just check that it fills your slow-cooker no more than 3/4 of the way full.

Can I make this slow-cooker chili on the stovetop?

To make this chili on the stovetop, cook beef and onion mixture as directed in a Dutch oven or pot. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until thickened.

Easy Chili Recipe

Active Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

4 hrs 15 mins

Servings:

6 to 8

Nothing takes the chill off a late fall afternoon or early winter evening like a bowl of this easy chili. It's simple enough to make in advance and great for freezing and pulling out when you need a last-minute crowd-pleaser. Serve this chili with a big bowl of salad and plenty of warm, fresh-from-the-oven biscuits or rolls for a satisfying meal.

Learn how to make our easy chili in a slow cooker, and discover why it's a reader favorite year after year.

Why This Easy Chili Is Always a Favorite

We've served many bowls of chili over the years, and most, if not every single one, have been winners. But when it comes to choosing the best of the best, we'll always select this easy slow-cooker chili with ground beef.

The ingredient list is low maintenance, calling for supermarket staples like ground beef, kidney beans, onion, bell pepper, and diced tomatoes. And the seasonings suggested are cumin, chili powder, and salt and pepper, which most folks already have in their spice cabinet.

Prep it, set it, and then forget it. That is, until it's time to serve for your family around the table or a houseful of guests.

Ingredients for Easy Chili

To make this chili, you'll need:

Ground beef: Lean for a hearty flavor without an excess of fat.
Onion, green bell pepper, and garlic: Build flavor in the chili.
Canned red kidney beans: Can be swapped with any type of beans you prefer, including black beans.
Beef broth: Helps thin the chili to spoon up nicely.
Canned diced tomatoes: Adds rich tomato flavor to the chili.
Chili powder: Spices up the mix.
Ground cumin: Adds an earthy warmth to the chili.
Salt & pepper: Enhances the flavor.

Southern Living Easy Chili ingredients — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

How To Make Easy Chili

With under 15 minutes of active time, the slow-cooker does the bulk of the work in this recipe. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic over medium-high heat. Stir until beef is no longer pink. Once cooked, drain.
Step 2. Transfer to a 5-quart slow cooker. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Step 3. Cook at HIGH 3 to 4 hours or at LOW 5 to 6 hours. Serve with preferred toppings.

Southern Living Easy Chili after cooking in the slow cooker — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Can I Make Easy Chili Ahead?

For even deeper flavor, this chili can be made and refrigerated overnight, or for up to three days. It can also be frozen for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight if frozen, then reheat on the stovetop on low until hot throughout before serving.

What To Serve With Easy Chili

This one-pot meal makes a great holiday potluck addition. It also warms hungry fans at football tailgates, and is delicious enough to be worthy of a Sunday Supper main dish.

For an extra hearty dish, serve with tortilla chips, sliced jalapeños or green onions, shredded cheese, cilantro, lime wedges, or sour cream. And don't forget a side of biscuits, cornbread, or rolls for scooping up every last spoonful.

More Beef Chili Recipes You'll Love

There can never be too many chili recipes in your arsenal. Beef up that recipe box (pun intended) with some of these favorites:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Easy Chili - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 medium chopped onion
1 small chopped green bell pepper
2 minced garlic cloves
1 (16 oz.) canned red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups beef broth
1 (14 1/2 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions

Cook ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic:

In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic over medium-high heat. Stir until beef crumbles and is no longer pink. Once cooked, drain mixture.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Add ground beef mixture to slow cooker.

Place ground beef mixture in a 5-quart slow cooker. Stir in beans, broth, diced tomatoes, chili powder, pepper, salt, and ground cumin.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cook chili:

Cook at HIGH 3 to 4 hours or at LOW 5 to 6 hours.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this easy chili spicier?

For a spicier chili, stir in additional chili powder, cayenne pepper, or diced jalapeños with the other ingredients before cooking.
How can I thicken this chili?

To thicken the chili, stir in finely crushed saltine crackers until the desired thickness is achieved. You can also leave off the lid to cook off excess moisture, or add a cornstarch slurry at the end of cooking.
Can I double this easy chili recipe?

This chili recipe can be easily doubled—just check that it fills your slow-cooker no more than 3/4 of the way full.
Can I make this slow-cooker chili on the stovetop?

To make this chili on the stovetop, cook beef and onion mixture as directed in a Dutch oven or pot. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until thickened.