Cook Ground Beef Before Crock Pot?

Everyone has a go-to method for making chili, but this slow cooker chili recipe is our favorite. It's perfectly seasoned with just the right level of heat!

We might be a little biased, but we think this slow cooker chili recipe is the best chili ever! Whip up a batch as a perfect game day snack, or enter it in this year's chili cook-off. It has all the beefy, spicy flavor you know and love, but we added a few secret ingredients that take things to the next level. Adding smokey bacon and pickled jalapeno slices really amps up the flavor, and we snuck in one extra ingredient that contributes a malty backbone to the slow-cooker stew.

How Do You Make the Best Chili Ever?

Everyone has a secret chili ingredient, and few people are willing to share theirs. We'll tell you ours: it's beer! How do you choose the best beer? Well, you can use any kind you like, but the style will affect the overall flavor. Darker beers like stouts and porters add roasty, robust flavors while lighter beers contribute more moderate levels of maltiness. Anything with a lot of hops (such as an IPAs or pale ales) will add a touch of bitterness to your chili, so it's best to stick to the low-hop beers. Here's more information about how to cook with beer.

Have some fun and play around with different styles. If you're not a huge beer fan, we'd recommend starting with a lager like Shiner Bock or Negra Modelo.

Can You Put Raw Beef in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can totally cook raw beef in a slow cooker. Many slow-cooker chili recipes have a step for browning the beef before it goes into the Crock-Pot. While this step isn't necessary, caramelizing the meat creates richer, bolder flavors. But, if you don't want to clean the extra dish or you don't have time to make it happen, feel free to skip this step!

Psst! Our Test Kitchen's go-to slow cooker allows you to brown meat and slow cook in one pot. Learn more.

How Long Does Chili Take in a Slow Cooker?

If you're browning your beef ahead of time, your chili can be ready in 4 to 5 hours on low (or, 2 to 3 hours on high). Because all the ingredients are already cooked, you only need to simmer the chili until the flavors meld together. If the meat is raw, increase the cooking time to 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chili

Taste of Home

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound bulk pork sausage
• 2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes with mild green chilies, undrained
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with onions, undrained
• 1 can (12 ounces) beer
• 6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeno slices
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and chopped green onions, optional for garnish

Yield: 12 servings

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the beef and sausage

Start by browning the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. It may dirty an extra pan, but it's totally worth it because it increases the depth of flavor. Cook the beef for 6 to 8 minutes until it's no longer pink, breaking it up into crumbles as you go. Drain the fat and transfer the beef to a 6-quart slow cooker. Repeat the process with the sausage.

Step 2: Load up the slow cooker

Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker, except the optional garnishes. Stir until everything is well combined and cook, covered, on low for 4 to 5 hours. Since all the ingredients are already cooked, you only need to heat everything through and allow the flavors time to meld together.

Step 3: Garnish and serve

Ladle the chili into individual bowls and top with shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions, if using. Alternatively, you can spoon the chili over hot dogs, spaghetti, nachos or French fries.

Pro Tip: Don't worry if you have a ton of leftovers! After the chili cools down, freeze it in individual portions or press it flat in gallon-sized freezer bags for easy storage. It will stay good in the freezer for 4 to 6 months.

For more chili-making secrets, check in with our Culinary Director, Sarah Farmer.

Get More Chili

Game-Stopper Chili

This hearty chili with sausage, beef, beans and barley is perfect for the halftime food rush. People actually cheer when they see me coming with my slow cooker! —Barbara Lento, Houston, Pennsylvania

Get your cozy fix with these slow cooker soups, too!

White Bean Chicken Chili

My sister shared this white bean chicken chili recipe with me. I usually double it and add one extra can of beans, then serve with cheddar biscuits or warmed tortillas. The jalapeno adds just enough heat to notice but not too much for my children. —Kristine Bowles, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Try these healthy slow cooker recipes during the cold months, too.

Slow-Cooked Chili

This hearty slow cooker chili can cook for up to 10 hours on low in the slow cooker. It's so good to come home to its wonderful aroma after a long day away. —Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana

Is your slow cooker seeing a lot of action? Learn how to clean a slow cooker to keep it working great.

Flavorful White Chili

For a tasty twist on conventional chili, try this low-fat version. It's packed with plenty of beans, tender grilled chicken and a zippy blend of spices. —Wilda Bensenhaver of Deland, Florida

Want your chili faster? Learn how to convert slow cooker recipes into Instant Pot recipes.

Texican Chili

This flavorful, meaty chili is my favorite, and it's so easy to prepare in the slow cooker. It's a terrific way to serve a crowd without last-minute preparation. I got the idea from my mother, who used her slow cooker often for soups and stews. —Stacy Law, Cornish, Utah

Hearty Slow-Cooker Chili

When it's time to build my zesty chili, I combine everything the night before. In the morning, I load the slow cooker and let it do the work. —Molly Butt, Granville, Ohio

Healthy Turkey Chili

I've taken my mother's healthy turkey chili recipe and made it thicker and more robust. It's a favorite, especially in fall and winter. —Celesta Zanger, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Creamy Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili

My friend Caroline Gray and I came up with this creamy slow-cooker white chicken chili. It's unusual because it calls for Alfredo sauce. —Cindi Mitchell, St. Marys, Kansas

Spicy Cowboy Chili

Toasting the peppers for this chili releases their earthy flavors – but do wear gloves when handling dried peppers and seeds. — Rachel Sprinkel, Hilo, Hawaii

Spicy Touchdown Chili

For me, football, cool weather and chili just seem to go together. Whether I'm cheering on the local team on a Friday night or enjoying a Saturday afternoon of Oklahoma Sooner football with some friends, I enjoy serving this chili on game day. —Chris Neal, Quapaw, Oklahoma

Slow-Cooker Spicy Pork Chili

Tender pork adds extra heartiness to this slow-cooked chili. You can use pork tenderloin, boneless pork roast or boneless pork chops for the pork called for in the recipe. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Hearty Taco Chili

Ranch dressing mix and taco seasoning give extra special flavor to my hearty chili. Folks will come back for seconds. —Julie Neuhalfen, Glenwood, Iowa

Black & White Bean Chili

This is a healthy and filling meal that even the kids love! The satisfying chili is great for football games or potluck dinners. —Katti Scott, Manteo, North Carolina

Black Bean, Chorizo & Sweet Potato Chili

Chili is one of my all-time favorite dishes. This recipe takes chili to the next level by changing up the flavors and adding a surprise--sweet potatoes. —Julie Merriman, Cold Brook, New York

Chipotle Beef Chili

I love spicy food, so I think this chili really hits the spot. If you are sensitive to chile peppers, start out with one or two chipotles and go up from there. —Steven Schend, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Green Chile Chicken Chili

The prep work for this chili is easy thanks to several pantry staples. It's loaded with shredded chicken and beans. The spicy heat can be tamed a bit with cool sour cream. —Fred Lockwood, Plano, Texas

Slow-Cooked Chunky Chili

Pork sausage, ground beef and plenty of beans make this chili a marvelous meal. I keep serving-size containers of it in my freezer at all times so I can quickly warm up bowls on busy days. —Margie Shaw, Greenbrier, Arkansas

Carrie's Cincinnati Chili

Every time we have a gathering or company, folks request this. My husband convinced me to enter it in a local chili contest, and I won third place! It's quick and easy. If I don't have fresh garlic, I use minced garlic from a jar. —Carrie Birdsall, Dallas, Georgia

Marty's Bean Burger Chili

My husband and I met while working the dinner shift at a homeless shelter that served my chili. I've revised the chili using bean veggie burgers. —Marty Nickerson, Ellington, Connecticut

Mexican White Chili

White chili may be a little different from what you're used to, but it's sure to warm you up on a chilly night. Cilantro and cumin give this chili an authentic Mexican flavor. —Shari Meissner, Chester, Montana

Pork Chili

My husband usually tries to avoid spending time in the kitchen, but he'll frequently offer to prepare this easy chili. Of course, he always eagerly serves as taste tester! —Linda Temple, St. Joseph, Missouri

Sandy's Slow-Cooked Chili

I like to use my homemade stewed tomatoes and pizza sauce in this recipe. It's the perfect chili—not too spicy. It's a cinch to whip up. —Sandy McKenzie, Braham, Minnesota

Slow-Cooker Chicken & Sweet Potato Chili

I'm a college student and one of the things I miss the most at school is my mom's wonderful cooking. This slow cooker recipe is something I can make in my dorm on a busy Sunday. I just throw it all in the slow cooker before I leave for church and come back to piping hot homemade comfort food. Be sure to serve with a good sprinkle of cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and plenty of tortilla chips. —Bailey Starkey, Mount Vernon, Washington

Mexican Chicken Chili

Corn and black beans give this satisfying chili Mexican flair the whole family will love. Adjust the cayenne if you have small children or are looking for a little less zip. —Stephanie Rabbitt-Schappacher, West Chester, Ohio

Santa Fe Chili

This colorful and hearty chili is perfect for heartwarming, holiday get-togethers. My family has been enjoying it for years. —Laura Manning of Lilburn, Georgia

Bean & Beef Slow-Cooked Chili

This chili may be already chock-full, but we love to build it up even more with toppings like pico de gallo, red onion, cilantro and cheese. —Mallory Lynch, Madison, Wisconsin

Six-Bean Chili

When it's cold and frosty outside, this meatless chili is sure to warm you up. It's packed with fiber, protein and flavor. Serve it with sliced avocado, or add shredded cheese, corn tortilla chips or a side of your favorite cornbread. —Liz Bellville, Tonasket, Washington

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

I love this slow-cooker turkey chili recipe. Surprise ingredients like coffee and wine give it a rich, deep flavor that we balance by topping it off with avocado and green onion. Make a big batch and freeze any leftovers! —Terri Crandall, Gardnerville, Nevada

Barbecued Beef Chili

Served with a hot loaf of bread and a side salad, this slow-cooker chili makes a hearty meal. The recipe was inspired by two friends when we were talking about food at a potluck barbecue. —Phyllis Shyan, Elgin, Illinois

Hearty Sausage-Chicken Chili

The company I work for has an annual chili cook-off, and this unusual recipe of mine was a winner. I combined two chili recipes and then added a few extra touches of my own. —Carolyn Etzler, Thurmont, Maryland

Black Bean 'n' Pumpkin Chili

My family is crazy about this slow cooker chili because it uses ingredients you don't usually find in chili. Believe it or not, I discovered that pumpkin is what makes the dish so special. Cook up a big batch and freeze some for later; it tastes even better reheated. —Deborah Vliet, Holland, Michigan

Lime Navy Bean Chili

A lip-smacking touch of lime flavors Connie Thomas's low-fat but filling family favorite. "I love relying on my slow cooker," confides the Jensen, Utah cook. "Just fill it in the morning and come home to a wonderful, warm meal—no matter how busy the day!"

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Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/slow-cooker-chili-recipe/#:~:text=Can%20You%20Put%20Raw%20Beef,meat%20creates%20richer%2C%20bolder%20flavors.

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