Indulge in the hearty goodness of Slow Cooker Weeknight Chili, a culinary symphony of flavors that will warm your soul and tantalize your taste buds. This delectable dish is a perfect embodiment of comfort food, effortlessly prepared in your trusty slow cooker, allowing you to savor the aromas as it simmers throughout the day. With a symphony of ground beef, juicy tomatoes, tender beans, and a chorus of spices, this chili is a symphony of textures and flavors that will leave you craving for more.
The slow-cooking process allows the flavors to meld and deepen, resulting in a rich and complex tapestry of tastes. The ground beef adds a savory richness, while the tomatoes provide a vibrant acidity that balances the dish. Beans, with their hearty texture, add a wholesome touch, while the medley of spices, including chili powder, cumin, and oregano, creates a symphony of warmth that lingers on the palate.
This versatile recipe offers endless possibilities for customization, allowing you to tailor it to your personal preferences. Craving a bit of heat? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of Sriracha. Prefer a vegetarian twist? Simply substitute the ground beef with lentils or mushrooms. Feel free to experiment with different types of beans, such as black beans or kidney beans, to add a unique twist to the texture.
Accompaniments play a crucial role in elevating the chili experience. Serve it with a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkling of shredded cheese, and a side of crusty bread for a classic combination that never fails to satisfy. For those who relish a bit of crunch, a handful of chopped onions or a sprinkle of tortilla chips adds a delightful textural contrast.
As the chili simmers in your slow cooker, your kitchen will be filled with an enticing aroma that will have your family and friends eagerly anticipating mealtime. Gather around the table and savor the warmth and comfort of this classic dish, perfect for a cozy night in or a casual get-together.
SLOW-COOKER WEEKNIGHT CHILI(COOK'S COUNTRY)
Serve with sour cream and cheese to cool the burn. For less heat, reduce the cayenne pepper to 1/4 teaspoon or omit it altogether. The ground beef will become dry if the chili is cooked for more than 8 hours.
Provided by Coppercloud
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 6h20m
Yield 1 pot, 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- 1. Toast chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, cayenne, and pepper flakes in large Dutch oven over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer toasted spices to bowl. Add bacon to Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to plate lined with paper towels and pour off all but 1 teaspoon fat from pot. Return pot to medium heat, add onions and bell pepper, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- 2. Add beef, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, using wooden spoon to break up beef into 1/2-inch pieces, until just slightly pink, about 5 minutes. Drain beef and vegetables in colander.
- 3. Add tomato puree, diced tomatoes, and toasted spices to empty pot and bring to simmer over medium-high heat, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pot. Return drained beef and vegetable mixture and bacon to pot, stir to combine, and bring to simmer. Transfer contents to slow-cooker insert.
- 4. Set slow cooker to low, cover, and cook until tender, 6 to 8 hours, stirring in beans during last hour of cooking. (Alternately, cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.) Adjust seasonings and serve. (Leftovers can be refrigerated for several days or frozen for several months.).
- Make Ahead: If you'd prefer to just dump the chili ingredients into the slow cooker before running off to work, you can do all the work the night before. Follow the recipe through step 3, but continue to simmer the assembled chili for 10 minutes. Transfer the chili to an airtight container and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, simmer the chili in a Dutch oven for 10 minutes, then transfer it to your slow cooker and proceed with step 4.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 495.3, Fat 27.2, SaturatedFat 9.8, Cholesterol 78, Sodium 324.6, Carbohydrate 36, Fiber 11.1, Sugar 7.9, Protein 29.1
AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN SLOW COOKER WEEKNIGHT BEEF CHILI
This comes from the America's Test Kitchen book called Slow Cooker Revolution.I made a few changes because of what I had on hand and it tasted amazing!So flavorful without a lot of heat,not much heat actually,which is how I like it.So this is my version of their recipe,made to suit what I had on hand and the tastes I like.
Provided by LuuvBunny
Time 6h
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Mash bread and milk into paste in large bowl using fork.Mix in ground beef,1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.
- Heat oil in 12 inch skillet over medium high heat until shimmering.Add onions,chili powder,tomato paste,garlic,taco seasoning,oregano,green peppers,mushrooms and cook until onions are softened and lightly browned 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in beef mixture,1 pound at a time and cook,breaking up any large pieces with wooden spoon until no longer pink about 3 minutes per pound.Stir in remaining tomato paste,scraping any browned bits;transfer to slow cooker.
- Stir in diced tomatoes,with its juice,beans,soy sauce and brown sugar into slow cooker.Cover and cook until beef is tender,6-8 hours on low or 5 hours on high.
- This can also be made in a dutch oven or large pot and kept at a low simmer for 4-5 hours.
SLOW-COOKER WEEKNIGHT CHILI
Steps:
- Toast chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, cayenne, and pepper flakes in large Dutch oven over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer toasted spices to bowl. Add bacon to Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to plate lined with paper towels and pour off all but 1 teaspoon fat from pot. Return pot to medium heat, add onions and bell pepper, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add beef, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, using wooden spoon to break up beef into 1/2-inch pieces, until just slightly pink, about 5 minutes. Drain beef and vegetables in colander.
- Add tomato puree, diced tomatoes, and toasted spices to empty pot and bring to simmer over medium-high heat, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pot. Return drained beef and vegetable mixture and bacon to pot, stir to combine, and bring to simmer. Transfer contents to slow-cooker insert.
- Set slow cooker to low, cover, and cook until tender, 6 to 8 hours, stirring in beans during last hour of cooking. (Alternately, cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.) Adjust seasonings and serve. (Leftovers can be refrigerated for several days or frozen for several months). Yield: 10 to 12 servings.
Tips:
- Prep Vegetables and Meat Evenly: For a balanced texture, cut your vegetables and meat into uniform sizes. Smaller cuts will cook faster, while larger ones will take longer.
- Sear Beef and Sausage: Browning the beef and sausage before adding them to the slow cooker gives them a richer flavor and prevents them from becoming dry. Sear the meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat until well-browned, then drain any excess fat.
- Use Quality Ingredients: Fresh vegetables, flavorful chili powder, and premium-quality canned tomatoes will make a big difference in the final dish.
- Let it Simmer: The longer you let your chili simmer, the more time the flavors will meld and deepen. Aim for at least 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.
- Season to Taste: After the chili has finished cooking, taste it and adjust the seasonings as needed. Add more chili powder or cayenne pepper for heat, salt and pepper for balance, and a touch of sugar or honey to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes.
Conclusion:
This hearty and flavorful slow cooker weeknight chili is a perfect meal for busy weeknights. It's also a great way to use up leftover vegetables and meat. With its simple ingredients and minimal effort, this chili is sure to become a family favorite. Whether you serve it with sour cream, shredded cheese, or a side of cornbread, this chili is a delicious and satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy!
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