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Great chili cooked in the traditional way takes hours of attention, but with a crock pot you can just put all the ingredients in at once and let it do the work for you. Prepare your chili in the morning and come home in the evening to a fragrant, delicious dish made with dried beans and plenty of spices.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion
- 1 green pepper
- 1 red pepper
- 1 yellow or orange pepper
- 2 14-ounce cans tomatoes- can replace with fresh diced tomatoes(10-12)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 6 oz jar sliced jalapenos- replace with fresh ones- about 6 sliced and seeds removed
- 1 cup dried pinto beans
- 1 cup dried light red kidney beans
- 1/2 cup dried great northern beans
Steps
Preparing the Ingredients
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.1Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.2Brown the beef in the skillet. Use a spatula to break it up into pieces as it cooks. Continue browning the beef and breaking it up until it's cooked.Advertisement -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.3Remove the beef to a plate. -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.5Dice the green and red peppers. -
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Cooking the Chili
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.1Place all the ingredients in the crock pot. -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.2Add enough water to cover the ingredients. -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.3Place the lid on the pot. -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.4Cook the chili on high for 6 - 8 hours. -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.5Serve the chili. When it's finished, it will have a deep brownish red hue. Serve with fresh chopped onions and crackers or tortilla chips.
Trying Variations
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.1Make white bean crock pot chili. This delicious variation on crock pot chili uses ground turkey instead of ground beef. Replace the kidney beans and pinto beans with great northern beans, and use plenty of green chiles. -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.2Make Texas crock pot chili. You can skip the beans altogether and use 2 pound of chopped sirloin steak instead of ground beef. Slow cook the meat and vegetables until the meat is fall-apart tender. -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.3Make vegetarian crock pot chili. Replace the ground beef with an extra cup of black beans, and add carrots, celery, sweet potatoes, and any other vegetables you love to eat. Cover the chili ingredients with vegetable broth instead of water. After 6 - 8 hours of cooking, your vegetarian chili will be deliciously rich. -
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The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.4Finished.
Shopping List and Recipe
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhen making chili in the crock pot, does the ground beef have to be cooked first?
Community AnswerYes. If you do not brown the ground beef, it is very mushy in the recipe. -
QuestionDo the dry beans need to be softened first?Community AnswerYes. You can preboil them or you can just soak them in water overnight.
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QuestionIf it already takes 8 hours to cook, is it really necessary to pre-soak the beans?Community AnswerI have made this 5 or 6 times, soaked and not soaked. It tastes the same either way. You don't need to soak them, just rinse them well.
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About This Article
To make crock pot chili with dried beans, place 2 pounds of browned ground beef, 1 large chopped onion, 1 chopped green pepper, 1 chopped red pepper, 2 14-ounce cans of tomatoes, 4 cloves of minced garlic, 3 tablespoons of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 6 oz. of sliced jalapenos, 1 cup dried pinto beans, and 1 cup black beans in the crock pot. Then, add enough water to cover all of the ingredients in the pot, and cook on high with the lid on for 6 hours. Serve the chili with rice, beans, or chips! For tips on preparing the ingredients and trying variations, read on!
