Tillie Doyle
Chili is a popular dish that can be made in a crock pot or slow cooker. It is a simple dish to make, requiring browning of meat and vegetables, before being placed in the crock pot with other ingredients and left to cook for several hours. The dish is versatile, allowing for customisation with various beans, spices, and toppings, making it a favourite for families and game-day spreads.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cook time on low heat | 6-8 hours |
| Cook time on high heat | 3-4 hours |
| Main ingredients | Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, spices |
| Other ingredients | Onions, garlic, olive oil, jalapenos, tomato paste, beef broth, beer, kidney beans, black beans, crushed tomatoes, beef stock, cheese, sour cream, lime wedges, cilantro, cubed avocado, corn chips, hot sauce |
| Toppings | Cheese, sour cream, lime wedges, shredded cheese, cubed avocado, corn chips, hot sauce, tortilla chips, pita chips, peanut butter sandwiches |
| Best type of pot | Crock pot or slow cooker |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the ingredients
Once you have all your ingredients, start by browning the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. You can use olive oil or another cooking fat of your choice to prevent sticking. If you're using onions and garlic, add them to the skillet with the beef and cook until the beef is browned and the onions are softened.
After browning the beef, drain any excess grease from the skillet. Then, season the beef with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you prefer. Common seasonings used in chili include chili powder, paprika, cumin, and garlic powder. You can also add spices like oregano and cinnamon for extra flavor.
At this point, you can transfer the seasoned beef to your crockpot. Add the remaining ingredients, such as beans, tomatoes, and additional vegetables. If using canned beans, be sure to rinse and drain them before adding to the crockpot. You can also fill one of the empty cans with water and add it to the crockpot for some extra moisture.
Give everything a good stir to combine all the ingredients and seasonings. Taste your chili and adjust the seasonings as needed. You can also add beer or beef broth to the crockpot if you want to thin out the chili or add extra flavor.
Finally, put on the lid and let the crockpot work its magic! Crockpot chili typically cooks for 6-8 hours on low heat or 3-4 hours on high heat. Remember to stir occasionally and taste test to ensure your desired flavor and consistency.
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Cooking the meat
Once the meat is browned, season it with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can also add other seasonings like cumin, granulated garlic, and black pepper to taste. It is important to note that browning the meat is crucial for flavour and texture, enhancing the overall taste of the chilli. After seasoning, continue to cook the meat, breaking it up into smaller pieces, for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Once the meat is cooked, drain any excess grease from the skillet. This step ensures that the chilli is not overly greasy or oily. After draining, transfer the cooked meat to the crockpot, forming the base layer for the chilli. At this point, you can also add onions, garlic, and other vegetables to the crockpot if desired. The meat and vegetables will continue to cook and infuse their flavours as the crockpot chilli simmers.
For a crockpot chilli, it is recommended to cook the meat on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours. This slow cooking process allows the flavours to meld together, creating a rich and juicy chilli. The longer cooking time also ensures that the meat is tender and irresistible. Adjust the cooking time based on your desired consistency and texture, keeping in mind that chilli often improves with a longer simmering time.
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Adding the vegetables
Once you've browned your meat in a skillet, you can start adding the vegetables. If you want to add onions, chop them up and put them in the skillet with the meat. You can also add garlic to the skillet, but some recipes suggest adding the garlic to the crock pot later.
If you want to add peppers, you can cut them up and put them in the crock pot with the meat. You can also add them to the skillet with the meat, but be aware that the longer they are in the chili, the more the heat will spread throughout. If the peppers are spicy, you can remove the seeds and pith, and add them whole to the crock pot at the beginning. Take them out when the chili is spicy enough for your taste.
You can also add vegetables such as kidney beans, black beans, crushed tomatoes, and diced tomatoes to the crock pot. If you're using beans, give them a good rinse under the faucet first. You can also add beef stock, or fill one of the empty cans from the beans with water and pour it into the crock pot to add some moisture.
Stir everything well and cook on low heat for about 6-8 hours. If you're in a hurry, you can cook it on high heat for 3-4 hours.
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Using the crock pot
To start, brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat with a little olive oil. You can also add onions and garlic to the skillet to sauté along with the beef. Drain any excess grease from the pan before transferring the beef to the crock pot.
Next, add the remaining ingredients to the crock pot. This includes beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce or paste, and various seasonings such as chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. You can also add water or beef broth to adjust the consistency of the chili.
Stir all the ingredients in the crock pot until well combined. Then, cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours. The longer cooking time on low heat is ideal for developing flavour and tenderness in the meat. However, if you are short on time, the high heat setting will also produce delicious results.
Once the chili is cooked, you can adjust the consistency by adding beef broth if you prefer a thinner consistency. Stir the chili occasionally to achieve your desired consistency. Finally, serve the chili with your choice of toppings and sides, such as cheese, sour cream, avocado, or peanut butter sandwiches.
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Serving suggestions
There are many ways to serve chili cooked in a crock pot. Here are some suggestions:
As a Main Dish
Chili can be served on its own in a bowl, or in a bread bowl. It can also be used as a topping for hot dogs, burgers, nachos, or baked potatoes. For a gluten-free option, top a baked potato with hot chili. You can also serve it with a side of cornbread, biscuits, or fluffy homemade rolls.
As a Side
Chili can be served as a side with peanut butter sandwiches, or with a heaping serving of potato salad or broccoli slaw.
As a Topping
You can set up a nacho bar with toppings such as cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper Jack), fresh additions like chopped cilantro or a squeeze of lime, creamy toppings like sour cream or Greek yogurt, crunchy additions like tortilla chips, corn chips, or saltine crackers, avocado, spicy elements like jalapeño slices, hot sauce, or red pepper flakes, and onions (diced red or sliced green onions).
As a Base
Use chili as a base for Navajo Tacos: spoon it onto fry bread and add cheese and sour cream. You can also use leftover chili as the base for a chili shepherd's pie and top it with mashed potatoes.
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Frequently asked questions
You can cook chili in a crock pot on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
You will need ground beef, beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and spices such as chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and cumin. You can also add onions, garlic, and jalapenos.
Start by browning the ground beef and onions in a skillet over medium-high heat. Then, add the spices and other ingredients to the crock pot, and stir everything together well. Finally, add the browned beef and onions to the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
