The Ultimate 5-Way Crockpot Chili for Busy Weeknights

Are you on the hunt for that ideal meal that marries comforting, hearty flavours with a wonderfully hands-off cooking approach? We certainly understand the challenge. Coming home to the welcoming scent of a dinner that’s ready and waiting is a dream for many. The pressure of weeknight cooking is a familiar story, but we’re here to share our foolproof, stress-busting solution: our phenomenal 5-Way Crockpot Chili for Busy Weeknights.

This is far more than just another chili recipe; it’s a genuine game-changer for your weekly meal plan. We’re talking about a rich, savoury, and deeply satisfying meal that demands very little of your time but rewards you with an abundance of taste. The real magic of this dish is its simplicity and its incredible adaptability. You just need to load your slow cooker with the ingredients in the morning, and by evening, a spectacular meal is ready to be enjoyed in five distinct and mouth-watering ways. Let’s explore how we can make your weeknights simpler and significantly more delicious.

Why You’ll Adore This Recipe

• Effortless Cooking: We are huge fans of recipes that do the hard work for us. With a mere 15 minutes of preparation, your slow cooker takes charge, simmering the chili to absolute perfection while you go about your day. It’s the ultimate easy weeknight chili.
• Wonderfully Versatile: The “5-Way” serving method empowers everyone at the table to customise their bowl. This is a brilliant strategy for pleasing varied preferences and even the fussiest of eaters, solidifying its status as a family favourite. It’s a truly multi-purpose chili.
• Ideal for Meal Prep: This recipe yields a generous amount, making it perfect for family meal prep. You can enjoy it for dinner tonight and repurpose the leftovers for lunches or another meal later in the week. It also freezes beautifully!
• Rich, Developed Flavour: Cooking low and slow gives the spices and ingredients time to harmonise, creating a depth of flavour that a quick, stovetop chili simply can’t replicate. This method ensures the beef is exceptionally tender and the sauce is wonderfully rich and complex.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 kg lean beef mince
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tins (400g each) chopped tomatoes
• 1 tin (400g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 tin (400g) cannellini or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 150ml beef stock
• 1 tbsp tomato purée

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Perfect Crockpot Chili

Creating this chili is a delightfully simple process. We’ve outlined the method in a few easy-to-follow steps to guarantee you achieve flawless results every time.

1. Brown the Mince

First and foremost, we must build a solid foundation of flavour. Warm the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the beef mince and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until it has browned all over. This step is vital for developing a deep, meaty taste. Once browned, carefully drain away any excess fat and move the mince into your slow cooker.

2. Sauté the Aromatics

In the same frying pan, add the chopped onions and cook for around 5–7 minutes, or until they have softened and become translucent. Next, stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until it’s fragrant. Be sure to keep a close eye on it to prevent it from burning! This straightforward step infuses the dish with a huge amount of flavour.

3. Combine Everything in the Crockpot

Now comes the wonderfully simple part. Transfer the cooked onions and garlic into the slow cooker with the beef mince. Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cocoa powder, salt, and pepper. Give everything a thorough stir to ensure the mince is evenly coated. Finally, add the chopped tomatoes, beef stock, both tins of beans, and the tomato purée. Stir until all the ingredients are well combined.

4. Let the Slow Cooker Work Its Magic

Secure the lid on your crockpot and select your cooking setting. You have two choices:

• On LOW: Cook for 6 to 8 hours. This allows the flavours to meld together for a truly rich and deep taste.
• On HIGH: Cook for 3 to 4 hours if you’re a little more pressed for time.

If your schedule permits, we highly recommend the low and slow approach. It truly elevates the chili, making it incredibly tender and flavourful. Plus, your home will be filled with the most amazing aroma!

The Famous “5-Ways”: How to Serve Your Chili

Here is where the real fun starts! The “5-Way” serving method, which takes inspiration from the classic Cincinnati chili, transforms a humble bowl of chili into an exciting, customisable meal. We suggest setting up a ‘chili bar’ with all the toppings so everyone can assemble their own perfect bowl.

1. 1-Way: The Classic. A straightforward, satisfying bowl of chili, served just as it is. An ideal choice for the purists.
2. 2-Way: Chili & Spaghetti. Ladle a generous portion of chili over a mound of freshly cooked spaghetti. It’s an unexpectedly delicious pairing!
3. 3-Way: Add the Cheese. This is the 2-Way, but crowned with a generous heap of finely grated mature cheddar. The cheese melts beautifully into the hot chili, forming an irresistible, gooey topping.
4. 4-Way: Onions or Beans? A 3-Way with one extra topping of your choice: either finely diced raw onion for a piquant crunch or an additional spoonful of beans.
5. 5-Way: The Works! This represents the ultimate chili indulgence. Begin with spaghetti, add the chili, smother it in cheese, and then top with both diced onions AND extra beans. It’s a veritable feast in a bowl!

Tips for the Perfect Customizable Slow Cooker Chili

One of the greatest attributes of this recipe is its sheer adaptability. Here are a few of our preferred ways to personalise it:

• Vary the protein: If beef isn’t your preference, this chili is equally delicious made with turkey or chicken mince. For a vegetarian alternative, a plant-based mince works wonderfully.
• Pack in more veg: Enhance the nutritional content by adding diced bell peppers, sweetcorn, or grated courgette at the same time as the onions.
• Customise the heat: For those who enjoy a spicier kick, add a finely chopped fresh chilli or a pinch of cayenne pepper with the spices. To make it milder, simply reduce the chili powder.
• Bean variations: Don’t hesitate to use your favourite beans. Black beans and pinto beans are both excellent additions that complement the flavours perfectly.

Crafting a truly memorable dish is all about tailoring it to suit you and your loved ones. Much like our well-loved Low Carb Chicken Casserole, this chili recipe serves as a brilliant base for your own culinary adventures.

Storing and Reheating Your Chili

This chili is one of those fantastic dishes that just keeps on giving. In fact, we think it tastes even more delicious the following day! To ensure your leftovers are safe and tasty, follow our simple storage guidance.

• In the Fridge: Let the chili cool down completely before placing it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• In the Freezer: This chili is a dream to freeze. Simply portion it into freezer-safe containers or bags, and it will keep for up to 3 months. This is a brilliant way to have a home-cooked meal on standby for those extra-hectic evenings.
• Reheating: If frozen, thaw the chili overnight in the fridge. To reheat, warm it gently in a saucepan on the hob, ensuring it is piping hot all the way through. You can also use a microwave. For comprehensive advice on reheating food safely, we always refer to the guidance from the Food Standards Agency.

Having a supply of this chili in your freezer turns quick lunches into a simple affair. It’s just as versatile for meals on the go as our popular Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls.

FAQ

Your New Weeknight Hero

And there we have it—a straightforward, delectable, and incredibly adaptable chili recipe that we are confident will become a firm favourite in your household. Our 5-Way Crockpot Chili for Busy Weeknights is proof that you don’t need to dedicate hours to the kitchen to produce a memorable, comforting meal that gathers everyone around the dinner table.

This is more than a simple recipe; it’s a blueprint for stress-free evenings, a canvas for creative family meals, and a delicious method for taking back your weeknights. So, it’s time to get out your slow cooker and prepare to savour the deep, comforting flavours of a home-cooked chili that almost prepares itself.

We would be thrilled to hear how you serve your chili! Which ‘way’ do you and your family enjoy the most? Let us know in the comments section below, and please do share this recipe with a friend who could use a simple and delicious dinner idea!

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Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 3 hours
Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 kg lean beef mince
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tins (400g each) chopped tomatoes
• 1 tin (400g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 tin (400g) cannellini or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 150ml beef stock
• 1 tbsp tomato purée

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pan. Add the beef mince and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat and transfer the mince to the slow cooker.
2. In the same pan, sauté the onions for 5-7 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant. Transfer to the slow cooker.
3. Add the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cocoa powder, salt, pepper, chopped tomatoes, drained beans, beef stock, and tomato purée to the slow cooker. Stir everything together until well combined.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Serve hot with your favourite toppings.

Nutrition (per serving):
444 calories,
22g carbs,
30g protein,
23g fat