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Crock Pot Beef and Three Bean Chili Recipe

This crock pot beef and three bean chili recipe is so hearty, and can easily be made ahead. It’s also loaded with vegetables, juicy browned beef, and so much flavor from all the spices! It’s the perfect comforting dinner that can be made year round.

Want more crock pot chili recipes? Then you need to try my white chicken chili recipe! Or, branch out from the crock pot a little and try my 30 minute dutch oven beef chili or the BEST instant pot chili recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Three Bean Chili Recipe

One of my favorite comfort foods on a cool fall day is chili! You can always count on chili to fill and warm you right up, so having 2 or 3 different variations in your recipe box is a must. Here’s why I think this recipe should be one of your go-to choices!

  • Cozy and comforting flavor. Juicy beef, a trio of hearty beans, a plethora of fresh vegetables, smoked paprika, spicy chili powder, and more make every bite of this chili a dream!
  • Easy to make. Don’t let the list of ingredients scare you – this chili comes together so easily! Once you brown the beef, practically all you have to do is put the ingredients in the crock pot and wait for the meal to cook itself.
  • Adaptable. This recipe can easily be made vegan or in the instant pot! Feel free to adjust the ingredients or the cooking method to fit your preferences.
Beans in a crock pot of chili.

What You’ll Need

Chili is a great place to add extra vegetables, so you’ll see a few ingredients here that you might not normally add. Just trust me and add them! You’re going to love it. Here are the ingredients you’ll need (check out the recipe card below for exact amounts and the full directions).

  • Ground beef – I buy grass fed and use 85% lean 15% fat, but you could use 80/20 too if you’d like.
  • Avocado oil – For sautéing the onions and ground beef. 
  • Onion – I like to sauté my onions before I add them to the crock pot, it adds so much more flavor. For chili I prefer to use a yellow or sweet onion, however red onion would work for this as well.
  • Bell peppers – I use both diced green and red peppers in this recipe.
  • Carrots – I know, carrots are not a common ingredient in chili. But trust me, they add a nice crunch factor and some sweetness. You won’t even notice them.
  • Chipotle peppers – I love adding diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a little spice and smokiness in my chili. I add this to almost all my chili recipes, it’s one of my secret flavor weapons. You can find a can or a jar of this in your international aisle or latin food section.
  • Tomatoes – This recipe calls for a trio of tomatoes as well. I use organic, no salt added: crushed tomatoes, diced fire roasted tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
  • Beef broth – Adding beef broth gives you even more depth of flavor to this chili, it’s another one of my secret ingredients. You could sub with vegetable broth or even water if you’d like.
  • Spices – What is chili without a party of spices? My go-to spices for chili are cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, coriander, and oregano. Sometimes I add cinnamon in too, just to change it up.
  • Beans – This recipe calls for three types of beans. You’ll need black beans, red kidney beans, and pinto beans.

Which Types of Beans Are Used in Chili?

When it comes to beans I am of the opinion that they are an essential part of chili! It’s not chili without beans! The most popular beans to use in chili include pinto beans, kidney beans (both red and white), and black beans.

Are Kidney Beans the Same as Chili Beans?

No, they are not the same thing. Chili beans are usually pinto beans that are soaked in a chili type sauce, so there is a chili seasoning added to the beans which will change the flavor profile of your chili. I do not recommend using them.

Collage of how to make three bean chili.

How to Make Crock Pot Beef and Bean Chili

This recipe is primarily made in the crock pot, however you do need to cook the ground beef before it goes in there. Here’s how to make this easy chili recipe:

  • Heat a skillet to medium high heat. Then, add the avocado oil and onion to the skillet and sauté until translucent (about 2-3 minutes).
  • Next, add ground beef to the skillet. Cook until the beef is no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon throughout the cooking process.
  • Add the ingredients to the crock pot. Once the meat is cooked through, place the ground beef mixture, red and green pepper, carrots, chipotle peppers, crushed tomatoes, diced fire roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, coriander, and oregano in the crock pot.
  • Cook the chili. Stir everything, place the cover on, and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours.
  • Add in the beans. Now you can pour in the black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans.
  • Cook for an additional 30 minutes. Season your chili with salt and pepper as needed, too.
  • Serve and enjoy! Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, and diced avocado.

How to Make This Chili in the Instant Pot

You can definitely make this bean chili recipe in the instant pot if you prefer, just follow the directions below.

  • Turn the instant pot to sauté mode. Then, add your avocado oil and onion, and sauté until the onion is translucent.
  • Next, add ground beef. Cook until the beef is no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon throughout the cooking process.
  • Put everything but the beans in the instant pot. Add your red and green pepper, carrots, chipotle peppers, crushed tomatoes, diced fire roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, coriander, and oregano to the instant pot. Cancel sauté mode and turn on soup/chili mode (or pressure cooker mode) for 30 minutes. Then, do a natural release.
  • Pour in the beans. Add in the black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans. Turn on sauté mode for 20 minutes.
  • Serve. Season your chili with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
Two bowls filled with crock pot chili and toppings.

Tips & Recipe Variations

Before you get started, I have just a few more tips and tricks on crock pot beef and bean chili to share with you!

  • Cook the chili on low. Low and slow is the way to go – the chili is so much more flavorful when cooked this way! The beef is juicier, the vegetables are more tender… you get the gist.
  • Thicken the chili. If you like your chili on the thicker side, reduce the amount of broth you use. Alternatively, if you want to thin it out, carefully add a few tablespoons of broth at the end and stir until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Swap the meat for sweet potatoes. To make this crock pot chili vegetarian, just sub the ground beef with 3 cups sweet potatoes and sub the beef broth with vegetable broth. You’ll love the vegetarian version of this as well!

Topping Ideas

Let’s be real for a second. Chili is awesome. But chili with “all the fixins,” that’s even better! Here are my favorite ways to top chili. What are yours?

  • Diced avocado – Creamy diced avocado is a must for a bowl of chili in my family!
  • Shredded cheddar cheese – You can also use queso fresco if you like.
  • Diced green onions – I’m also a big fan of pickled onions and pickled (or fresh) jalapeños.
  • Fritos (or tortilla chips) – These are the best way to add some crunch to your chili!
  • Sour cream – A dollop of plain greek yogurt will also work.
  • Limes – A little tangy lime juice will make every bite of your chili explode with flavor.
  • Hot sauce – If you want to kick up the heat, this is one way to do it!
Two bowls filled with crock pot chili.

How to Store Beef and Bean Chili

If you end up with leftover chili, save it for later! This is the best way to do that:

  • To store. Keep your chili in the fridge in an airtight container. It should last there for 3-4 days, if needed.
  • To reheat. Simply use the microwave, and heat up a bowl in 30 second intervals.

Can I Freeze This Bean Chili Recipe?

This chili recipe is freezer friendly. To freeze, allow the chili to cool completely. Then, place it in a freezer safe storage bag or container – I like to label mine with the date I made it. Place it in the freezer, and the chili will keep for up to 3 months. 

Ladle scooping chili from a crock pot.

More Easy Chili Recipes

Can’t get enough when it comes to chili? Me neither! Here are some more recipes that I highly recommend:

Three bean chili in a crock pot with a wooden spoon.
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three bean chili in a crock pot with a wooden spoon

Crock Pot Beef and Three Bean Chili Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4 from 1 review
  • Author: Krista
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: 1012 1x
  • Category: Soups
  • Method: Crock Pot
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This crock pot beef and three bean chili recipe is a must once the weather gets colder. Filled with juicy ground beef, tender vegetables, lots of beans, a handful of spices, and more, this warm and cozy comfort food will fill you right up!


Ingredients

Scale

For the Chili

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 1/2 cup of onion, diced
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 2 green pepper, diced
  • 3 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 teaspoon diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
  • 15 oz. can of diced fire roasted tomatoes
  • 15 oz. can tomato sauce, no salt added
  • 1 cups of beef broth
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons of cumin
  • 2 tablespoons of chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tablespoon of coriander
  • 1/2 tablespoon of oregano
  • 15 oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz. can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz. can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed

For the Toppings (Optional)

  • Green Onions, sliced
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • Avocado, diced
  • Jalapeno
  • Sour Cream

Instructions

  1. Heat a skillet to medium high heat. Add avocado oil and onion to the skillet. Saute until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Next, add ground beef to the skillet. Cook until beef is no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon throughout the cooking process.
  3. Once the meat is cooked through, place the ground beef mixture, red and green pepper, carrots, chipotle peppers, crushed tomatoes, diced fire roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, coriander and oregano in the crock pot.
  4. Stir, cover, and cook on HIGH for 3-4  hours or LOW for 6-7 hours.
  5. Then add black beans, kidney beans and pinto beans.
  6. Cook for an additional 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper as needed
  7. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, and diced avocado.

Notes

  • To store. Keep your chili in the fridge in an airtight container. It should last there for 3-4 days, if needed.
  • To reheat. Simply use the microwave, and heat up a bowl in 30 second intervals.
  • To freeze. Allow the chili to cool completely. Then, place it in a freezer safe storage bag or container – I like to label mine with the date I made it. Place it in the freezer, and the chili will keep for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
  • Calories: 395
  • Sugar: 14 g
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Fiber: 17 g
  • Protein: 28 g

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51 comments on “Crock Pot Beef and Three Bean Chili Recipe”

  1. Avatar photo
    Griff Neilson

    This was amazing! I love this time of year for delicious soups like this and the 3 bean combo was stellar in this gem. My kids even liked it which really says something! Thank you! 🙂






  2. This looks like a fantastic recipe. I’ve searching for a chili recipe for the slow cooker with a great flavour, the chipotle should cover that. There is one ingredient I am not familiar with and I’m not sure I’ll be able to find here in Winnipeg (Canada), the can of sweet can. I’ve never heard of this ingredient, what is it? Is there something I can substitute for this?

    Thanks

    1. Oh… its a typo. It should say sweet corn not sweet can. I don’t know what that is either.. haha.. so basically you just need a can of corn to put into the chili. 🙂 Sorry for the confusion. I just updated it, good catch Lynn! Thanks so much, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

  3. This looks AMAZING!!! I adore chili and this looks much better than my recipe! I( will most definitely have to try it!

    1. Totally my favorite chili of all time, plus there are so many veggies packed into this one. Hope you have a great rest of the weekend Chris, thanks for the sweet comments!

  4. Great recipe – sounds delish! I love great slow cooker meals. Your blog design and photos are fantastic.

    1. Thanks Lisa, your too sweet. That means alot!

      Thats what I love about this meal too, slow cooker are a life saver. Especially for a mommy! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by girl, hope you have a great rest of the weekend!

  5. Avatar photo
    Rabia @TheLiebers

    That right there is a hearty looking chili! I might have to put that on the menu for next week!

    1. haha.. yes it is! Plus packed with veggies, but with the heat this chili packed I can guarantee any man will down this stuff. 🙂 Its a great superbowl option! Thanks for stopping by Rabia!

  6. Avatar photo
    Kendra @ Mommy, In Demand

    Yep. This will be happening on the next pay day. I love love love me a good chili and absolutely SUCK at making it on the stove. Tried about 1,000 recipes and bombed every single one of them. My mother can make it from scratch and apparently didn’t pass on that gene. So I will most definitely be throwing this baby in!

    1. haha.. nice. Well hopefully after you make this one your chili recipe search will be done and you can reclaim the “gene” that was rightfully yours. 🙂 Hope you like it Kendra. P.S. if you like it hot then add 1-2 more chipotle peppers {we usually do that, I just didn’t want to blow the socks off of people buy putting that in the recipe hehe}

  7. I’ve been wanting to make a homemade chili but just haven’t gotten to it yet. Yours looks yummy but I’m afraid my husband might snub his nose at it if he’s sees too many veggies. He’s so picky!

    1. haha… my dad is the same way. While they were here over Christmas I made this dish and he loved it. He did make a comment about the veggies but he said it was still good. 🙂 Men!!! Sheesh. 🙂 Can’t live with them can’t live without them. hehe Hope you have a great rest fo the week!

    1. Me too! One of my all time favorite comfort foods! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Christie and the follow, your too sweet! 🙂

  8. Avatar photo
    Nicole Nenninger

    Yum! I love how you’ve put in carrots and peppers in this! I might have to try this recipe tonight!

    1. Thanks Nicole, its my way of sneaking in the extra veggies. 🙂 Let me know how it turns out if you make it tonight! Thanks for stopping by!

  9. Happy SITS Day! I recently stopped eating meat, but I think this recipe would work without the ground beef. Is there anything you would recommend doing differently if I made it without meat?

    1. Hey Alisha! Totally understand that. I would just add more carrots and red peppers to this dish to “fill” it. But really it would be fine without the meat, the beans are the star of the show in this dish. 🙂 Hope you get a chance to try it, and go luck with the “no meat” thing. Curious does that mean, fish and poultry or just red meat?

      1. Thank you! I will definitely try that. Right now I’m still eating tuna and salmon, but I might do away with those over the next few months. No red meat or poultry. I’m always looking for recipes that include beans since they are a great source of protein. This one would be great!

        1. Your welcome Alisha! Good luck with the new way of life and eating, I know it can be hard in the beginning but once you get use to it you end up feeling so much better. I know we have with just this slight way of eating Paleo. 🙂

  10. Avatar photo
    linda kirkconnell

    I plan to make this. Can you substitute chili powder for the chipotle pepper? I can’t find that for less
    than $23 a can.
    Thanks for your help.

    1. too funny I went out to buy the stuff today and making it again tomorrow. 🙂 Hm… the can should be at your local grocery store in the latin american aisle and is usually like $1.50-3 depending. Hope that helps. Other wise I would use tabasco sauce {but the chipotle flavored kind} Enjoy it Linda! 🙂

  11. This looks delicious, Krista!! Definitely my kind of dinner! Pinning to try ASAP!

    ~Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy

    1. Aw, your so sweet. It WAS delicious! In fact, my husband, son, and I downed in like 2-3 days by ourselves! Hope you and those boys of yours enjoy!

  12. I cannot wait to start making chili! It is still a little warm where I’m at but I almost don’t care because this looks so good! My hubby loves his chili packed with beans and so I’m for sure gonna try this! Pinning!

    1. haha.. girl. I understand, when I made this chili it was 100 degrees outside. But I figure if I make “fall foods” eventually texas will realize it is FALL and start to cool down. A girl can wish, right? I hope you and your hubbie enjoy this chili! Thanks for pinning!

  13. Avatar photo
    Cindy Eikenberg

    Krista, cannot wait to try this Chili for a football watching Sunday! Thanks so much for sharing and joining us at Best of the Weekend – pinning to our party board! Hope you have a happy Thursday and hope you can party with us tomorrow night! 🙂

    1. Oh… nothing better than football, beer, and chili! 🙂 Sounds like a good sunday to me. Thanks for pinning and sharing, you gals rock! 🙂

  14. Avatar photo
    Lisa @ Wine & Glue

    Krista, this looks so yummy! There is nothing better than a good chili in the fall. Definitely pinning this. Thank you so much for sharing it at Wake Up Wednesdays!

    1. Aww.. thanks Lisa! So true… thanks for pinning and for throwing such an awesome party, its growing like crazy! 🙂

  15. Avatar photo
    PJ @ Planned in Pencil

    It is totally chili season here in NW PA. I’ve made it twice in the past two weeks! thanks for sharing it at the Pinworthy Project Linkup!

    1. oh.. so jealous! I so want it to be cool out and refreshing to step outside. But alas, I must wait longer. 🙁 Thanks for stopping by and showing some ‘love’.

    1. Me too! Can it please just be 50 degrees again? Love wearing my boots, scarfs, and eating chili! 🙂

  16. I love the chipotle pepper, cumin and lime great combination of ingredients. Thanks for sharing this with us on foodie friday.

    1. Thanks Diane, it is by far my favorite chili recipe with all the yummy flavors. Thanks for throwing a party for me to share at. 🙂

  17. Avatar photo
    marcie@flavorthemoments

    I could eat soups and chilis every day, and this one is no exception. It looks delicious, Krista!

    1. Me too! In fact, when I was pregnant I basically did eat it everyday! LOVE soup! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Marcie.

    1. Thanks Deb! I think chili is the fan favorite of fall foods. Thanks for pinning I hope you and the fam like it! 🙂