Crock Pot Beef and Three Bean Chili Recipe

This Crock Pot Beef and Three Bean Chili is a hearty, make ahead chili recipe that’s loaded with vegetables, browned beef and so much flavor from all the spices! It can easily be made vegan or in the instant pot! 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!

Beef and Three Bean Chili 

One of my favorite comfort foods on a cool fall day is chili! I love the rich full depth flavor of chili! It’s basically telling you “curl up on the couch with me and watch a movie.” The vegetables, the beans, tomatoes, spices, and beef. It is one well rounded orchestra of a meal that you really don’t need to add much to. Growing up, it was something that we use to eat quite often. Probably because Wisconsin was freaking cold in the winter and chili was the best way to warm up!

I usually make my chili on the stove but with all the crock pot recipes out there I thought I would change it up.  This chili recipe has loads of vegetables in it as well as some “not so typical” chili seasonings.  I actually like the way this turned out in the crock pot better than on the stove.  As my husband says, “it has a more well rounded flavor.” haha I think he’s been watching too much of the Food Network. But he’s right, it is delicious and definitely! I promise it will be your new favorite recipe. If I could virtually share some with you now I would.

What type of beans are in chili?

Are kidney beans the same as chili beans?

• Ground Beef: I buy grass fed and use 85% lean 15% fat, 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 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, sweetness and nutrients. You won’t even notice them.
• Chipotle Peppers: I love adding diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a little spice and smokiness to 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 my secret ingredient in chili. 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.

How to make Crock Beef and Three Bean Chili?

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

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, meat is cooked through. Place 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.
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.

Can I make this chili Vegetarian?

Yes! To make this Crock Pot Chili vegetarian just sub the ground beef with 3 cups dish sweet potatoes and sub the beef broth with vegetable broth. You’ll love the vegetarian version of this as well!

Can I make this in the Instant Pot?

Yes! You can definitely make this in the instant. Just follow the directions below.

1. Turn Instant Pot to Saute mode. 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. Then add 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. Cancel Saute mode. Turn on Soup/Chili Mode (or pressure cooker mode) for 30 minutes. Do a natural release.
4. Add in black beans, kidney beans and pinto beans. Turn on Saute mode for 20 minutes.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Can I freeze this Chili?

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

Best Toppings for Chili:

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

• Diced Avocado
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Diced Green Onions
• Pickled Onions
• Pickled Jalapenos (or fresh)
• Fritos (or tortilla chips)
• Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt
• Queso Fresco
• Limes
• Hot Sauce

More Chili Recipes you need to try:

• The Best 30 Minute Beef Chili Recipe
• Instant Pot Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
• The Best Instant Pot Chili (with steak)
• Crock Pot Quinoa Vegetarian Chili
• Smoky Lentil Chili

Crock Pot Beef and Three Bean Chili Recipe

• Author: Krista
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
• Yield: 10-12 1x
• Category: Soups
• Method: Crock Pot
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

This Crock Pot Beef and Three Bean Chili is a hearty, make ahead chili recipe that’s loaded with vegetables, browned beef and so much flavor from all the spices! It can easily be made vegan or in the instant pot! It’s the perfect comforting dinner!

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 lb. of 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

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, meat is cooked through. Place 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.
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.

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Nutrition

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

Keywords: Three Bean Chili Recipe, Chili Recipe, Beef Chili Recipe, Crock Pot Chili Recipe, Easy Chili Recipe, Slow Cooker Chili, How to make Three Bean Chili, Three Bean Chili, Ground Beef Chili

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