Crock Pot No-Bean Beef Chili

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/18/22
Crock pot no bean chili

The Spruce Eats

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 8 hrs
Total: 8 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

This is a recipe for meat lovers. Our no-bean chili is filling and easy to make—the hard work is on your crock pot. A small, 20-minute investment in preparation is all that you need to make it. Hearty and flavorful, this chili is a great weeknight meal that you can prep in the morning and serve for dinner. It's also a perfect meal-prep day dish that you can refrigerate and freeze in individual portions for later use.

Our recipe is a great template for you to personalize by adding more vegetables, making it spicier, or topping it in your favorite way, with all sorts of crunchy and decadent ingredients. This recipe is naturally gluten free, and it's also low in carbohydrates. Lean ground beef is a delicious and protein-filled option, but if you're keener on chicken or turkey, those are great alternatives as the chili will come out equally flavorful. Serve this dish with a side of cornbread, tortillas, or perhaps steamed rice for a wholesome meal.

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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef, or cubed lean stewing beef

  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes, optional

  • 2 tablespoons chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

  • 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or cayenne, optional 

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for crock pot no-bean beef chili recipe gathered

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  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, stirring to break it up.

    Ground beef in skillet

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  3. When the meat is no longer pink, drain it and spoon it into the slow cooker.

    Ground beef in slow cooker

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  4. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, stewed tomatoes, if using, and the chili powder.

    Tomatoes added to slow cooker

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  5. Mix well and add the salt and freshly ground black pepper. 

    Salt and pepper added to slow cooker

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  6. Add hot sauce if desired. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

    Add hot sauce

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  7. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

    Crock pot no-bean beef chili recipe

    The Spruce Eats

  8. Enjoy!

Veggies, Meats, Toppings

This chili recipe is perfect for adding other tasty and filling ingredients.

  • Veggies: Add 1 cup of chopped onions, 1 to 2 minced cloves of garlic, and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chopped bell pepper to the skillet while you cook the ground beef. To add natural sweetness, add 1 carrot, either finely chopped, shredded, or julienned.
  • Legumes: If you miss the texture and flavor of beans, add a can of your favorite type. Drain 1 can of pinto beans, black beans, or kidney beans, and add it about an hour before the chili is done.
  • Spicy additions: Add a few tablespoons of minced jalapeño peppers to the crock pot. Alternatively, to have some chile pepper flavor without the heat, add 1 (4-ounce) can of mild chopped green chiles.
  • Meat: Substitute 1 pound of ground lean beef for 1 pound of ground lean pork or sausage meat.
  • Toppings: Serve the chili with shredded cheese, green onions, oyster crackers, guacamole, chopped cilantro, pico de gallo, sour cream, or any salsa of your liking.

How to Make Chili Powder

There is no need to buy premade chili powder when you can make your own with spices you probably already have in the pantry:


Combine 2 teaspoons of garlic powder with 2 teaspoons of ground cumin, 2 teaspoons of sweet paprika, and 1 teaspoon each of cayenne pepper and dried leaf oregano. For a milder chili powder, reduce the cayenne by half.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
399 Calories
19g Fat
11g Carbs
46g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 399
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 7g 36%
Cholesterol 135mg 45%
Sodium 966mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 46g
Vitamin C 12mg 60%
Calcium 56mg 4%
Iron 7mg 38%
Potassium 1240mg 26%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)