Description
A rich, smoky, and deeply savory slow cooker chili made with ground beef, chipotle peppers in adobo, and a secret touch of dark chocolate. This set-it-and-forget-it meal is budget-friendly, kid-approved, and freezes beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 fat ratio)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2–3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced, plus 1 tablespoon of sauce
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chili powder (blend including cumin, garlic powder, oregano)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1 square dark chocolate (about 1 oz)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and no pink remains (5-8 minutes). Drain excess fat if desired, but leave some for flavor.
- Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Mince the chipotle peppers (remove seeds if sensitive to heat).
- In the slow cooker, combine the browned beef, onion, garlic, chipotle peppers, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, black beans, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. Low and slow is preferred for deeper flavor melding.
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the square of dark chocolate until melted. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Ladle into bowls and serve with toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, diced avocado, and lime wedges. Serve with cornbread or tortilla chips.
Notes
Browning the beef adds depth and prevents a gamey taste. The dark chocolate adds richness without sweetness. Chili tastes better the next day. If too thin, leave lid off for last hour or use cornstarch slurry. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (LOW) or 3-4 hours (HIGH)
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl with toppings
- Calories: 380
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 25
Keywords: slow cooker chili, ground beef chili, chipotle chili, smoky chili, easy dinner, meal prep, freezer friendly, comfort food