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Crowd-Pleasing Slow Cooker Halloween Chili

Crowd-Pleasing Slow Cooker Halloween Chili - featured image
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This dark, rich, slightly smoky chili is perfect for fall gatherings, especially Halloween. It’s quick to prep, uses simple ingredients, and even converts self-proclaimed chili-haters.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn (optional)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Leave about a tablespoon of fat in the pan.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Push the beef to one side of the skillet. Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the empty side and cook for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Add the spices: Sprinkle the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne (if using), and cinnamon over the meat mixture. Stir well and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Transfer to slow cooker: Pour the meat mixture into your slow cooker. Add the fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato sauce, coffee, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar (if using). Stir everything together until well combined.
  5. Add the beans and corn: Gently stir in the drained kidney beans, black beans, and frozen corn (if using).
  6. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  7. Adjust seasoning: About 30 minutes before serving, taste the chili and adjust salt, pepper, and heat level.
  8. Serve: Ladle into bowls and top with your favorite fixings.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the meat; it adds essential flavor. Toasting the spices in the hot fat releases their essential oils. If chili is too thin, remove lid for last 30 minutes. Chili tastes even better the next day. For a vegetarian version, swap beef for plant-based crumble and add an extra can of beans and a diced sweet potato.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chili, Halloween chili, crowd-pleasing chili, easy chili recipe, ground beef chili, chili with coffee, fall chili, potluck chili

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/crowd-pleasing-slow-cooker-halloween-chili-easy-recipe/