Description
Hearty slow cooker chilli con carne brings authentic Mexican flavors to your dinner table. Robust beef, aromatic spices, and rich tomato sauce create a comforting meal you’ll savor with enthusiasm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 500g (17.6 oz) lean ground beef
- 250 ml (8.4 fl oz) beef stock
- 2 cans (400g or 14 oz each) chopped tomatoes
- 1 can (400g or 14 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 tbsps chili powder
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- salt and pepper to taste
- 20g (0.7 oz) dark chocolate (optional)
- 250 ml (8.4 fl oz) beer (optional)
- 1 cup sweet corn (optional)
- black beans (optional)
- ground turkey/chicken (optional)
- fresh chili peppers (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté diced onions, minced garlic, and chopped red bell peppers in olive oil over medium heat until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into crumbles and cooking until fully browned and no pink remains, seasoning with salt and black pepper during the process.
- Transfer the meat and vegetable mixture into the slow cooker, creating a rich base for the chili.
- Pour in chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, beef stock, and tomato paste, then sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and a hint of cinnamon for complex flavor layers.
- Gently stir all ingredients to ensure even distribution of spices and liquids throughout the mixture.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low temperature, allowing the chili to simmer and develop deep flavors for 6-8 hours, or alternatively use high setting for 3-4 hours.
- During the final hour of cooking, enhance the chili’s complexity by stirring in a small piece of dark chocolate or a splash of dark beer for added richness.
- Once cooking is complete, taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve steaming hot with traditional garnishes like shredded cheese, dollop of sour cream, and freshly chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Boost the flavor by blooming spices in the skillet before adding to the slow cooker, which helps release their essential oils and intensifies the taste profile.
- Opt for lean ground beef to reduce excess fat while maintaining rich, meaty texture and preventing an overly greasy final dish.
- Enhance nutritional value by substituting half the ground beef with plant-based protein like lentils or textured vegetable protein for a vegetarian-friendly version.
- Control spice levels by gradually adding chili powder and adjusting to personal heat preferences, ensuring a customized and enjoyable meal for everyone.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 325 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg