The BEST Crockpot No-Bean Chili Recipe - Pumpkin 'N Spice (2024)

Made with two types of ground beef and loaded with flavor, you’ll never miss the beans in this Slow Cooker No Bean Chili!

If you love chili, you need to try this turkey white bean chili, this black bean chicken chili, and instant pot no bean chili.

Despite my bitter feelings towards winter (read: it’s been in the negative and single digits here within the past few weeks), I do love that this time of year makes me want to whip up warm and comforting meals.

There’s just something about a hearty dinner that fills me up and keeps me satisfied, even if there is three feet of snow outside (ok, so I’m exaggerating just a little). And nothing screams comfort food more to me than chili.

I’ve been a chili fanatic for as long as I can remember! The spicy flavor and mixture of meats, veggies, and beans fits perfectly with a hunk of cornbread. And while I’ll eat chili any time of the year, I only make it in the winter. It just seems more appropriate, right?

My husband loves chili too, though not as much as myself. However, he doesn’t like it with beans. Yep, you heard that right, friends…no beans!

It must be a texture type thing, because you really can’t taste the beans once they’re cooked. Am I right? I can’t really blame him, though, because I wouldn’t eat those beans just on their own either, though I do love them in chili!

So when we both got a craving for chili years ago, I compromised and made this slow cooker chili recipe with no beans. Made with two types of ground beef and loaded with flavor, you’ll never miss the beans in this chili!In fact, this is my favorite chili and I almost prefer itsans the beans.

I’ve been making this chili recipe without beans for about five years now, as it’s a staple in my household during the winter.Besides being the BEST chili recipe with no beans , it’s also a breeze to whip up!

No-Bean Chili Ingredients

This beanless chili is a cinch to make! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

Lean ground beef
Ground chuck
Tomato sauce
Diced tomatoes
White onion
Green bell pepper
Spices
Granulated sugar
Salt and pepper

How to Make No-Bean Chili

Never made chili without beans? It’s just as easy as making classic chili. Here’s how I make this chili recipe with no beans:

Brown the two types of ground beef in a skillet.
Drain the beef and add to the slow cooker along with the remaining beanless chili ingredients.
Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
Serve with your favorite toppings!

How Long to Cook Chili in a Crockpot?

I recommend cooking the no bean chili on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Cooking chili low and slow helps the flavors develop and makes for a better bowl of chili overall.

Can I make no bean chili on the stovetop?

While you can certainly make this on the stove in a little over an hour, I love whipping out my slow cooker for this dish. The flavors blend together and create such a delectable taste. And it makes your house smell wonderful, too!

Can I make no bean chili in an Instant Pot?

If you’d like to make this chili recipe with no beans in an Instant Pot, I recommend checking out my Instant Pot No Bean Chilirecipe. I give detailed instructions on how to make beanless chili in an Instant Pot in that post.

Does Chili Freeze Well?

Yes! Since this chili is made without beans, it freezes and reheats like a dream. Store in airtight containers for up to three months in the freezer.

My Favorite Chili Toppings

This chili recipe with no beans can be enjoyed as is or you can pile on the toppings.

Here are some of my go-to chili toppings:

Diced jalapeño
Shredded cheese
Sour cream
Crushed tortilla chips
Oyster crackers
Diced avocado

What to Serve with Chili

Serve this no bean homemade chili with a side of my homemade Skillet Honey Cornbread or Skillet Buttermilk Cornbread, and you have yourself a delicious meal, perfect to beat the winter-blahs!

I also love serving no bean Crockpot chili with Cheesy Cornbread Muffins or even Cheddar Biscuits.

Tips for Making Chili Without Beans

Because I omitted the beans for the bean-loathing hubster, I used one pound of ground beef and one pound of ground chuck. This makes the beanless chili extra meaty and definitely makes up for the lack of beans.

Of course, you can definitely add in beans if that’s what you prefer, it’s delicious either way!

It’s very easy to customize this chili based on your preferences. You can add in as much or as little chili powder and spice as you would like. I’ve played around with this recipe a lot over the years and found the perfect combination for me.

Other Ways to Eat No-Bean Chili

My favorite way to eat this beanless chili is straight from the bowl, with some cheese sprinkled on top. However, you can also serve no-bean chili in one of the following ways:

On Frito pies
Atop chili dogs
Over baked potatoes
Over spaghetti

Looking for more slow cooker recipes? I’ve got you covered!

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Slow Cooker Pizza Chili
Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Pork
Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Pork
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Video Tutorial

4.96 from 44 ratings

Slow Cooker Hearty No-Bean Chili

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 4 hours hrs

Total Time: 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Made with two types of ground beef and loaded with flavor, you’ll never miss the beans in this Slow Cooker Hearty No-Bean Chili!

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Ingredients

▢ 1 pound lean ground beef
▢ 1 pound ground chuck
▢ 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce, see note below
▢ 2 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained
▢ 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
▢ 1 small white onion, diced
▢ 1 green bell pepper, diced
▢ 5-6 tablespoons chili powder
▢ 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
▢ 1 teaspoon minced garlic, (or 2 teaspoons garlic powder)
▢ ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
▢ ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
▢ ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
▢ Salt and pepper, to taste

Equipment

▢
Slow Cooker
▢
Measuring Spoons

Instructions

In a large skillet, brown and crumble ground beef and ground chuck until cooked through. Drain and add to slow cooker.
Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, pepper, minced garlic, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, chili powder, white sugar, oregano, salt and pepper to slow cooker. Stir to combine. **See note below**
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream, if desired.

Notes

Chili will look too liquidy but will absorb once it cooks.
After several reader comments about the chili being too watery, I changed the quantity from two (29 ounce) cans to two (15 ounce) cans of tomato sauce.
For instructions on how to make no bean chili in an Instant Pot, check out my Instant Pot No Bean Chili Recipe.

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 350kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 32g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 101mg, Sodium: 411mg, Potassium: 910mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 2228IU, Vitamin C: 30mg, Calcium: 94mg, Iron: 6mg

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Course

Author: Gayle

Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @pumpkin_n_spice on Instagram or tag #pumpkin_n_spice.

Photos updated 10/2020

The BEST Crockpot No-Bean Chili Recipe - Pumpkin 'N Spice (2024)

FAQs

Does chili taste better in the crockpot? ›

Technically, no. The beef, bell pepper, onion, and garlic will all cook in the slow cooker, but browning the meat and sautéing the vegetables in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker brings much more flavor to the chili. You'll be glad you did—promise!

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Is chili better in a Dutch oven or crockpot? ›

For making great chili, it's a tie between the Dutch oven and the multi-cooker in slow-cook mode. Each requires some tweaking in the cooking methods, though. The Dutch oven chili had the best aroma, heat, and flavor, but it looked less than appetizing due to its dry texture. And the longer it sat, the thicker it got.

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Why do some people not put beans in chili? ›

No-beans side argue that beans distract your mouth from the beef and spices that chili is supposed to showcase. Texans in particular are likely to reject beans; in fact, the no-bean version is often referred to as Texas chili.

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What is chili called without beans? ›

No bean chili, also known as Texas chili or Chile con carne, is a spicy stew made without any beans. It traditionally contains meat (usually ground beef), tomatoes, peppers, onions, aromatics and flavorful spices.

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What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

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What adds the most flavor to chili? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

How long is too long to cook chili in crockpot? ›

I have cooked this chili for 9 hours on low and it was delicious but ever-so-slightly burnt on the top. The tomatoes contain sugar, which caramelizes in the slow cooker, and will eventually burn if it cookes for too long. Anything longer than 10 hours on low is risky.

Does Gordon Ramsay put beans in chili? ›

Gordon Ramsay's recipe for chili con carne includes onion, a red chili pepper, fresh tomatoes, and kidney beans. Ramsay's chili recipe is lengthy — it includes everything from ground cumin and sweet paprika to a cinnamon stick, ground beef or beef mince, and garlic.

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Is chili better with or without beans? ›

The comparison can (and has) been made that chili without beans is really just a meat sauce, like a spicier Italian-style sauce you would serve over spaghetti. Chili with beans is much more substantial and can stand better by itself, some say.

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Who eats chili without beans? ›

Beans in chili? Not if you're from Texas! While some people claim that chili can be made with a variety of ingredients—including beef and bean chili, chipotle chicken chili, or dare we say veggie chili—anyone from the Lone Star State would argue that traditional chili simply does not contain beans.

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What to eat with chili no beans? ›

With bread – I love eating chili with my pumpkin cornbread muffins or vegan cornbread. It's also delicious served with crusty bread (like sourdough bread), crackers (I love my almond flour crackers) or even tortilla chips. Alongside a salad – add some fresh veggies with a side salad.

What part of the country does not put beans in chili? ›

“If you know beans about chili, you know that chili has no beans!” thundered Wick Fowler, journalist and chili fan from Texas, the state that made (beanless) chili its official state dish in 1977.

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Does food taste better in a slow cooker? ›

There's something inherently comforting about slow-cooked meals. The tantalizing aroma that fills the kitchen, the tenderness of the ingredients, and the depth of flavor that develops over time, all contribute to a sensory experience that goes beyond mere sustenance.

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Does food taste different in a slow cooker? ›

It's More Tender and Flavorful

Aside from being juicier, slow-cooking makes meat a lot more tender and flavorful. The extra juices help to accomplish this but it's mainly the long-cooking time that brings out the richness of the meat.