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

Table of Contents

No-Bean Chili Ingredients How to Make No-Bean Chili How Long to Cook Chili in a Crockpot? Can I make no bean chili on the stovetop? Can I make no bean chili in an Instant Pot? Does Chili Freeze Well? My Favorite Chili Toppings What to Serve with Chili Tips for Making Chili Without Beans Other Ways to Eat No-Bean Chili Looking for more slow cooker recipes? I’ve got you covered! Video Tutorial Slow Cooker Hearty No-Bean Chili Ingredients Equipment Instructions Notes FAQs

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

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

Why is chili better in the slow cooker? ›

Chili is perhaps the ideal slow-cooker dish because its flavor improves with a long, slow simmer. This makes a big batch, perfect for a cold-weather get-together, but if you're making it for a smaller group, the leftovers freeze well.

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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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What is chili called without beans? ›

What is chili without beans called? It's often referred to as "Texas chili" since, in Texas, chili is usually prepared without beans. It's also made without tomatoes. "Chili con Carne" translates to "chili peppers with meat," so that's what the Texas-style recipes focus on.

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What is the best substitute for chili beans? ›

If you can't find chili beans, you can likely just substitute pinto beans.

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Do you have to brown meat before slow cooker chili? ›

Do you have to brown the meat for slow cooker chili? 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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How long can you leave chili in a crockpot on low? ›

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.

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Why does my crockpot chili taste bland? ›

Use More Spices and Aromatics

The flavors in a slow-cooker dish can become muted over the long cooking time. So we up the amounts of aromatics and spices in the recipes beyond what is normally used. But it's not just increasing spices that does that trick; you'll also want to increase their potency.

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Does chili get thicker the longer it cooks? ›

Does simmering chili make it thicker? Yes! The longer you simmer chili with the lid off of the pot the thicker it will get. The excess liquid will turn into steam and help reduce the chili down to a nice, thick consistency.

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What is the best appliance to cook chili on? ›

The best way to make chili: Dutch oven

The unique heat retention of a Dutch oven results in ultra flavorful and tender chili. The stove top Dutch oven chili combines the best of both worlds: the speedy ease of the one-pot Foodi and the flavorful tenderness of the slow cooker.

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What states don't put beans in their chili? ›

The bean-free simplicity of this "king of all chili" is a point of pride for generations of Texans. You won't find any beans in this pot.

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What is the difference between Texas chili and regular chili? ›

What primarily distinguishes Texas chili from other chili recipes you might find is a lack of beans, but it also doesn't feature any tomatoes. It is, largely, a ground beef dish that's seasoned with a spicy chili paste made of dried peppers.

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What chili does not use beans? ›

HORMEL^® Chili No Beans adds excitement to any meal occasion. How about pouring HORMEL^® Chili on hot dogs for a simple, easy dinner upgrade? You'll want to keep several cans of HORMEL^® Chili No Beans on hand in the pantry because that same excitement can be poured on fries, chips, in the bowl—anything!

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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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How to make chili thick without beans? ›

Mix in a scoop of cornstarch, all-purpose flour, or oats.

For 1 tablespoon of flour, use 2 tablespoons of water. No slurry is required for the absorbent oats; simply stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons. In all cases, allow the chili to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more, and you should notice it thicken up.

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What is the best tasting beans for chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

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Does chili taste better if cooked longer? ›

Chili is most commonly prepared at a low temperature and for an extended period of time (low and slow), which develops a deeper, spiced aroma. But, the longer cook time can often result in a flat flavor.

How do you keep chili from getting watery in a slow cooker? ›

Mix in a scoop of cornstarch, all-purpose flour, or oats.

In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water, then stir this into the pot of chili. For 1 tablespoon of flour, use 2 tablespoons of water. No slurry is required for the absorbent oats; simply stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons.

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Why does slow cooker food taste better? ›

The longer cooking time and the low heat complement each other perfectly. As a result, even though the meat is cooked for far longer, it doesn't dry out because the temperature is low. As a result, this is the best way to retain all the natural juices of the meat.

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