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Game-Day Slow Cooker Chili to Rally Your Home Team

It is prime slow cooker season, and I couldn’t be happier.

This is the time of year when I leave most of my meal prep to the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Stews, soups, and slow-cooked meats all deliver comforting, deep flavors that warm you from the inside out.

Overhead vertical shot of a gray ceramic bowl of beef chili topped with chopped cilantro and shredded cheese, with bowls of corn chips, sour cream, and diced green pepper in the background, on a white cloth on top of a brown wood surface, printed with orange and white text.

One of my favorite traditions is spending fall and winter Sundays watching football. We hop between games, curl up on the couch, and ride the highs and lows of our fantasy teams.

It’s an emotional day for my husband and me as we root for our teams, hoping for wins both on the field and in our lineups.

To make sure we survive a day of triumphs or heartbreaks, I like to have a big Crock-Pot full of chili simmering all day. A warm bowl of chili is the perfect companion for game day.

Overhead shot of a slow cooker filled with beef chili in a red sauce with a black plastic ladle, on a striped white kitchen towel with frings, next to several small bowls of toppings including corn chips, chopped green bell pepper, shredded cheese, sour cream with a spoon, and chopped cilantro, with a portion dished out in a gray bowl, on a brown striped surface.

The chili’s flavor deepens the longer it cooks and continues to meld while it stays on the warm setting throughout the day.

Chili is a comfort food I can’t resist. When it fills the house with that classic scent, I feel instant warmth and happiness.

Overhead vertical closely cropped shot of a bowl of beef chili with smaller bowls of corn chips, sour cream, diced green bell pepper, and shredded cheese, on a white kitchen towel with a pink stripe, with a stainless steel and black plastic slow cooker in the background, on a light brown wood surface.

The combination of vegetables, meat, and bold spices creates a satisfying, layered bowl. I’m the sort of person who’ll always top chili with Fritos for crunch, but you can add cheese, sour cream, cilantro, or jalapeños for extra flavor and heat.

Vertical oblique shot of a gray ceramic soup bowl filled with chili topped with Fritos with a spoon stuck into it, with smaller bowls of sour cream, corn chips, and chopped green bell pepper next to a stainless steel slow cooker in the background, on a white kitchen towel, on top of a brown wood surface.

This recipe is ideal for game day because you can keep it warm for hours. It’s also an easy, low-stress option when you have guests — set it on the buffet and let everyone serve themselves.

Closeup vertical oblique shot of a gray ceramic bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese, diced green bell pepper, and finely chopped cilantro, on a brown wood countertop with a bowl of sour cream in soft focus in the background.

If you like beans in your chili, add about 2 cups of drained canned beans and increase the beef broth by 1 cup to prevent the chili from getting too thick. You can also substitute 1 cup of beans for the bell pepper if you prefer.

Vertical oblique shot of a gray ceramic soup bowl filled with chili topped with Fritos with a spoon stuck into it, with smaller bowls of sour cream, corn chips, and chopped green bell pepper next to a stainless steel slow cooker in the background, on a white kitchen towel, on top of a brown wood surface.

Chili is versatile — easily adapted to your taste and whatever you have on hand. Below you’ll find the recipe and tips for serving.

Overhead shot of a bowl of chili with smaller bowls of shredded cheese and chopped fresh cilantro, on a striped light brown wood surface.

Slow Cooker Game Day Chili

  • Author: Meghan Yager
  • Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings

Description

A hearty slow-cooker beef chili that keeps you fueled through the game. Serve with your favorite toppings for a crowd-pleasing meal.

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 lbs lean beef stew meat
  • 2 28-oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 8-oz can tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp chili powder
  • 2 Tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 Tbsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne

Optional Toppings:

  • Diced jalapeno
  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Sour cream
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Fritos or tortilla chips

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients (except optional toppings) in a slow cooker and stir to combine.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
  3. Transfer the beef to a cutting board, shred with two forks, then return the meat to the slow cooker and stir to distribute it evenly.
  4. Serve warm with desired toppings. For crunch, top with Fritos or tortilla chips. This goes well with cornbread, rolls, rice, or tortillas.

Notes

Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 hours
  • Category: Chili
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: Comfort Food

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Cooking By the Numbers

Step 1 – Prepare Vegetables and Measure Ingredients

Mince the garlic and dice the onion and bell pepper. Remove the stem and seeds from the pepper before dicing. Measure the remaining ingredients as listed.

Overhead vertical shot of two cans of diced tomatoes, two cans of tomato paste, a yellow onion, a head of garlic, a square glass dish of various spices, a green bell pepper, and two Styrofoam trays of beef stew meat.

Step 2 – Add to Slow Cooker

Place all ingredients into the slow cooker, stir to combine, then cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Overhead closely cropped shot of a slow cooker filled with ingredients including beef stew meat, chopped onion, and spices.

You can also make this in an electric pressure cooker: add all ingredients to the Instant Pot insert, stir, and cook on manual pressure for 30 minutes.

Step 3 – Shred Beef

Transfer the cooked beef to a cutting board and shred it with two forks, then return the shredded meat to the slow cooker.

Two forks are being used to shred cooked beef stew meat in a stainless steel mixing bowl with a ring handle.

Step 4 – Finish and Serve

Stir to distribute the shredded beef throughout the chili, then serve warm with your favorite toppings.

Overhead shot of beef stew in a red sauce in the stainless steel insert of a slow cooker with a black plastic housing unit, on a brown background.

Hosting a Game-Day Party? Make a Chili Bar

For a crowd, keep the slow cooker on low or warm and set out a variety of toppings for a build-your-own chili bar.

Overhead shot of a stainless steel and black plastic slow cooker of chili, surrounded by a gray ceramic serving bowl of the stew beside smaller bowls of sour cream, yellow corn chips, diced green bell pepper, shredded white and yellow cheese, and finely chopped fresh cilantro, on a white kitchen towel with pink stripes and fringe, on a light brown striped wooden countertop.

Popular toppings include:

  • Fritos, tortilla chips, or crunchy crackers
  • Diced or pickled jalapeños
  • Shredded or crumbled cheeses (cheddar, cotija, Mexican blend, etc.)
  • Sour cream or Mexican crema
  • Tortillas, cornbread, or rolls
  • Sliced avocado
  • Diced red onion
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Hot sauce or sliced green onion
  • Chopped crispy bacon

Overhead shot of a bowl of chili with smaller bowls of shredded cheese and chopped fresh cilantro, on a striped light brown wood surface.

How do you like your chili? Share your favorite topping combinations and be sure to rate the recipe after you try it.

Photos by Meghan Yager, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Originally published on January 12, 2014. Last updated: November 23, 2023.

Nutritional information is an approximation derived from a database of generic and branded foods and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing.