Does everyone think that they have the best chili recipe? I’m not here to tell you that my chili is better than your chili, and I’m not claiming stake to any superfluous awards. I don’t know if I’ve met a chili I didn’t like so… they are all welcome in my home. In the name of transparency, Daniel and I eat this chili a lot. Like, a lot, a lot. It’s one of our faves, although I leave out the “three-alarm” part out of the Crock-pot Three-Alarm Chili just for him. He’s not into spicy. Me, however? I have to have it!
This is my basic, everyday chili recipe. I’d like to tell you all that it’s super-fancy and made with exotic ingredients, it’s not. It’s your basic ground beef, beans. and hearty chili. That is not to say that it isn’t one of the greatest chili recipes in the world. I love it. There is a very good reason we eat this for dinner ALL THE TIME. The reason is, Crock-pot Three Alarm Chili is bomb dot com.
Not to mention, so simple! I think we all get swayed by the opportunity to open a can of chili and heat over the stove for a presto-dinner. However, this recipe only takes me about 15 minutes once I had it down. All you have to do is brown the meat, dump it in the crock-pot and proceed to add the rest of the ingredients. Stir and set on low and your house to be enveloped in the most comforting dinner-smell in the world. How is that for superfluous awards?
I know that cornbread is typically served with chili and I love it, I truly do, but seriously you must try it with crispy artisan bread too. It’s also a must to include these little corn tortilla strips! I just grab my smallest frying pan, put at least 1/3-inch-deep of my favorite frying oil, and heat to medium-high. I place the strips into the oil and it takes just a minute or two to crisp them. You will know when they are ready when they harden like a tortilla chip. Remove them from the oil and sprinkle GENEROUSLY with sea salt.
It’s truly the add-on’s that take chili to the next level.
Just add fresh-sliced avocado and a dollop of my favorite Tillamook sour cream. (Please click on that link, it’s a sour cream dream). Cheese, if you like but I prefer to leave it out since it just gets my spoon into a hot mess that it can’t get itself out of. The sour cream is cheese enough for me. I know, coming from me, right? Don’t let me stop you, cheddar cheese it up if you so desire!
We all need these recipes don’t we? The ones we can count on when we have a day full of meetings or deadline that is looming. All Crock-pot Three-Alarm Chili takes is 15 minutes in the morning and you get to come home to a house that hugs you with the smell of dinner. Comfort at its finest.
Crock-pot Three-Alarm Chili
The best chili recipe for your weeknight is Crock-pot Three-Alarm Chili. Super-fast and the flavors are far superior to any canned chili.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can stewed chopped tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
3/4 cup corn
1 red onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 gloves of garlic, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons chili flakes
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
Crispy corn tortilla strips, sliced avocado, and sour cream for garnish
Instructions
Brown the ground beef over medium-high heat.
While the meat is cooking, chop veggies.
Place all ingredients in a crock-pot, including the cooked ground beef and give it a good stir.
Cover and set on low for 6-8 hours.
When chili is cooked, ladle into bowls and top with sliced avocado, sour cream, and crispy corn tortilla strips.
Keywords: chili, comfort foods, crockpot, spicy
So comforting!