It’s sunny, but cool, here today. Our daughter suggested chili for supper, but I was too busy to babysit a pot on the stove. Thank goodness for this healthy recipe and the crock pot! Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili saved my supper!
I love slow cookers! I own at least seven in different sizes, shapes, and colors. I know that sounds a little ridiculous, but these kitchen gadgets are wonderful for every day or for parties! I love the “fix it and forget it” option. I often get distracted with housework, homework, or just the little every day interruptions. A slow cooker allows me to focus just long enough to get supper ready, and then I can relax knowing that when I walk in the door after work, dinner is waiting. I LOVE that welcoming smell!
Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili from Scratch Recipe…
One of my goals as our family meal manager is to fix healthy food that is easy but tasty. I try very hard to not feed my family “extra” ingredients that are often found in canned or processed foods. I have to plan ahead a little for this recipe, but it isn’t hard or time consuming…the magic happens over night while I’m sleeping! For this chili, I use dried beans. They do not have added corn syrup, salt, or preservatives like canned beans might. Instead, I get to choose what gets added to the pot. I like that. I also used my own canned tomato juice. If you have home canned tomatoes, throw those in! 🙂
To make this recipe even easier, mix everything together in the crock and place in the refrigerator the night before. (Except the beans that are soaking. Drain and rinse those the next morning before stirring into the chili.) Then all you have to do is pop the crock in the machine, cover, and turn it on. Voilà ! By the time you get home from work, a lovely pot of chili is waiting for you to enjoy. Who knew wholesome food could be so easy!
Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili from Scratch
Notes
Soaking the beans with salt will help to create a softer bean when cooked in the crock pot.
Ingredients
- ½ cup dried black beans
- 2 cups dried pinto beans
- 1 lb. ground beef (lean)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2-Â3 T. chili powder (depends on desired spiciness)
- 1 T. garlic powder
- 2 t. ground cumin
- 1 t. dried oregano
- 1 t. salt
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 4 c. tomato juice (homemade is great!)
- 2 c. water
- Shredded cheese or peanut butter sandwich, if desired
Instructions
- Please do the evening ahead:​ Soak the dried beans overnight in a bowl with 8 cups cold water and 3 T. salt.
- Cook chopped onion and beef in skillet until browned. Drain well.
- Return beef mixture to skillet and add garlic and spices; cook for 1-Â2 minutes until fragrant.
- Drain and rinse beans. Add to crock pot.
- Add beef mixture, tomatoes, tomato juice, and water to crock pot.
- Cook on high 6Â-8 hours or low 8Â-10 hours, or until beans test done. Stir every so often, if possible.
- Serve with shredded cheese or a peanut butter sandwich for dunking.
Have a blessed week!
I love the new look!! Keep up the great work!