Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne

Are you looking for an easy slow cooker recipe to impress your family and friends? Look no further than our slow cooker chilli con carne!

This dish is simple to make and can be tailored to your taste. You can add as much or as little spice as you like and substitute ground beef for pork, chicken, or turkey.

Jump to:

• 📖 Step by Step Recipe
• Ingredients
• Chilli Con Carne - Slow Cooker Advice
• Cooking time
• Serving suggestions
• Storage
• History
• More Slow Cooker Recipes
• More Mince Beef Recipes
• 💬 Reviews

We'll give you all the tips to make this chilli con carne perfect every time, including cooking and serving suggestions below after the recipe card. So what are you waiting for? Start cooking now!

📖 Step by Step Recipe

This post was originally posted on 16/06/2022. It has been updated with more advice on ingredients and how to make slow cooker chilli con carne. We have moved the recipe card up in the post on 16/06/2024 to make it more user-friendly.

It's perfect for feeding a crowd (or meal-prepping for the week ahead), and there's no need to check on it while it's cooking.

Throw the ingredients in the pot early in the afternoon. Spend time with your family and friends; dinner will be ready and waiting for you later.

Ingredients

Lets break down the ingredients so you can easily slow-cook your beef mince chilli con carne!

• Oil- Fry the onion and brown the mince in any cooking oil. For a leaner option, try fry light spray. With 20% fat beef mince, additional oil won't be necessary.
• Minced Beef-You can Choose any minced beef you prefer. Lean beef is healthier and has less saturated fat. Opt for a mince with a higher fat content for a traditional touch. You can substitute beef with pork, chicken, lamb, or turkey mince. Frozen mince works well in a slow cooker as it breaks down better and stays moist.
• Onions- are key for flavour. Use red, white, or brown onions. Shallots offer a sweeter, subtle taste.
• Stock- Beef stock pots like Knorr rich beef add a deep flavour. Alternatively, use beef or vegetable stock cubes/powder.
• Water- Although stock cubes suggest mixing with 500ml boiling water, using just 250ml results in a thicker chilli.
  Tomatoes- Tinned tomatoes are preferred, but fresh chopped tomatoes work too.
• Tomato Puree- Helps thicken the sauce and adds a rich tomato flavour.
• Beans- Canned kidney beans are common, but black beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas are great substitutes.
• Garlic- Freshly chopped garlic cloves, garlic puree, or granules all work well for this recipe.
• Chilli Powder- Adjust the amount based on your spice preference: 1 teaspoon (very mild), 1 tablespoon (medium hot), or 2 tablespoon (very hot). Opt for different heat levels of chilli powder accordingly.
• Cumin- Ground cumin adds a smoky flavour essential for Mexican dishes. Smoked paprika can enhance this further.
• Cinnamon- Adds a warming flavour that complements the dish.
• Salt & Pepper- Season to taste. Adjust seasoning after cooking if needed.
• Chillies (optional)- For extra heat, add fresh green or red chillies. Slice lengthways and add them during cooking, then remove before serving.
• Vegetables- Mushrooms, sweetcorn, and red pepper are optional additions. Other options are grated carrots, celery, and courgette. Experiment with your favourites.
• Coriander- Garnish with fresh coriander (cilantro). Use stems during cooking, and leaves for garnish.

Substitutions

There are so many ways that you can change up this slow cooker chilli con carne recipe to suit your taste.

As I've mentioned, you can use different types of minced meat, beans and vegetables. For a vegetarian option, try using Quorn mince and vegetable stock cubes. For a vegan option, use soya mince and vegetable stock cubes.

You could also add other spices such as smoked paprika, oregano, a splash of Worcestershire sauce or some swear that adding dark chocolate makes it even better!

Chilli Con Carne - Slow Cooker Advice

The great thing about slow cookers is that you can set and forget. Add all the ingredients into the pot and leave it to do its thing.

We recommend cooking on low for best results. You can cook this slow cooker chilli con carne in 4 hours on high. But I find that the beef can become a little tough.

When slow cooking a chilli con carne, it is best to saute onion, mushroom, garlic and raw mince in a frying pan with a bit of olive oil (if needed). This helps to build better flavour.

Cook mince and onion until the meat has browned, then add to the slow cooker pot. If you're short on time, you can skip this step and add the beef mince and onion straight into the pot.

Add the other ingredients and use a spoon to give the ingredients a good stir. You will not stir it again for hours so make sure it combines well.

Do not feel tempted to open the lid any time during cooking with a slow cooker; if you do, you will need to add at least 30 minutes to the cooking time.

Cooking time

The general rule for slow cooker cooking is "low and slow." Most items should be cooked on the low setting for an extended period rather than on high for a shorter time.

I recommend cooking this slow cooker chilli recipe on low heat for 5-6 hours.

If you're in a hurry, cooking on high for 4 hours will also work. However, beef can become a little tough, and the chilli con carne sauce is not so thick when cooked on high.

Serving suggestions

You can serve this slow cooker chilli con carne in so many ways.

One of our favourite things to serve it with is some plain white rice and grated tasty cheese. We also like to add a wedge of lime, some jalapenos and freshly chopped coriander leaves.

Why not try serving with homemade dough balls on the side, or cook some padron peppers to serve with?

I also love our slow cooker chilli con carne served with jacket potatoes or sweet potatoes fries. Or scooped up with tortilla chips.

If you want a lighter option, try serving it with steamed broccoli. Or with our scrummy Garlicky Green Beans and Bacon.

For extra spice, sprinkle some chilli flakes or smoked paprika on top. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and freshly chopped coriander leaves to cool it down.

This slow cooker chilli con carne is an excellent meal for the whole family, I should mention, should there be any, that the leftovers taste even better the next day!

All the flavours have had time to mingle and meld together overnight, so if you can, try and resist the urge to eat it all in one go! Or double it up!

Storage

The slow cooker chilli con carne will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days or can be frozen for up to three months.

Reheating

To reheat, defrost (if frozen), and heat in a pan over medium heat until hot.

You could also reheat in the microwave: heat for two minutes, stir, and then heat in one-minute intervals until piping hot.

If the chilli is too thick, add a water or beef stock splash and heat through.

History

Chilli con carne, or "chilli with meat", is a Tex-Mex dish that has been around for centuries.

The earliest known recipe dates back to the 1800s and was likely created by Mexican immigrants looking to make their native dishes more palatable to American tastes.

Over the years, the dish has evolved and become a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine, and every country now seems to have their variety.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

If you're looking for more easy and delicious slow cooker recipes, look no further; we have some right here.

More Mince Beef Recipes

Check out some of our other recipes which contain minced beef.

Pie Mash and Liquor

Cheesy Bolognese Pasta Bake

Jamaican Beef Patties

Curried Mince Hotpot

Have you made this slow cooker chilli con carne recipe? Let us know how you got on in the comments below. With just a few simple ingredients, it's sure to become a family favourite.