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๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Small Crock Pots Recipes

Small Crock Pot Chili

Published: Feb 4, 2024 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 93 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Time: 8 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Easy to make and one of the best homemade chilies, this small-batch crock pot chili recipe is versatileโ€”you can make chili for two in a mini crock pot or larger for a crowd. It's a classic recipe with ground beef, a mildly spicy tomato-based sauce, and tender beans.

Ingredients

Ground beef
Aromaticsโ€”onion and garlic
Tomatoโ€”paste and diced
Beansโ€”kidney or other
Bell pepperโ€”optional
Spicesโ€”chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper (optional)

orange bowl with chili with cheese.
Jump To (scroll for more)
  • Ingredients
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Crock Pot Chiliโ€”Step-by-Step
  • ๐ŸฅฃVariations and ingredient options
  • Other small crock pot chili recipes
  • โ™จ๏ธAdjusting recipe size and different crock pot sizes
  • Approximate yield of chopped onion using different onion sizes.
  • Serving toppings and sides
  • Storage of leftovers
  • โ“FAQs
  • ๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

Featured comment from Rae: "Five stars. I made this recipe for my office's chili cookoff...and won!!! "

My wife wanted "a great everyday chili." This "All-American" chili has ground beef, kidney beans, traditional chili spicing, and tomato-based sauce. It's perfect for every day, tailgating, or a family get-together.

A small batch recipe that makes 6 cups of chili (about 4 servings), so it is the "perfect chili for two" and smaller households. It fits in a mini crock pot (2 quarts) but is easy to double or triple in size.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Crock Pot Chiliโ€”Step-by-Step

ground beef and Ingredient for crock pot chili.

1. Use ground beef or other ground meat. This recipe fits in a 2-quart mini crock pot but can also be made in a bigger one.

rinsing beans under running water.

2. Chop half of the green bell pepper and a small onion. Rinse and drain one can of light kidney beans.

adding chopped onion to browning ground beef.

3. Brown 1 pound of ground beef. After 3-4 minutes, add 1 small chopped onion (ยฝ cup). Near the end of browning, add minced or crushed garlic. The total browning time is about 8 minutes. Drain and add to the crock pot.

mixing all ingredients in the crock pot.

4. Add one 14-oz can of diced tomatoes, half a 6-oz can of tomato paste, ยฝ cup water, 3 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, ยฝ teaspoon oregano, ยฝ teaspoon salt (to taste), ยผ teaspoon pepper, and โ…› teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional and adjust to taste).

Ladle of chili over the crock pot.

5. Cook covered on low for 8 hours or 4 hours on high.

chili in bowl with spoon on gray plate.

6. Served topped with shredded cheese or there toppings.

For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.

๐ŸฅฃVariations and ingredient options

Meat: This recipe is based on ground beef, but you can use any other ground meat, like turkey or chicken. Each will have a slightly different taste profile, but the spices and tomato products will even things out.

Spices: Adjust the heat with cayenne pepper or add half a jalapeno pepper.

Vegetables: You can modify the beans, remove the bell pepper, or make other changes.

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Tomato products: Diced tomatoes make the base for the chili. Tomato paste is added to boost the tomato taste and some sweetness.

Thickness: This is a thick chili, but you can add more water or beef broth if you like your chili more like soup.

Other small crock pot chili recipes

This chili recipe is one of many small crock pot recipes for chili, which includes Salsa Verde Chicken Chili, Healthy White Chicken Chili, Stew Meat Chili, and Crock Pot Texas Chili.

Small Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

This easy-to-make homemade chicken chili is my best chicken chili. Only 5 ingredients are needed: shredded chicken, white beans, salsa, cheese, and cumin to make this dump-and-go small-batch white chicken chili recipe, which can win the office chili cookoff.

A spoonful of white chicken chili.

โ™จ๏ธAdjusting recipe size and different crock pot sizes

This is scaled for small crock pots. A crock pot should be no more than 75% full. You can always use a larger crock pot, which may cook slightly faster.

If you make this single-batch recipe as written, you will have half a pepper and some tomato paste left over. Both will freeze well. Chop the pepper before freezing. With the tomato paste, make one tablespoon-size mound and freeze it for future use.

A single recipe makes 6 cups of chili. The serving size is about 1 ยฝ cups.

  • A 2-quart is the smallest you should use for a single recipe.
  • You can also make a half recipe with a smaller slow cooker, but the smaller crock pots tend to have temp control issues, so be careful.
  • A double recipe needs 4 quarts or larger.
  • A triple recipe fits in a crock pot of 6 quarts or larger.
  • You can always use a bigger crockpot than required, but a very small recipe in a large crock pot may cook faster.

To adjust the recipe card:

  1. Use the recipe card and adjust the number of servings.
  2. Use the amount of ingredients in the ingredient list, not the instructionsโ€”those do not adjust.

Approximate yield of chopped onion using different onion sizes.

  • A small onion, about the size of a lemon, will yield about ยฝ cup of chopped onion.
  • A medium onion, about the size of a baseball, will yield about 1 cup of chopped onion.
  • A large onion, about the size of a grapefruit, will yield about 2 cups of chopped onion.

Serving toppings and sides

Top with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado slices, and sliced green onions.

Serve with Old Fashioned Cornbread or Cornbread Biscuits.

Storage of leftovers

Seal leftovers in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 4 days or freeze for 4 months.

To reheat, thaw frozen chili overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stovetop or in a microwave.

โ“FAQs

Can ground meat be added to a crock pot raw?

Ground meat needs to be precooked for crock pot recipes. This is not a safety thing but a texture thing. While the meat will cook well past the 165ยฐ safe temperature in the slow cooker, it will cook in clumps and not break apart, which you want for a good chili texture. Also, fat and juices will not be drained.

How to lower the sodium in chili?

Chili can get out of hand on sodium content. Don't add additional salt if you are salt-sensitive. It can always be added at serving.

Rinsing the beans helps reduce the sodium, so use low-sodium beans. If you add broth to thin the chili, use low-sodium broth.

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

101's Best Recipes, Chili Recipes, Crock Pot Recipes, Featured | Chili Recipes, Featured | Crock Pot Recipes, Mini Crock Pot Recipes, Small Crock Pots Recipes

Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.

๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions

orange bowl with chili with cheese

Small Crock Pot Chili

5 from 19 votes
From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Easy to make and one of the best homemade chilies, this small-batch crock pot chili recipe is versatileโ€”you can make chili for two in a mini crock pot or larger for a crowd. It's a classic recipe with ground beef, a mildly spicy tomato-based sauce, and tender beans.
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours hours
Total Time: 8 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjustable :4
Print | Pin | Email share | Like and save for later Saved!

Video Slideshow

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small onion - ยฝ cup chopped
  • 1 clove garlic - minced or crushed
  • 14 oz light kidney beans - low sodium, rinsed, and drained.
  • ยฝ green bell pepper
  • 14 oz diced tomatoes
  • 3 oz tomato paste
  • ยฝ cup water
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ยฝ teaspoon oregano
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • ยผ teaspoon pepper
  • โ…› teaspoon cayenne pepper - optional and adjust to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions
 

  • Use ground beef or other ground meat. This recipe fits in a 2-quart mini crock pot but can also be made in a bigger one.
    ground beef and Ingredient for crock pot chili
  • Chop half of the green bell pepper and a small onion. Rinse and drain one can of light kidney beans.
    Chopped green pepper on a black board
  • Brown 1 pound of ground beef. After 3-4 minutes, add 1 small chopped onion (ยฝ cup). Near the end of browning, add minced or crushed garlic. The total browning time is about 8 minutes. Drain and add to the crock pot.
    adding chopped onion to browning ground beef
  • Add one 14-oz can of diced tomatoes, half a 6-oz can of tomato paste, ยฝ cup water, 3 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, ยฝ teaspoon oregano, ยฝ teaspoon salt (to taste), ยผ teaspoon pepper, and โ…› teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional and adjust to taste).
    mixing all ingredients in the crock pot
  • Cook covered on low for 8 hours or 4 hours on high.
    Ladle of chili over the crock pot

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips:

  1. This is scaled for a smaller crock pot. A 2-quart is the smallest you should use. A double recipe needs 4 quarts or larger. A triple recipe fits in a crock pot of 6 quarts or larger. I always do a double batch.
  2. Use ground turkey or chicken if you wish.
  3. A small onion is ยฝ cup chopped. A medium onion is 1 cup chopped.
  4. Precook the ground meat since uncooked ground meat will clump.
  5. Rinsing the beans will decrease the sodium load.
  6. Add salt to taste only.
  7. This is a thick chili. Add more water or beef broth if you like your chili more like a soup.
  8. The serving size is about 1 ยฝ cups.
  9. Good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and will freeze well for 3-4 months.

Your Own Private Notes

Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.

To adjust the recipe size:

You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.

Nutrition Estimate (may vary)

Calories : 350 kcal (18%)Carbohydrates : 30 g (10%)Protein : 31 g (62%)Fat : 13 g (20%)Saturated Fat : 5 g (25%)Cholesterol : 74 mg (25%)Sodium : 638 mg (27%)Potassium : 1216 mg (35%)Fiber : 10 g (40%)Sugar : 9 g (10%)Vitamin A : 2300 IU (46%)Vitamin C : 29 mg (35%)Calcium : 116 mg (12%)Iron : 7 mg (39%)

Editor's Note: Originally published January 19, 2015. The text and options have been expanded. I have published it now as a smaller recipe. I generally make a double batch, and that was initially published. I have also refreshed all the photos and added a table of contents to help with navigation. Please enjoy this excellent chili.

Molly and Lilly looking for Mr Squirrel in the snow.

More Small Crock Pot Recipes

  • Apple crisp with ice cream.
    Small Crock Pot Apple Crisp
  • Bowl of chicken parm soup.
    Chicken Parmesan Soup
  • Plate full of sesame boneless ribs.
    Crock Pot Chinese Boneless Pork Ribs
  • Chicken taco nacho chip in hand.
    Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

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  1. Pam says

    February 22, 2025 at 12:14 am

    5 stars
    Delicious recipe, good ratio of ingredients for a nice and hearty chili and perfect for 2 people. I subbed beef stock instead of water.

    Reply
  2. Pat says

    February 15, 2025 at 4:45 pm

    5 stars
    I made this today. The ground beef could be cut back to 3/4#. Everything else I did the same except to add a pinch of Turmeric. I will make it again! Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Eric says

    January 15, 2025 at 2:16 pm

    5 stars
    Good recipe! As a home baker I habitually weigh everything & your metric conversions were good as well, an uncommon surprise. It was a balmy +5F this morning so I put the chili together. I pressure cooked my 3/4c dried black beans to my preferred firmness before adding them. Added & omitted some herbs/spices for personal preference as well. Made a skillet cornbread w/corn kernels to accompany. Looking fwd to making the chicken stew & others.

    Love the dog pics!

    Reply
  4. Scrig says

    April 15, 2024 at 10:17 pm

    5 stars
    So good and so easy! I enjoyed it with corn chips. I will definitely be making it again.

    Reply
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