Easy to make and one of the best homemade chili recipes. It works in any crock pot—from a 2-quart mini to a full-size—and this small-batch chili recipe easily scales from 2 to 16 servings.
With ground beef, tender beans, and a mildly spicy tomato-based sauce, it’s sure to be your go-to chili recipe. Whether you want a small pot of chili for two or enough for game day, it always comes out right.
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Featured Comment by 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 crock pot chili has ground beef, kidney beans, traditional chili spicing, and a tomato-based sauce. It’s perfect for every day, tailgating, or a family get-together.
Simmer low and slow for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low for the best flavor. In a hurry? This chili also cooks in about 45 minutes on the stovetop—great taste faster.
🐄 Ingredients
- Ground beef — 80/20 works best for flavor; drain after browning.
- Onion and garlic — your classic aromatics.
- Tomatoes — diced plus tomato paste for richness.
- Beans — canned kidney beans are traditional, but black or pinto beans work too.
- Bell pepper (optional) — adds sweetness and color.
- Spices — chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne (optional heat).
👨🍳 Quick Overview: How to Make Crock Pot Chili
1. Chop the green bell pepper (optional) and onion. Rinse and drain canned kidney beans.
2. Brown the ground beef with chopped onion, adding the garlic near the end – about 8 minutes. Drain and move to the crock pot.
3. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water, and spices.
4. Cook covered on low for 8 hours or 4 hours on high.
👇 Scroll down for the scalable recipe card and complete step-by-step photo instructions—or keep reading for tips and options.
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🥣 Variations and Ingredient Options
- Meat: Ground beef is classic. I suggest 80/20 for the best flavor, but leaner can be used. Ground turkey or chicken will also work with a slightly different taste.
- Beans: Most commonly canned dark or light kidney beans, but black beans or pinto work fine. This is not a recipe for dry beans, which require preparation and may not cook properly in a crock pot.
- Tomatoes: Diced tomatoes plus tomato paste form the base. Fire-roasted tomatoes add extra depth.
- Vegetables: Swap or skip the bell pepper, or add extra veggies if you like.
- Spices: Adjust the heat with cayenne or add half a jalapeño.
- Thickness: This is a thicker chili, but you can add water or broth if you prefer a soupier style.
♨️ Chili for Two (or a Crowd): Crock Pot Sizes & Scaling
This recipe makes about 6 cups of chili (4 servings). Whatever size crock pot you use, keep it no more than 75% full so the chili cooks evenly.
Make it as written for two people with leftovers, or scale down to a true 2-serving batch—or up to 8, 12, or even 16 servings.
- Half recipe (2 servings): Can be made in a smaller crock pot, but watch carefully—smaller pots often have temperature control issues.
- Full recipe (4 servings): Fits comfortably in a 2-quart mini crock pot or any larger size.
- Double recipe (8 servings): Needs a 4-quart or larger crock pot.
- Triple recipe (12 servings): Needs a 6-quart or larger crock pot.
Smaller amounts in a large crock pot may cook faster and can even burn around the edges, so check early.
👉 To scale, adjust the number of servings in the recipe card. Use the amounts shown in the ingredient list (the instructions will not auto-scale).
Chili for one person:
There’s too much work and too much waste with partly used ingredients to make just one serving of chili. Make the half recipe (2 servings) instead and freeze the extra.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions and Toppings
Top with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado slices, and sliced green onions.
Serve with Old Fashioned Cornbread, Cornmeal Biscuits, or tortilla chips for dipping.
❄️ Storage of Leftovers
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot.
Other Small Crock Pot Chili Recipes to Try
This chili recipe is one of many small crock pot recipes. Try one of these popular chili recipes:
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.
❓FAQs
Cook this chili 8 hours on LOW or 4 hours on HIGH in a crock pot.
Yes. Brown the meat with the aromatics and drain, like the crock pot recipe. Add everything to the pot and simmer on the stovetop—45 minutes is recommended, but as little as 20 will work if all the ingredients (like the green pepper) are tender.
No. Ground meat needs to be browned first. While it would cook past the safe temperature in a crock pot, it will clump, release fat into the chili, and the texture won’t be right.
Don’t add extra salt if you’re watching sodium—it can always be added at the table. Use low-sodium canned beans and, if thinning, low-sodium broth., and rinse canned beans before adding.
• A small onion (about the size of a lemon) yields about ½ cup chopped.
• A medium onion (about the size of a baseball) yields about 1 cup chopped.
• A large onion (about the size of a grapefruit) yields about 2 cups chopped.
📖The Recipe Card
Small Crock Pot Chili (Ground Beef & Bean, Easy for Two or More)
Video Slideshow
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- ½ cup chopped onion - 1 small
- 1 clove garlic - minced or crushed
- 14 oz canned kidney beans, low sodium, rinsed and drained
- ½ green bell pepper (optional)
- 14 oz diced tomatoes
- 3 oz tomato paste
- ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper – optional and adjust to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
- This recipe fits in a 2-quart mini crock pot, but can also be made in a bigger one.
- Chop half of the green bell pepper and a small onion. Rinse and drain one can of light kidney beans.
- Brown 1 pound of ground beef. After 3–4 minutes, add ½ cup chopped onion (one small). 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.
- Add one 14-oz can of diced tomatoes, 3-oz of tomato paste, ½ cup water, 3 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon salt (to taste), ¼ teaspoon pepper, and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional and adjust to taste).
- Cook covered on low for 8 hours or 4 hours on high.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- This recipe is scaled for a smaller crock pot. A 2-quart is the minimum, but I usually use a 3.5-quart. Details on scaling and crock pot sizes are in the post.
- Use ground turkey or chicken if you wish.
- A small onion is ½ cup chopped. A medium onion is equivalent to 1 cup of chopped onion.
- Rinse beans to reduce sodium, and add salt only to taste.
- This is a thick chili. Add more water or beef broth if you prefer your chili to be more like a soup.
- The serving size is about 1½ cups.
- Good in the refrigerator for 4 days and will freeze well for 4 months.
Your Own Private Notes
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)
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.
Matt says
Do I drain the beef after browning?
DrDan says
Hi Matt,
Welcome to the blog.
Yes, drain before adding to the crock pot. I just added it to the recipe.
Thanks for the question.
Dan
Emily says
If I want to double this how long should I cook it?
DrDan says
Hi Emily,
Welcome to the blog.
Don't double the time. Only a few crock pot recipes will need increased time with increasing ingredients. My crock pot pulled pork is one example where the increased mass requires increased cooking time.
You, of course, will need a large enough crock pot. It should be a max of 75% full but really 66% is a better target.
Dan
Linda Rice says
Is this recipe for a 2 quart crockpot? First time using one can u please help? Thank you
DrDan says
Hi Linda,
Welcome to the blog.
This is in a standard 6-8 qt crockpot. There is about 14 cups of ingredients. That is 3.5 quarts. A crock pot should not be filled above 75%. (some say 66%) So cut in half, it would fit in my 3.5 qt but not in your 2 qt. Hope that helps.
You will be hard pressed to find a lot of 2 qt crock pot recipes. Most recipes will use a can of this, a whole pepper, an onion or an egg. Cuttings things in half is possible but generally wasteful. So most don't do that.
Dan
Phyllis Ramsay says
I want to make this recipe for 10 how much of the recipe needs to be increase. What measurements?
DrDan says
Hi Phyllis,
Welcome to the blog.
I like big servings. The eight servings here are a about 1 1/2 cup or a little more. So if you stretch it to 10, You still have an ok serving size but no seconds.
I would probably increase by 50% and that would still fit in a 6 qt crock pot. But if you double it, you need a 7 1/2 or 8 qt crock pot.
On the recipe card, there is a serving adjustment just below the ingredient list that you can adjust.
Dan
Dan
Katlyn says
This is a very simple recipe, loved it! I also added sausage and jalapenos... Thank you!!
Mae says
Thank you for the recipe, was looking for something different from my usual chili recipe.
Calling for snow this weekend, in Virginia, in April.
DrDan says
Hi Mae,
We have a week of intermittent snow coming. But in Michigan, it is not April without some snow.
This is one of our favorite chili recipes, just plain chili we call it.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Ellis Enbe says
Why do most of your recipes create 8 servings if you are cooking for two?
I try to avoid leftovers unless I am deliberately trying to create freezer
backup, and my freezer is full!
DrDan says
With many recipes, it comes down to the lowest division of an ingredient. Here it is the pepper and can of tomato paste. It is use the whole thing or toss/store it. I do have in each recipe card the ability adjust the recipe to the number of servings you need. See https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/recipes-not-two-servings/ for more discussion.
Dan
Marty F. says
I made this recipe for Super Bowl sunday and it was a success! Also made your Oreo Fudge and it was quite a hit too! Three people asked for the recipe.
Paulina says
Hello Dan,
Can this recipe be frozen? I would like to make it, portion it out and freeze it for easy dinners. Do you think it would still taste good? Thanks!
DrDan says
Hi Paulina,
It freezes great. It's good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and freezer for 2-3 months.
Dan
Paulina says
Thanks for the quick response. Do you recommend to make the recipe first and then freeze, or freeze everything raw, defrost and throw in the slow cooker then?
DrDan says
Definitely cook first. It is even better reheated like most chili.
Sean says
Best simple crockpot chili recipe out there! I’ve made this countless times and it’s always a winner. Just make a pan of sweet cornbread to go with and you’ll be in heaven. Having leftovers is the best part. Thanks Dr. Dan for all your work on this site.... I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve fed my family off of these recipes.
DrDan says
Hi Sean,
This is my personal favorite most of the time. Add in some cornbread and you are so right... heaven.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Norm says
Made this for the first time, very good. There is no question, this will be me chili recipe years to come!
DrDan says
Hi Norm,
It is our "everyday chili" now and has been repeated many times here.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Irene says
Hi there! I would like to try and make this chili recipe this weekend, sounds delicious. I do have one question. What size crockpot are you using? I don't have a large one, I believe it is 4 quarts. Will it work for this recipe? Thank you!
DrDan says
This would fill a 4 qt crockpot near the top... I think. I calculate about 13 cups here by just adding things and your 4 qt will hold 16 cups. As a general rule, a crockpot should not be filled over 75% and really 66% is a better upper limit.
But since the crockpot is more used to "simmer" the chili here and not like cook the meat, you would probable be ok. But with it that full, I would stir every few hours.
Dan
josh dickey says
Just ate my my 1st bowl and loved i used diced tomatoes that had habeneros in them the cayenne pepper and added jalapenos. It had the perfect amount of spiciness. What could I add to give it a little sweetness?
DrDan says
Hi Josh,
The tomato paste generally does that since it is sweeter than sauce. So if you want a touch more sweetness then half a teaspoon of brown sugar. Or try a different brand of paste, I usually use Hunts.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Rick Ceasor says
A really good simple chili recipe, that has excellent flavor. I have too many to browse through every time I wish to make chili. This will be my "go to one". Thank you.
Rick.
DrDan says
Thanks Rick,
My wife still asks for her red chili. Nothing fancy just a good everyday chili.
Dan
S Arron says
I found this recipe on 101 cooking for two (2), when reading this feeds 8? But there is only 2 of us? There is not notes on how to only make for Two people. That would have been a good idea for us who do not like to wast food. Thanks
DrDan says
This comes up here several times per year and I do cover it in FAQs but basically cooking for two is cooking for a smaller (two) household. That frequently means leftovers. Meat recipes are usually scaleable.
I usually cut recipes down to the lowest common ingredient... one can of this,one egg etc... A recipe that calls for half a can of dice tomatoes is much more wasteful then a recipe with eatable leftovers. In this recipe, one green pepper and one can of tomato paste are the lowest divisions of ingredients that's not wasteful. Plus if I can get several meals out of equal work... it is a good thing.
Sometimes it seems like a waste of time to cut a recipe down too far. Same work for less food and the leftovers would be great. I'm working on a cinnamon roll cake now. I can make it for 4 (a one egg version) or 8 (the two egg version) I think I will publish the 8 and just note it can be cut in half. I want a lot of this recipe as leftovers and in my judgement most of the readers will also.
I alway list the number of servings. Hope that helps.
DrDan
Leslie says
Loved this easy chilli, used leftover dried beans that I cooked the day before, worked out well. Thanks for all your recipes, wished you would post more often.
DrDan says
Thanks for the note. I have lots of chili recipes on this site but this is just a great easy classic chili to me.
More posts? I hope someday to have the time. My day job keeps me busy and this is just a hobby for now. But better than golf...
DrDan