Description
This Hearty Slow Cooker All Meat Chili is a rich, flavorful chili made entirely with meat, featuring ground beef, pork, and Italian sausage simmered slowly with tomatoes and a robust blend of spices. Perfect for chili lovers who prefer a bean-free, protein-packed meal with deep, comforting flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Tomatoes & Sauces
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
Liquids
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for browning meat)
Spices
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Garnish
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the meats. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, ground pork, and Italian sausage. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat to reduce grease in the chili.
- Transfer to slow cooker. Move the cooked meat mixture into the slow cooker to begin the slow cooking process.
- Add vegetables and tomatoes. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the slow cooker along with the diced tomatoes (with juice), tomato paste, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir well to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Season the chili. Sprinkle in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper. Stir again to evenly incorporate all spices throughout the mixture.
- Cook the chili low and slow. Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or use high heat for 3-4 hours. The chili will thicken and flavors will meld beautifully during this time.
- Adjust consistency and seasoning. Once cooking is complete, taste the chili and adjust seasoning as needed. For a thicker chili, mash some of the tomatoes or meat against the side of the slow cooker with a spoon.
- Garnish and serve. Sprinkle freshly chopped cilantro over the chili if desired. Serve hot, accompanied by favorite toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped onions for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can omit the cayenne pepper or adjust it according to your heat preference.
- To reduce fat, drain the cooked meats thoroughly before adding to the slow cooker.
- If you prefer, you can substitute Italian sausage with spicy or sweet sausage based on taste.
- Serving the chili with cornbread or over rice can make it a complete meal.
- For thicker chili, cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes to allow excess liquid to evaporate.
