This is one of my favorite tailgating recipes. A crock pot beer chili recipe is so easy to throw together and cook low and slow while we watch football, the flavor of beer married with the chili is perfection.
Naturally, we're accustomed to eating chili in the colder weather. Depending on where you are in the country - for us in south Lousiana - our first cold front comes through and drops our temperature below 90....we're cooking a chili.
For real.
I could actually eat chili in the summer, that and Gumbo.
Jump to:
- What makes this recipe so yummy
- Groceries you'll need: Ingredients
- Recipe walkthrough: Instructions
- Recipe variations and substitute ideas
- Necessary gear: Equipment
- Related Recipes
- How to store leftovers
- What To Serve With Beer Chili
- Mel's kitchen notes
- Frequently asked questions: FAQ's
- Crock Pot Beer Chili Recipe
- 💬 Comments
What makes this recipe so yummy
- For some reason, the combination of the beer with the chili flavors really compliment one another and it's a great show stopper for game day.
- If you're like me, then cooking in the slow cooker is one of your favorite methods of cooking. I just love to fix it and leave it. Let it do its thing.
- I will always use ground venison, just because it's what we have a lot of and very rarely do we buy beef - especially in today's economy! If you don't have access to venison though don't worry - it's just as good with ground beef.
Groceries you'll need: Ingredients
- Ground meat (beef, venison or turkey)
- Onion
- Bell Peppers
- Celery
- Garlic
- Tomato Sauce
- Tomato Paste
- Diced Tomatoes and Chilies (Rotel)
- Beer
- Kidney Beans (canned)
- Granulated Sugar
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Salt
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
Recipe walkthrough: Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post
- Step 1: Brown the ground meat over medium-high heat.
- Step 2: Drain drippings and transfer beef, as well as the rest of the ingredients to your slow cooker.
- Step 3: Pour in the beer and give a good stir.
- Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
- Step 5: Remove the cover of the slow cooker about 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time to allow to thicken somewhat, to avoid a soupy chili. Serve with corn chips, cheese and favorite chili toppings.
Hint: If you'd rather avoid the sugar in your food, then add two carrots, finely chopped in a food processor. It will add the required sweetness to cut the acidity of the tomatoes, it will melt into the dish so you can't even see it's there - best part - you're adding a little healthy to everyone's diet.
Recipe variations and substitute ideas
- Cayenne Pepper - If you like a hotter chili, add a little cayenne pepper.
- Ground Turkey - for a healthier option.
- Olive Oil - if your meat is rather lean and you'd rather brown it with a little oil, use some olive oil.
- Fresh Tomatoes and Green Chilis - instead of the canned variety.
- Hot Sauce - for added heat.
- Black Beans - you could add some black beans instead of the kidney beans.
- Brown Sugar - in place of the granulated sugar (actually my husband prefers to use this).
- Chili Beans - Using the canned chili beans will add another flavor dimension from the flavor already in the beans.
- Dark Beer - if you prefer the darker beer perhaps you would like to try this. Your favorite type of beer is fine. Pale ales are good too.
- White Beans - if you have cannellini beans or great northern or something like this it will work fine.
- Chipotle Chilis - add these for some more heat and flavor.
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Necessary gear: Equipment
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
You'll need a large skillet to cook the ground meat.
The size crock pot you need is 6 quart or larger. I have some affiliate links in the recipe card below, for more information.
Related Recipes
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Venison Chili
- Crock Pot Chicken and Gravy
- Crock Pot Pinto Beans
- Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Corn Casserole
- Slow Cooker Hash Brown Casserole
- Crock Pot Kielbasa and Baked Beans
- Slow Cooker Tri Tip Roast
- Crock Pot Ranch Chicken Spaghetti
- Dutch Oven Turkey Chili
How to store leftovers
Once this beer chili has cooled completely store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
This recipe does freeze well, store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Beer Chili
- Tortilla Chips
- Sour Cream
- Sliced Jalapeno Peppers
- Cornbread
- Green Onions
- Diced Red Onion
- Freshly Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- Chopped Fresh Cilantro
Mel's kitchen notes
This crock pot beer chili recipe is the type of dish that tastes so much better the next day. Think about cooking ahead of time, if it frees up some time. A good slow cooker chili always warms the heart.
Frequently asked questions: FAQ's
Definitely, using a Dutch Oven works great. It'll be cooked in about 2 hours.
Instant Pot Chili is delicious. Most definitely, and talk about speeding things up.
If you’ve tried this Crock Pot Beer Chili Recipe or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!
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Crock Pot Beer Chili Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Ground Beef or use venison or turkey
- 1 Each Yellow Onions Large, diced
- 1 Each Green Bell Pepper diced
- 2 Ribs Celery diced
- 5 Cloves Garlic Minced
- 15 Ounces Red Kidney Beans 1 can, drained and rinsed
- 6 Ounces Tomato Paste 1 Can
- 10 Ounces Diced Tomatoes and Chilies 1 can, Rotel
- 29 Ounces Tomato Sauce 1 large can
- 12 Ounces Beer
- 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Ground Cumin
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Add the ground beef to a large skillet and brown until no pink remains. Drain the fluid and add to the crock pot.2 Pounds Ground Beef
- Add the remaining ingredients to the crock pot, including the beer.1 Each Yellow Onions, 1 Each Green Bell Pepper, 2 Ribs Celery, 5 Cloves Garlic, 15 Ounces Red Kidney Beans, 6 Ounces Tomato Paste, 10 Ounces Diced Tomatoes and Chilies, 29 Ounces Tomato Sauce, 12 Ounces Beer, 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder, 2 Tablespoons Ground Cumin, 2 teaspoons Salt, 2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar, 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Stir well and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours (or high for 4-6 hours).
- Remove the lid toward the end and turn to high for the last 30 minutes to thicken.
Notes
Nutrition
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Lucy Glynn says
Hi Mel. I made this recipe over the weekend and it's without a doubt, the best chili I have ever tasted, let alone made. I used a Coors Baquet, and am looking forward to experimenting with other beers too. Even the husband quietly admitted that it was better than his old tried and tested family recipe
!
Melanie Cagle says
Wow!! That's a compliment for sure - thanks so much for coming back and rating my chili recipe! I'm glad you all liked it ❤️