Easy Beef Chili Recipe (Stovetop, Crockpot or Instant Pot!)

Have you been looking for an easy beef chili recipe? You’re in the right place! This healthy beef recipe will feed a crowd, is incredibly simple to make and includes instructions to make it either on the stovetop, in a slow cooker or in the instant pot! Want to know the secret ingredient? A little cocoa powder adds more depth of flavor.

Easy beef chili recipe

Chili has been a longstanding meal that we bring out when the weather cools down. It’s filling, loaded with protein, veggies and such good chili flavors.

You can spice it up, or tone the flavors down.

Serve it with cornbread, over rice or even tortilla chips.

Make it the perfect meal for YOUR family.

Dinner made easy

This recipe comes straight out of the November Fit Mama Meal Plan. It is just such a good recipes, I needed you to have it here!

Within the meal plan, we transform the leftovers into butternut squash chili mac – yum! Definitely go check out that meal plan for the deets!

What you’ll need for this beef chili recipe

• ground beef
• avocado oil
• onion
• green bell pepper
• garlic
• chili powder
• cumin
• sea salt
• pepper
• cocoa powder
• petite diced tomatoes
• crushed tomatoes
• beef broth (or make your own beef bone broth)

How to make easy beef chili on the stove top

1. Heat a large dutch oven or pot to medium-high heat. Add ground beef and saute, breaking up big pieces, until beef is browned. Drain, remove and set aside for later.
2. Add the avocado oil to the pot along with the onion and bell pepper. Saute for 5 minutes, then add the minced garlic and saute for 1 minute.
3. Add the chili powder, cumin, sea salt, pepper, cocoa powder, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, beef broth and cooked ground beef back in. Bring to a simmer and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
4. Serve the chili with your favorite corn bread recipe, over rice or with tortilla chips!

How to make easy beef chili in a slow cooker

1. Heat a large pot to medium-high heat. Add ground beef and saute, breaking up big pieces, until beef is browned. Drain, remove and set aside for later.
2. Add the cooked beef plus all the remaining ingredients into a slow cooker and give it a good stir. Cook on low for 8 hours then serve.

How to make easy beef chili in an instant pot

1. Press the saute setting on the 6 QT Instant Pot. Once it reads “hot” add the ground beef and let it saute for 5 minutes, breaking up the beef.
2. When the beef is fully cooked, remove excess fat. Press “cancel” to turn the pressure cooker off.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Cover with the lid, seal (making sure that the valve on the lid is set to the “sealing” position).
4. Select “manual” on the instant pot (or high pressure) and set to 15 minutes.
5. Once the 15 minute are complete, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes, or if you need it sooner, use the quick release method. Enjoy!

How to store leftover chili

Once the chili cools, I store it in my favorite glass food storage containers in the fridge for up to a week. Here is a list of my favorite earth friendly food storage options.

Can you freeze chili?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze chili! It’s a really great option for a freezer meal. Once the chili cools fully, add it into your freezer bag, remove all the air, label and date and freeze for up to 6 months.

To defrost, simply place the frozen chili in the fridge overnight and rewarm on the stovetop.

Ideas for leftover chili

• Chili stuffed twice baked potatoes
• Butternut squash chili mac (found in the November meal plan)
• Add leftover chili into enchiladas
• Chili fries
• Stuff into bell peppers

More healthy beef recipes you’ll love

• Mexican pasta bake
• Sheet pan beef gyros
• Sheet pan steak fajitas
• Umani mushroom beef burgers

If you try this recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather

*Originally published in February 2011. Updated November 2020.*