Description

A hearty, smoky, and easy slow cooker chili that requires minimal prep time. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe features ground beef, beans, chipotle peppers, and secret ingredients like coffee and dark chocolate for deep flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20)
1 large yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2–3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced (plus 2–3 tablespoons sauce)
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup black coffee
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup beef broth (low-sodium)
2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink (5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat if desired, but leave some for flavor.
Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 2 minutes until onions soften. Scrape the mixture into the slow cooker.
Add minced chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, brown sugar, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, black beans, kidney beans, beef broth, and black coffee to the slow cooker.
Stir all ingredients together until well combined.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours (or HIGH for 3-4 hours).
About 30 minutes before serving, stir in dark chocolate chips until melted.
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
Serve hot with desired toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.

Notes

Browning the beef first adds significant flavor depth compared to adding raw meat. The coffee adds richness without tasting like coffee; substitute with extra broth if preferred. For a thinner chili, leave the lid off for the last 30 minutes of cooking. This recipe freezes well for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6-8 hours
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 380
Sugar: 8
Sodium: 650
Fat: 18
Saturated Fat: 7
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 10
Protein: 25

Keywords: crockpot chili, slow cooker chili, fall recipes, easy dinner, chipotle chili, meal prep, comfort food, beef chili