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The Best Ever Easy Crock Pot Chili

Homemade Chili is a classic comfort food that everyone loves. This Easy Chili Recipe can be made in the crock pot or the Instant Pot making it fast and convenient. Our Crock Pot Chili is made up of ground beef, beans, bacon and savory condiments that make it hearty and delicious.
Course crock pot, instant pot, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword chili, crock pot, ground beef, instant pot
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef – Lean ground beef gives flavor but also less fat and grease
  • 1 can kidney beans drained– rinse and drain in strainer before using
  • 1 can butter beans drained– rinse and drain in strainer before using
  • 2 cans pork and beans - we prefer using Busch’s Baked Beans but you can use classic cheap pork ‘n beans
  • 1 1 2 cups ketchup
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup onions chopped– we always leave the onion out but if you like onions it would be a great addition
  • 1 2 cup Tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2-3 Tablespoon liquid smoke – this is an important ingredient! Don’t omit it because it helps to give the chili a nice smoky flavor
  • 6 pieces of bacon crumbled– you can substitute bacon bits or use pre-cooked bacon

Instructions

  1. CROCK POT INSTRUCTIONS
  2. Dump drained and rinsed kidney and butter beans into a crock pot
  3. Add pork ‘n beans to crock pot
  4. Brown ground beef, drain excess fat and add to crock pot
  5. Add ketchup, liquid smoke, brown sugar, white vinegar and bacon
  6. Stir everything together
  7. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8
  8. INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS
  9. Turn your Instant Pot to Saute, then select More. Add a little olive oil to the pot and add ground beef and cook until browned (add your chopped onions if desired and saute along with ground beef)
  10. Break up the beef with a spatula or wooden spoon as your stir
  11. Add beans, bacon, brown sugar ketchup, liquid smoke, white vinegar to the pot and stir together
  12. Turn the Instant Pot to the Chili/Beans setting and place the lid on the pot
  13. Cook for 20 minutes
  14. Release the pressure either manually or allow it to release naturally.