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Square image closeup of finished chili served in a white bowl and garnished with pepperoncini.

Slow Cooker No Bean Chili Recipe

This Texas-style no bean chili is loaded with two kinds of beef, tomatoes, bold seasonings, and a splash of BBQ sauce for rich, smoky flavor. It's an easy, high-protein slow cooker dinner that's hearty, healthy, and perfect for meal prep.
4.63 from 8 votes
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Author Kori Butler
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Course Slow Cooker
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 271 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound stew meat
  • 1 pound ground beef (cooked)
  • 1 small onion (diced)
  • 1 green pepper (diced)
  • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • ½ cup sugar free sweet bbq sauce recipe (or, a store-bought sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoon oregano
  • 2 teaspoon paprika (try smoked paprika- it's really good)
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Optional: 4 to 6 whole pepperoncini peppers (adds some heat!)
  • Optional thickeners: 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water (or, 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum mixed with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil.)

Instructions
 

  • In a skillet, brown ground beef until no longer pink. Dice onion and green pepper. Mince garlic.
    Adding cooked ground beef to the slow cooker
  • Spray crockpot with nonstick spray Add stew meat, browned ground beef, onion, green pepper, tomatoes, barbecue sauce, tomato paste, garlic, chili powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper to slow cooker.
    Adding the remaining chili ingredients to the slow cooker
  • In a small bowl, mix xanthan gum and olive oil together until dissolved. Add to slow cooker then stir. Add bay leaves and pepperoncini.
    Mixing thickener and adding to the chili
  • Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours or until stew meat is tender.
    Serving a spoon full of chili out of the slow cooker
  • Serve and garnish with additional pepperoncini peppers. Season with additional salt and pepper or barbecue sauce if desired. Adjust spiciness with more cayenne pepper or a few drops of your favorite hot sauce. Enjoy!

Video

Kori's Tips

  • Like your chili spicier? You can add cayenne pepper for spice or a few drops of hot sauce. Some barbecue sauces can be spicy so if I'm not sure I adjust the spiciness at the end.
  • Want your chili thicker? If your chili is not as thick as you would like, there are a couple of ways you can thicken it. Add the cornstarch or xanthan gum mixture to your slow cooker and stir. Allow the chili to sit for a few minutes with the lid off.
  • Cornstarch. Use 1 tbsp of cornstarch dissolved in 1 tbsp of water. Add to the chili and stir. Allow chili to sit without lid for a few minutes and it will thicken.
  • Xanthan Gum (low carb thickener option). Use 1/2 tsp xanthan gum dissolved in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add to the chili and stir. Allow chili to sit without lid for a few minutes and it will thicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcalCarbohydrates: 8.8gProtein: 23.4gFat: 15.8gCholesterol: 77.5mgSodium: 260mgFiber: 2.7gSugar: 5.2g
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