Slow-Cooker Beef and Three-Bean Chili
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 mins
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
The addition of cardamom and dark chocolate deepens the complexity of flavors in this chili, which gets its process streamlined by the use of a slow-cooker.
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tsp dried or crushed chili flakes
- 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 5 cardamom pods, bruised (tie these inside cheeecloth for easy removal later)
- 2 red peppers, seeded and finely diced
- 2 1/2 lbs. (1.13 kg) ground beef
- 5 cups (1.2 L) jarred or canned chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) tomato ketchup
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) jarred or canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 15 oz. (425 g) can pinto beans
- 1 15 oz. (425 g) can black beans
- 1 15 oz. (425 g) can red kidney beans
Suggested Toppings
- sour cream
- grated cheddar
- guacamole
- tortilla chips
- lime
Instructions
- Heat oil in a slow cooker insert, or a frying pan and fry onions and garlic until they begin to soften.
- Add chili, cumin, coriander and crushed cardamom pods and stir well.
- Add the peppers then break up the ground beef and continue to turn and separate as the meat browns.
- Add chopped tomatoes, ketchup, tomato puree, and water, stirring to make a red sauce.
- Sprinkle the cocoa over the top and stir well; add the beans, cover and cook on low for about 2 hours.
- Serve with your favorite toppings.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Stew
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These
- Turkey and Coconut Milk Chili
- Crockpot White Chicken Chili
- Kolkata-Style Spicy Chili Chicken
- 15-Bean Soup with Smoked Pork and Greens
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the cardamom pods tied in cheesecloth instead of added loose?
The recipe specifically says to bruise the 5 cardamom pods and tie them inside cheesecloth for easy removal later. This lets the pods infuse the chili during the 2-hour slow cook without leaving whole pods in the finished dish.
What does cocoa powder do in a chili?
The recipe calls for 2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder sprinkled in before the beans. The excerpt says both the cardamom and the cocoa work together to deepen the complexity of flavors — cocoa adds a subtle bittersweet richness that rounds out the heat from 1 1/2 tsp of chili flakes without making the chili taste like chocolate.
What toppings does the recipe suggest?
The recipe lists sour cream, grated cheddar, guacamole, tortilla chips, and lime as suggested toppings. Use any combination when serving. 
