Made with two types of ground beef and loaded with flavor, you’ll never miss the beans in this Slow Cooker No Bean Chili!
If you love chili, you need to try this turkey white bean chili, this black bean chicken chili, and instant pot no bean chili.
Despite my bitter feelings towards winter (read: it’s been in the negative and single digits here within the past few weeks), I do love that this time of year makes me want to whip up warm and comforting meals.
There’s just something about a hearty dinner that fills me up and keeps me satisfied, even if there is three feet of snow outside (ok, so I’m exaggerating just a little). And nothing screams comfort food more to me than chili.
I’ve been a chili fanatic for as long as I can remember! The spicy flavor and mixture of meats, veggies, and beans fits perfectly with a hunk of cornbread. And while I’ll eat chili any time of the year, I only make it in the winter. It just seems more appropriate, right?
My husband loves chili too, though not as much as myself. However, he doesn’t like it with beans. Yep, you heard that right, friends…no beans!
It must be a texture type thing, because you really can’t taste the beans once they’re cooked. Am I right? I can’t really blame him, though, because I wouldn’t eat those beans just on their own either, though I do love them in chili!
So when we both got a craving for chili years ago, I compromised and made this slow cooker chili recipe with no beans. Made with two types of ground beef and loaded with flavor, you’ll never miss the beans in this chili!In fact, this is my favorite chili and I almost prefer itsans the beans.
I’ve been making this chili recipe without beans for about five years now, as it’s a staple in my household during the winter.Besides being the BEST chili recipe with no beans , it’s also a breeze to whip up!
No-Bean Chili Ingredients
This beanless chili is a cinch to make! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Lean ground beef
- Ground chuck
- Tomato sauce
- Diced tomatoes
- White onion
- Green bell pepper
- Spices
- Granulated sugar
- Salt and pepper
How to Make No-Bean Chili
Never made chili without beans? It’s just as easy as making classic chili. Here’s how I make this chili recipe with no beans:
- Brown the two types of ground beef in a skillet.
- Drain the beef and add to the slow cooker along with the remaining beanless chili ingredients.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Serve with your favorite toppings!
How Long to Cook Chili in a Crockpot?
I recommend cooking the no bean chili on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Cooking chili low and slow helps the flavors develop and makes for a better bowl of chili overall.
Can I make no bean chili on the stovetop?
While you can certainly make this on the stove in a little over an hour, I love whipping out my slow cooker for this dish. The flavors blend together and create such a delectable taste. And it makes your house smell wonderful, too!
Can I make no bean chili in an Instant Pot?
If you’d like to make this chili recipe with no beans in an Instant Pot, I recommend checking out my Instant Pot No Bean Chilirecipe. I give detailed instructions on how to make beanless chili in an Instant Pot in that post.
Does Chili Freeze Well?
Yes! Since this chili is made without beans, it freezes and reheats like a dream. Store in airtight containers for up to three months in the freezer.
My Favorite Chili Toppings
This chili recipe with no beans can be enjoyed as is or you can pile on the toppings.
Here are some of my go-to chili toppings:
- Diced jalapeño
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Crushed tortilla chips
- Oyster crackers
- Diced avocado
What to Serve with Chili
Serve this no bean homemade chili with a side of my homemade Skillet Honey Cornbread or Skillet Buttermilk Cornbread, and you have yourself a delicious meal, perfect to beat the winter-blahs!
I also love serving no bean Crockpot chili with Cheesy Cornbread Muffins or even Cheddar Biscuits.
Tips for Making Chili Without Beans
Because I omitted the beans for the bean-loathing hubster, I used one pound of ground beef and one pound of ground chuck. This makes the beanless chili extra meaty and definitely makes up for the lack of beans.
Of course, you can definitely add in beans if that’s what you prefer, it’s delicious either way!
It’s very easy to customize this chili based on your preferences. You can add in as much or as little chili powder and spice as you would like. I’ve played around with this recipe a lot over the years and found the perfect combination for me.
Other Ways to Eat No-Bean Chili
My favorite way to eat this beanless chili is straight from the bowl, with some cheese sprinkled on top. However, you can also serve no-bean chili in one of the following ways:
- On Frito pies
- Atop chili dogs
- Over baked potatoes
- Over spaghetti
Looking for more slow cooker recipes? I’ve got you covered!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Slow Cooker Pizza Chili
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Pork
- Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
Video Tutorial
4.96 from 44 ratings
Slow Cooker Hearty No-Bean Chili
Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 4 hours hrs
Total Time: 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Made with two types of ground beef and loaded with flavor, you’ll never miss the beans in this Slow Cooker Hearty No-Bean Chili!
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Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound ground chuck
- 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce, see note below
- 2 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 5-6 tablespoons chili powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic, (or 2 teaspoons garlic powder)
- ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Equipment
Instructions
In a large skillet, brown and crumble ground beef and ground chuck until cooked through. Drain and add to slow cooker.
Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, pepper, minced garlic, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, chili powder, white sugar, oregano, salt and pepper to slow cooker. Stir to combine. **See note below**
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream, if desired.
Notes
- Chili will look too liquidy but will absorb once it cooks.
- After several reader comments about the chili being too watery, I changed the quantity from two (29 ounce) cans to two (15 ounce) cans of tomato sauce.
- For instructions on how to make no bean chili in an Instant Pot, check out my Instant Pot No Bean Chili Recipe.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 350kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 32g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 101mg, Sodium: 411mg, Potassium: 910mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 2228IU, Vitamin C: 30mg, Calcium: 94mg, Iron: 6mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
Author: Gayle
Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @pumpkin_n_spice on Instagram or tag #pumpkin_n_spice.
Photos updated 10/2020
