Classic Slow Cooker Chili

15 min

Prep Time

15 - 20 min (+4 hours on high or 8 hours on low)

Cook time

6 - 8

Serves

The marriage of sweet and spicy with an explosion of flavor is the best way to describe this classic favorite, a slow cooker chilli. With just 15 to 20 minutes of preparation, you can leave your dish to cook for up to 8 hours, filling your home with the gorgeous, rich aromas of Belle Donna spices while you move on with your busy day.

The Perfect Dinner Party Classic

Entertaining friends and family in your home is always a special time, but let’s be honest, time isn’t always on your side. Yet there’s nothing better than serving home-cooked food for your guests instead of opting for store-bought, ready-made meals.

What’s great about a slow cooker chilli is that you don’t need to spend hours of preparation in the kitchen as the dish takes care of itself. All you need to do is set up and serve. Not only is it minimum effort, but the reward is off the charts in terms of flavor.

Set Your Heat

While our recipe suggests 3 teaspoons of Belle Donna chilli powder, you can opt for more or less, depending on your preference. We know that some love a good kick of chilli, but if you’re having guests, rather opt for less, unless, of course, you’re breaking bread with confirmed chilli lovers when you can give the dish more heat, you can add fresh chillis.

The pairing of Belle Donna chilli powder with a combination of Belle Donne ground cumin, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper offers a magnificent burst of flavor. Now, add in the mouth-watering pork sausage and freshly harvested vegetables, and you have a sure-fire winner.

Choose Ideal Pairings

Chilli can be a really fun and interactive dinner party dish with a range of creative toppings, sides and sides you can mix and match.

Firstly, you have your toppings. We suggest shredded cheddar cheese, chopped red onion, and fresh jalapeno peppers, but the sky is the limit. You can set your meal up buffet style so that your guests can decide whether or not to make use of the toppings.

Next, you’ll want to think of your side dishes. Cornbread is always a winner if you want to go the tranditional route. After all, it’s classic comfort food that the whole family can enjoy. Or, you can choose freshly baked bread or breadsticks, quesadillas, nachos, or tacos for a Mexican twist, or the humble baked potatoes. Why not offer more than one side if you’re having guests?

The possibilities are endless with this delicious, aroma rich, much-loved classic. By serving up chilli, you’re bound to please your family and guests alike, creating special and lasting memories with the special people in your life.

Recipe

If you’re busy getting ready for the holidays, this slow cooker chili is quick and easy to make and will tide your family over until Christmas! It gets a nice boost of flavour by using a combination of spicy and sweet pork sausage.

Ingredients

1 lb. spicy bulk pork sausage, crumbled
1 lb. sweet bulk pork sausage, crumbled
½ c. chicken or vegetable stock, plus additional, if needed
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 medium white onion, finely chopped
2 large stalks celery, chopped small
2 large carrots, chopped small
2 15-oz. cans white beans, drained and rinsed
2 15.5-oz. cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 28-oz. cans tomato puree
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
1 28-oz. can petite-cut tomatoes, undrained
3 T. Belle Donne chili powder
1 T. Belle Donne ground cumin
2 t. Belle Donne oregano, dried
1 t. Belle Donne cayenne pepper
1 c. black coffee (or water), if needed
Belle Donne sea salt, to taste

Garnish

Shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped red onion
Fresh jalapeno peppers

Directions

In a large skillet, brown sausage over medium heat until no longer pink. Remove from heat and drain excess fat from pan. Transfer sausage to slow cooker crock.
Return skillet to burner over medium-high heat. Deglaze pan with chicken or vegetable stock, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon.
Add olive oil, garlic, and onion to pan and sauté, stirring frequently, about 3-4 minutes or until softened.
Add celery and carrot and continue cooking another 2-3 minutes, or until softened. Remove from heat and pour skillet contents into slow cooker.
Add white beans, red beans, tomato puree, tomato paste, petite-cut tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper to slow cooker. If desired, add black coffee or water to thin mixture before cooking. Season with salt and stir to combine.
Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 8 hours. When complete, taste and adjust seasonings, as desired.
To serve, spoon chili into individual serving bowls and top with shredded cheese, chopped onions, and/or sliced jalapeno peppers, as desired. Enjoy!