Ground Beef Texas Chili

This slow cooker ground beef Texas chili is packed with smoky bacon, hearty beans, and rich, bold flavor that makes every bite unforgettable. It’s an easy, hands-off chili that simmers to perfection, creating a thick, savory bowl of comfort your whole family will love.

Texas Chili Recipe with Ground Beef

My family absolutely loves a good bowl of chili. But it has to be good because, they’re picky eaters. [Love that for me.] So, when I created this ground beef Texas chili recipe, I wanted it to have rich flavor but mild spice. This chili is loaded with bold, hearty flavors balanced by a subtle sweetness from brown sugar and Dr Pepper—a combo that truly works. It’s incredibly easy to prepare and slow-cooks into a rich, savory pot of goodness. Warm, cozy, and absolutely delicious, it’s the perfect dinner for any night of the week.

And to make things even better, pair it with my easy buttermilk cornbread and you’ll have a 10/10 dinner.

The Cowboys’ Rating: 9/10

Every time I make a new recipe, I have my family rate the recipe out of 10. By the time, these recipes make the blog, they’ve been tried and tested by some of my hardest tiny critics!

What Ingredients Are in Ground Beef Texas Chili?

• Ground Beef – I always use our homegrown beef that is so dang good. I always use our lean blend of 90/10. I love that it’s still full of flavor but I don’t have to drain off a bunch of fat.
• Bacon – Let’s be honest, bacon makes everything better. I put a full pound in this recipe.
• Diced Tomatoes – My kids don’t like spicy things, so I use regular diced tomatoes. If you want to add a little kick, you can use the fire roasted diced tomatoes.
• Kidney Beans – I like to use the light red kidney beans in this recipe. It complements the beef and bacon well.
• Great Northern Beans – I love to add great northern beans as well. They have a totally different flavor but still are so yummy. It really makes this recipe hearty.
• Diced Green Chilis – To add a subtle spice that’s not too spicy, I like to add a can of diced green chilis.
• Dr. Pepper – It’s crazy but Dr. Pepper makes this recipe so dang good! It adds the perfect amount of zing without it being too much!
• Tomato Paste – Chili would not be chili without that rich tomato flavor. I like to add tomato paste for that reason. It also helps to thicken the chili so that it has a heartier consistency.
• Corn Meal – I add corn meal to thicken the chili but also to make it less acidic and more flavorful.

seasonings

• Kosher Salt
• Pepper
• Chili Powder
• Cumin
• Onion Powder
• Minced Garlic
• Oregano
• Brown Sugar

Tools You’ll Need

• Slow Cooker
• Frying Pan
• Spatula
• Measuring Cups & Spoons
• Can Opener
• Colander

Ground Beef Texas Chili Recipe

1. In a frying pan, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and let cool.
2. Add ground beef to frying pan and cook until completely cooked through.
3. When done, add ground beef to slow cooker.
4. Cut bacon into small pieces and add to slow cooker.
5. Add in remaining ingredients, except for cornmeal and stir until well combined.
6. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
7. When done, remove cover and add in cornmeal. Stir until well incorporated.
8. Serve with favorite fixings and enjoy!

Gluten Free Texas Chili Recipe

This recipe is gluten free! And it’s so dang good. I do always caution to make sure the ingredients YOU are using are gluten free though. Just as a precaution.

What to Serve with Chili

Chili and cornbread are just made for each other. I have a simple and incredibly delicious recipe for buttermilk cornbread that will be the best cornbread you’ve ever had. Click here to get the recipe.

Storage and Freezing

This recipe is my favorite because it’s great for leftovers and is also freezable! Store this easy ground beef Texas chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For freezing, store in a freezer Ziploc back for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to cook it, just pull it out of the freezer and pop it back in the slow cooker for a few hours. It is so easy and so good.