This Slow Cooker Chili With Bacon takes classic chili to the next level with smoky, crispy bacon and a rich combination of ingredients. Perfect for busy days, game days, or even chili cook-offs, this recipe is a winner that you’ll come back to time and time again.

Bowl of delicious chili topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and green onions, served with a side of tortilla chips.

Whether you serve it with tortilla chips, over a baked potato, or on hot dogs, this slow cooker chili recipe is packed with bold flavors everyone will love. Customizing with your favorite toppings like sour cream, cheddar cheese, and green onions is easy.

This chili recipe quickly becomes a go-to meal as soon as the weather cools down. It’s easy to prepare, super filling, and has an irresistible flavor.

Why This Is the Best Bacon Chili Recipe

Bacon Makes Everything Better: Bacon adds an irresistible depth of flavor.
Slow Cooking Perfection: Let your slow cooker work its magic for tender, well-blended flavors.
Incredibly Flavorful: Yes, you can find chili recipes with only 5 ingredients, but this award-winning chili is packed with flavor thanks to its perfectly balanced blend of spices and ingredients.
Healthy and Homemade: This recipe skips the preservatives in store-bought chili packets, using wholesome, fresh ingredients for a more nutritious meal.
Easy Prep: This recipe doesn’t require a lot of time in the kitchen—perfect for a busy day.

Chili with bacon cooking in a slow cooker, filled with vibrant chili beans and a rich, savory broth.

Hearty serving of chili with bacon in a bowl, garnished with green onions and shredded cheese

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Chili With Bacon

Here are the chili ingredients you’ll need to make this best chili recipe with bacon,

Ground Beef: The hearty base for this classic chili recipe.
Bacon: Crispy and smoky, it adds bold flavor to every bite.
Spices and Herbs: A rich blend of minced onion, minced garlic, chili powder, ancho chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, pepper, and salt for layers of depth.
Brown Sugar: Adds a hint of sweetness to balance the spices.
Beef Broth: Creates a savory, flavorful base for the chili.
Tri-Color Beans: Use what you have on hand, whether it’s black beans, kidney beans, or pinto beans. I love using organic tri-color beans.
Tomato Paste: Thickens the chili while enhancing its rich tomato flavor.
Green Chilies: Add a mild kick and a touch of tang.
Worcestershire Sauce: The secret ingredient for a savory boost.

Special Tools (affiliate links): Slow Cooker | Cast Iron Skillet

How to Make Slow Cooker Chili with Bacon

Here’s how to make this simple and delicious chili that’s sure to become a favorite in your meal rotation:

In a 12-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings.
In the same skillet, add the raw ground beef and cook over medium-high heat until browned, breaking it into small pieces. Drain the excess grease and transfer the ground beef to a crock pot.
Add minced onion and minced garlic to the ground beef and stir.
Add chili powder, ancho chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly combined.
Pour in beef broth, tomato sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
Add green chilies and drained beans to the slow cooker.
Crumble the bacon slices into small pieces and stir them into the mixture.
Cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours.
Serve with optional garnishes such as sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onions, tortilla chips, or avocado slices.

Close-up of a cozy bowl of bacon chili, topped with cheese, and chopped green onions.

Browning Meat Directly in My Slow Cooker

One of the features I love about my slow cooker is the ability to brown, sear, and sauté meat or veggies directly in the pot with the touch of a button.

I’ve written the instructions for this recipe for those who may not have this feature. However, if you have a slow cooker with an in-pot browning feature, you can skip the skillet and brown the ground beef directly in the slow cooker pot.

Recipe Tips

Feel free to swap out the tri-color beans for your favorite variety, such as chili beans, black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans. You can even mix different types for added texture!
Add cayenne pepper or some jalapeno peppers if you like extra spicy chili. You can also use hot chili powder or add a dash of red pepper flakes.
For a lighter version, swap the ground beef for ground turkey.
If you want a smokier taste, add more smoked paprika or a bit of liquid smoke.
You can easily swap the dried garlic and onion for fresh minced garlic and diced onions. However, since I have picky eaters, I prefer using dried minced garlic and onion to keep things simple and avoid complaints.

Hearty spoonful of bacon chili in a ladle, ready to be served into a bowl with rich, flavorful broth and chili beans.

Favorite Toppings for Bacon Chili

This homemade chili is delicious on its own, but toppings make it even better! Try these:

Shredded cheddar cheese
A dollop of sour cream
Sliced green onions
Avocado slices
Tortilla chips for crunch
Jalapeno Peppers
Corn Chips
Crackers
Homemade Cornbread

How to Store Leftovers

Let the chili cool to room temperature.
Store leftover chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
For longer storage, freeze in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
When ready to eat, reheat on the stove or microwave. Add a little water or broth if it’s too thick.

Slower Cooker Chili With Bacon

This chili with bacon is a hearty, flavorful dish that’s perfect for cozy nights or game day. With tender bacon, savory spices, and a mix of beans, it’s a comforting meal that practically cooks itself in the slow cooker.

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 20

Serving Size 6

Equipment

1 6 QT Slow Cooker
1 Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

1 ½ pound ground beef
2 tablespoon dried minced onion
2 tablespoon dried minced garlic
1 ½ tablespoon brown sugar
1 ½ tablespoon chili powder
1 ½ tablespoon ancho chili powder
1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoon salt
4 cups beef broth
3 cans 15 ounce tri color beans , drained
6 ounce can tomato paste
7 ounce can green chilies
2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon

Instructions

In a 12-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings.
In the same skillet, add the raw ground beef and cook over medium-high heat until browned, breaking it into small pieces. Drain the excess grease and transfer the ground beef to a crock pot.
Add minced onion and minced garlic to the ground beef and stir.
Add chili powder, ancho chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly combined.
Pour in beef broth, tomato sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
Add green chilies and drained beans to the slow cooker.
Stir in the cooked bacon.
Cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours.
Serve with optional garnishes such as sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onions, tortilla chips, or avocado slices.

About Sarah

Wife. Mother. From-Scratch Cook. Homemaker.

I’m Sarah, the creator of Rocky Hedge Farm, where I share my love for simple living, homemade meals, and creating a cozy home. As a wife and mother, I’m passionate about slowing down, cooking from scratch, and finding joy in the everyday moments of life. From DIY projects and family-friendly recipes, I hope to inspire others to embrace a life rooted in simplicity and warmth.

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