Slow Cooker Chili Recipe Without Beans — Rich & Hearty Flavor

This hearty Slow Cooker No Bean Chili is rich, smoky, and packed with bold flavor—ideal for a cozy weeknight dinner or a game day crowd. Ground beef and bacon form a savory base while chipotle peppers in adobo bring a smoky heat. Slow cooking lets the flavors meld into a thick, meaty chili with tender sausage pieces and sweet corn kernels. It’s easy to prep in the morning and ready when you are.

If you want more no-bean options, try my No Bean White Chicken Chili or No Bean Turkey & Vegetable Chili. Prefer an Instant Pot? My Instant Pot Chili (also no beans) cooks in under 30 minutes but tastes like it’s been simmering all day. For a classic take, check the Dutch Oven Chili—hearty, rich, and full of flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Protein-Packed Without Beans: A filling chili built from ground beef, bacon, and sausage.
• Bold, Smoky Flavor: Adobo, chipotle peppers, and smoked paprika give deep, smoky complexity.
• Hands-Off Slow Cooker: Minimal prep—your slow cooker finishes the work while you go about your day.
• Flexible: Easily adjust spice levels, swap proteins, or add vegetables to suit your taste.
• Great for Meal Prep: Makes a large batch that often tastes better the next day and freezes well.

Ingredients & Substitutions

How to Make Slow Cooker No Bean Chili

Quick Overview

• Brown bacon and ground beef.
• Sauté onions and peppers, then deglaze the pan.
• Combine everything in the slow cooker and add sausage on top.
• Slow cook until flavors meld and sausage is cooked through.

Step by Step Instructions

1. Cook the Bacon & Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and diced bacon until caramelized. Transfer with a slotted spoon to the slow cooker.
2. Sauté the Vegetables: Wipe away most excess fat but keep the fond. Sauté the diced onion and bell pepper 3–4 minutes until softened. Deglaze with a splash of beef broth, scraping up browned bits, then add the vegetables to the slow cooker.
3. Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in crushed tomatoes, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, corn, remaining beef broth, honey, Worcestershire, adobo sauce, chopped chipotle, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, granulated garlic, oregano, and salt. Remove sausage casings and break the sausage into small pieces, placing them on top.
4. Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until flavors are well melded and sausage is cooked through.

Recipe Serving Suggestions

Pair your chili with warm bread or muffins. Some favorites:

• Cornbread — quick and easy to make.
• Old-Fashioned Yeast Rolls — soft, buttery, and satisfying.
• French Bread — crusty loaves with tender centers.
• Savory Zucchini Muffins — moist and flavorful.

Top with shredded cheddar, sour cream, avocado, jalapeños, green onions, or a squeeze of lime for brightness.

Most Common Mistakes

• Adding All the Broth at Once: Reserve a splash for deglazing to capture the fond.
• Over-Salting Early: Wait to adjust salt after the chili has reduced and flavors have concentrated.

Additions & Variations

• Swap Proteins: Use ground turkey, chicken, or chorizo for different flavors.
• Adjust Heat: Vary chipotle and adobo amounts to suit your spice tolerance.
• Add Beans: If you want beans, add a can of black, kidney, or pinto beans in place of corn.
• Toppings: Cheese, avocado, sour cream, jalapeños, green onions, and lime brighten the bowl.

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BEST Slow Cooker No Bean Chili

Brianna May

5 from 13 votes

This hearty Slow Cooker No Bean Chili is rich, smoky, and full of bold flavor—perfect for a cozy dinner or game day crowd. Ground beef and bacon create a savory base, while chipotle peppers in adobo add just the right kick. Slow cooking melds everything together into a thick, meaty chili with tender bites of sausage and pops of sweet corn. The best part? It’s easy to prep in the morning and ready when you are.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

• Slow Cooker
• Stirring Spoon

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 5 slices bacon, diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 15-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 15-ounce can yellow corn, drained
• 1 14.5-ounce can beef broth
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1 Tablespoon worcestershire
• 1/4 cup adobo sauce, plus 1-2 chopped chipotles*
• 3 Tablespoons chili powder
• 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika*
• 1 Tablespoon cumin
• 1 Tablespoon granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 3/4 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*
• 3 raw sausage links, italian or bratwurst

Instructions

• Cook the Bacon & Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and diced bacon together until browned and caramelized. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the mixture to the slow cooker.
• Sauté the Vegetables: Remove most excess oil but keep the fond. Add the diced onion and bell pepper and sauté 3–4 minutes until softened. Deglaze with a splash of beef broth, scraping up the fond, then transfer the vegetables to the slow cooker.
• Add Remaining Ingredients: Add crushed tomatoes, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, corn, remaining beef broth, honey, Worcestershire, adobo sauce, chopped chipotle, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, granulated garlic, oregano, and salt. Stir to combine. Remove the sausage casings and dollop small pieces of sausage on top.
• Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until flavors meld and sausages are fully cooked.

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Notes

• Adobo & Chipotle: Provide smoky, spicy flavor—omit or reduce for milder chili.
• Smoked Paprika: Preferred for its smoky taste; regular paprika can be substituted.
• Kosher Salt: Recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt; reduce if using table salt.
• Brown for Flavor: Proper caramelization enhances the chili’s savory depth.
• Deglaze: Use broth to lift fond after sautéing vegetables and add it to the slow cooker.
• Cook Low & Slow: Low heat yields the best flavor and tender sausage.
• Toppings: Garnish with cheddar, avocado, sour cream, jalapeños, green onions, or lime.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 39g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.