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Easy Slow Cooker Football Chili with Cheddar & Scallions

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A rich, smoky slow cooker chili topped with sharp cheddar and fresh scallions, perfect for game day gatherings. This set-it-and-forget-it recipe delivers deep flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained (fire-roasted preferred)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium)
  • 1 can (4 ounces) diced green chiles
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 bunch scallions, sliced thin

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 6-7 minutes. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking 1 minute until fragrant.
  2. Build the spice base: Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper over the beef mixture. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Transfer to slow cooker: Scrape beef mixture into a 6-quart slow cooker. Add diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, kidney beans, black beans, beef broth, and diced green chiles. Stir to combine.
  4. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, taste and adjust seasoning.
  5. Prepare toppings: While chili finishes, shred cheddar cheese and slice scallions. Store separately in the fridge until serving.
  6. Serve and garnish: Ladle chili into bowls. Top generously with shredded cheddar and sliced scallions. Serve with cornbread, tortilla chips, or crusty bread.

Notes

For thicker chili, remove lid for last 30 minutes of cooking. For thinner chili, stir in a splash of beef broth. Shred your own cheese for best melting. This chili freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chili, football chili, game day chili, cheddar scallion chili, easy chili recipe

Find it online: https://prismtaste.com/easy-slow-cooker-football-chili-with-cheddar-and-scallions/