Best 5 Americas Test Kitchen Slow Cooker Weeknight Beef Chili Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Americas Test Kitchen Slow Cooker Weeknight Beef Chili is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a busy weeknight meal. This chili is made with a variety of fresh ingredients, including ground beef, beans, and vegetables, and it is simmered in a flavorful sauce until it is tender and flavorful. The best part about this chili is that it can be made in a slow cooker, so you can set it and forget it until dinnertime. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a hearty and satisfying dish to warm you up on a cold winter night, Americas Test Kitchen Slow Cooker Weeknight Beef Chili is sure to hit the spot.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

AMERICA'S FAVORITE CHILI



America's Favorite Chili image

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Time 2h45m

Yield 10 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds ground sirloin or chuck
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 medium white onions, diced
2 tablespoons dried ancho chile powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 3/4 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon demi-glace (concentrated beef stock )
One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
One 15-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, sour cream, pickled jalapenos and shredded aged yellow Cheddar, for serving

Steps:

  • Heat a large pot over medium heat and add oil. Add beef and sprinkle with baking powder. Brown beef, stirring to break up into smaller chunks, until no longer pink, 5 to 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove beef to a bowl.
  • Add onions to pot and turn heat down to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in chile powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne and oregano and cook for another 2 minutes to bloom. Add garlic and saute for 30 more seconds. Add beef stock, demi-glace, tomatoes and beans. Add beef back in along with any reserved juices and simmer, partially covered and stirring frequently, for 2 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Garnish with scallions, cilantro, sour cream, pickled jalapenos and aged Cheddar.

SLOW-COOKED CHILI



Slow-Cooked Chili image

This hearty slow cooker chili can cook for up to 10 hours on low in the slow cooker. It's so good to come home to its wonderful aroma after a long day away. -Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Lunch

Time 8h20m

Yield 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 medium onions, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese and thinly sliced green onions, optional

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. , Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the next 9 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. If desired, top individual servings with cheese and green onions.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 260 calories, Fat 8g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 57mg cholesterol, Sodium 712mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

SIMPLE BEEF CHILI FROM AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN



SIMPLE BEEF CHILI FROM AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN image

Number Of Ingredients 16

2tablespoons vegetable oil or corn oil
2 medium onions , chopped fine (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper , cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)
1/4cup chili powder
1tablespoon ground cumin
2teaspoons ground coriander
1teaspoon red pepper flakes
1teaspoon dried oregano
1/2teaspoon cayenne pepper
2pounds 85 percent lean ground beef
2 (15-ounce) cans red kidney beans , drained and rinsed
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes , with juice
1 can (28 ounces) tomato puree
Table salt
2 limes , cut into wedges

Steps:

  • 1. Heat oil in large heavy-bottomed nonreactive Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking, 3 to 4 minutes. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, pepper flakes, oregano, and cayenne; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add half the beef; cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink and just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining beef and cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes. 2. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato puree, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Remove cover and continue to simmer 1 hour longer, stirring occasionally (if chili begins to stick to bottom of pot, stir in 1/2 cup water and continue to simmer), until beef is tender and chili is dark, rich, and slightly thickened. Adjust seasoning with additional salt. Serve with lime wedges and condiments if desired. Slow Cooker Option: At the end of step 1, transfer the cooked beef mixture to a slow cooker; add the rest of the ingredients as directed in step 2. Cook the chili on the high setting for four hours.

SPEEDY WEEKNIGHT CHILI



Speedy Weeknight Chili image

Super-easy and great-tasting, this chili makes a big batch of great party fare. I use my food processor to chop up the veggies and cut down on prep time. It's also very tasty and lower in fat when made with ground turkey breast. -Cynthia Hudson, Greenville, South Carolina.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 15 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

1-1/2 pounds ground beef
2 small onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) stewed tomatoes
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 bottle (12 ounces) beer or nonalcoholic beer
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/4 cup chili powder
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, cook the beef, onions and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Add remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 154 calories, Fat 5g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 22mg cholesterol, Sodium 269mg sodium, Carbohydrate 16g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 12g protein.

SLOW COOKER CHILI



Slow Cooker Chili image

A great chili should be richly spiced, with layers of deep, savory flavor. Here, that big flavor comes from the usual contenders, but also from the unexpected additions of unsweetened cocoa, soy sauce and Worcestershire, which provide complexity. This recipe makes a thick, comforting chili that can be prepared in a slow cooker or in a Dutch oven on the stovetop. Chili is perhaps the ideal slow-cooker dish because its flavor improves with a long, slow simmer. This makes a big batch, perfect for a cold-weather get-together, but if you're making it for a smaller group, the leftovers freeze well.

Provided by Sarah DiGregorio

Categories     dinner, weekday, soups and stews, main course

Time 4h30m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 27

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow or red onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt
2 pounds ground beef, 80 percent lean, 20 percent fat
8 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
2 teaspoons chipotle powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons mustard powder
2 teaspoons hot smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) pilsner beer, such as Modelo Especial
1 (14-ounce) can diced or crushed tomatoes in juice
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup or dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons beef stock bouillon paste, such as Better Than Bouillon
1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 (14-ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 (14-ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Hot sauce, grated sharp Cheddar, sliced scallions, sour cream and crushed tortilla chips, for serving

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 8 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the beef and garlic, season with salt and cook, breaking the beef into crumbles with a spatula, until the beef has lost its pink color, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until slightly darkened and caramelized, about 1 minute. Stir in all the spices and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beer and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan.
  • Transfer the beef mixture into a 5- to 8-quart slow cooker. Stir in the tomatoes, vinegar, maple syrup, soy sauce, beef bouillon paste, cocoa, beans and 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook on low for at least 4 hours and up to 6 hours. (The chili can hold well on warm for an additional 2 hours.)
  • When ready to serve, stir in the Worcestershire sauce. If the chili is too thick, stir in a bit of water until the texture is to your liking. Season to taste with salt. Serve in bowls and pass the toppings at the table.

Tips:

  • When browning the beef, do not overcrowd the pan. This will cause the beef to steam instead of brown.
  • To save time, you can use pre-cut beef stew meat.
  • If you don't have a slow cooker, you can braise the beef in a Dutch oven in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 hours.
  • Serve the beef stew over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.

Conclusion:

Slow cooker beef stew is a hearty and delicious meal that is perfect for a busy weeknight. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and satisfying stew that the whole family will enjoy. So next time you're looking for an easy and delicious meal, give slow cooker beef stew a try.

Related Topics