No Bean Chili Recipe – Slow Cooker is an easy Texas-style chili you’ll make again and again. Packed with meat, tomatoes, onions, and bold chili spices, it gets a delicious twist from a touch of barbecue sauce.
Watch: No Bean Crock Pot Chili
This No Bean Chili Is Easy and Delicious
“This is one of my favorite ways to make chili – Texas BBQ style. It’s easy, low carb/keto – and has no beans! Meat lovers will LOVE this! The taste of this chili will change based on the type of barbecue sauce you use – happy taste testing!” 🙂 – Kori
Easy Slow Cooker Recipe
This no bean chili slow cooker recipe is very easy — simply brown the ground beef, add everything to your slow cooker, set it on low, and let it cook for several hours. The long, gentle heat melds the flavors into a rich, hearty chili with minimal effort.
Delicious
This chili combines stew meat and ground beef for satisfying texture and flavor. The spices develop during the slow cook, and a splash of barbecue sauce adds a sweet-smoky depth you won’t get in a typical chili. Try different barbecue sauces to discover your favorite version.
Healthy, Low Carb and Keto Friendly
Because there are no beans, this recipe works well for low-carb and keto diets. If you prefer a higher fat balance, choose fattier ground beef, add a tablespoon of olive oil, or top the chili with cheese, sour cream, or diced avocado.
The approximate nutrition per serving is shown in the recipe card below.
15.8 g fat | 6.1 g net carbs | 23.4 g protein
How We Like to Serve Crock Pot No Bean Chili
This crock pot no bean chili is a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs nicely with:
- Fresh green salad with a creamy avocado or chipotle dressing
- Cheese crisps or grated cheese on top
- Corn chips, tortillas, breadsticks, or cornbread (note: not low carb)
Chili (No Beans) Ingredients and Equipment
Ingredients
Most of the list below are pantry spices — don’t be intimidated. They combine to make a robust chili flavor.
- 1 pound stew meat
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended, but lean beef is fine)
- 1 small onion, diced (yellow, red, or sweet)
- 1 green bell pepper, diced (any color works)
- 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (regular or stewed)
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce (use sugar-free for keto if desired)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons paprika (smoked paprika is great)
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for heat)
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- Optional: 4–6 whole pepperoncini peppers for heat
- Optional thickeners: 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water, or 1/2 tsp xanthan gum mixed with 1 tbsp olive oil
Equipment
You’ll need basic kitchen tools:
- 4–6 quart slow cooker
- 12″ skillet
- Cutting board and chef’s knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing spoon
- Small bowl for thickener
No Bean Chili Recipe Variations
Here are simple ways to customize the recipe:
- Add a can of beans or corn (not low-carb)
- Use lean ground beef or substitute ground turkey or chicken
- Swap in smoked sausage for extra flavor
- Use diced tomatoes with green chiles for added spice
- Add vegetables like jalapeños, mushrooms, carrots, or zucchini
- For a smoky taste, add a few drops of liquid smoke
If you add extra ingredients, taste and adjust seasonings and expect some variations in liquid — you may need to thicken the chili before serving.
How to Make No Bean Chili
Follow these straightforward steps to prepare this slow cooker chili.
1. Brown the Ground Beef
In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain excess fat if desired. Dice the onion and bell pepper and mince the garlic.
2. Add Ingredients to the Slow Cooker
Spray the slow cooker with nonstick spray. Add the stew meat, browned ground beef, diced onion, diced green pepper, diced tomatoes, barbecue sauce, tomato paste, minced garlic, chili powder, oregano, smoked or regular paprika, cayenne, cumin, kosher salt, black pepper, bay leaves, and pepperoncini (if using).
3. Add Thickener (Optional)
If you prefer a thicker chili, dissolve xanthan gum in olive oil or mix cornstarch with water in a small bowl, then stir the mixture into the slow cooker.
4. Slow Cook
Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until the stew meat is tender and the flavors are well developed.
5. Serve
Remove bay leaves and serve garnished with extra pepperoncini if desired. Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, barbecue sauce, or cayenne to taste. Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, or avocado for extra richness.
Crock Pot No Bean Chili — Top Tips for Success
Make this chili your own with these tips:
- Adjust heat: Add more cayenne or hot sauce at the end if you prefer more spice. Remember that some barbecue sauces are already spicy.
- Thicken easily: For a thicker chili use 1 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 1 tbsp water, or for a low-carb option use 1/2 tsp xanthan gum dissolved in 1 tbsp olive oil. Stir in and let the chili sit a few minutes with the lid off.
How to Store No Bean Crock Pot Chili
How Long Will This Chili Stay Good?
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. The flavors often improve the next day, making it excellent for leftovers.
Can I Freeze Chili?
Yes. Cool completely, transfer to freezer-safe containers, and freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat
Reheat gently on the stovetop in a saucepan, stirring frequently, or microwave in a covered dish in 30–60 second increments, stirring until heated through.
No Bean Chili Recipe FAQs
Texas-style chili is a meat-forward chili typically made without beans and seasoned with bold spices. Some Texas chili recipes include tomatoes while others do not; the emphasis is on beef and robust chili seasoning.
Use lean ground beef or trim visible fat from stew meat to lower the overall fat content.
Choose higher-fat ground beef, add a tablespoon of olive oil, or finish servings with avocado, grated cheese, or sour cream.
If you make this crock pot no bean chili recipe, please come back and leave a star rating or review — I’d love to hear how it turned out! Share photos and tag me on social media to show your creations.
📖 The recipe
Slow Cooker No Bean Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound stew meat
- 1 pound ground beef (cooked)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- Optional: 4–6 whole pepperoncini peppers (adds heat)
- Optional thickener: 1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water, or 1/2 tsp xanthan gum + 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Dice the onion and green pepper and mince the garlic.
- Spray the slow cooker with nonstick spray. Add stew meat, browned ground beef, onion, green pepper, tomatoes, barbecue sauce, tomato paste, garlic, chili powder, oregano, cayenne, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- In a small bowl mix the xanthan gum with olive oil (or prepare cornstarch slurry). Stir into the slow cooker. Add bay leaves and pepperoncini if using.
- Cover and cook on low 6–8 hours or until stew meat is tender.
- Remove bay leaves. Serve with extra pepperoncini if desired and adjust seasoning. Enjoy!
Kori’s Tips
- Prefer spicier? Add more cayenne or hot sauce at the end and taste as you go.
- Thickening options: Use 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water, or 1/2 tsp xanthan gum mixed with 1 tbsp olive oil. Stir in and let the chili sit a few minutes with the lid off to thicken.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 8.8 g
Protein: 23.4 g
Fat: 15.8 g
Cholesterol: 77.5 mg
Sodium: 260 mg
Fiber: 2.7 g
Sugar: 5.2 g
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© 2025 Seeking Good Eats™
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Easy Texas-style no bean chili made in the slow cooker — a simple, hearty, family-friendly dinner. Low carb and keto adaptable, this chili is full of meaty flavor and bold spices with a hint of barbecue sweetness.