The Best Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

This hearty chili recipe inspired by The Pioneer Woman is the ultimate comfort food, blending a perfect mix of seasonings, ground beef, and beans. Easily adaptable for your slow cooker, as well as stove top and Instant Pot, this recipe is set to become your go-to chili.

Serve it up with a warm slice of Cornbread for a truly satisfying meal!

Close-up of chili being scooped with a wooden spoon from a pot, showcasing its rich texture.

For years, making homemade chili felt like a challenge until I discovered this fantastic recipe. The beauty of chili is its versatility – everyone enjoys it in slightly different ways. This recipe provides a fantastic, easy base that you can customize to perfectly suit your taste and those you’re cooking for.

My husband loves it simple and classic: just meat, beans, a rich sauce, and this incredible seasoning blend.

Others love to load it up with extras like bell peppers, onions, and even celery and mushrooms!

So, how do YOU like your chili?

Making Pioneer Woman Chili in Your Slow Cooker (Crock Pot Method)

The slow cooker, or Crock Pot, method is ideal for developing deep, rich flavors in your chili with minimal effort. Here’s how to adapt this Pioneer Woman chili recipe for your slow cooker:

1. Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet or stove top safe slow cooker, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Be sure to crumble it as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.

2. Add Aromatics and Tomato Sauce: Stir in the diced garlic and tomato sauce to the beef. Cook for another minute until the garlic becomes fragrant.

3. Incorporate the Seasonings: Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir well to ensure the beef and garlic mixture is thoroughly coated with the seasonings.

4. Combine Masa Harina and Water: In a small bowl, whisk together the masa harina and water until smooth. This mixture will help to thicken your chili perfectly.

5. Slow Cook to Perfection: Transfer the beef mixture to your slow cooker (if you browned it in a skillet). Stir in the masa harina mixture and the drained and rinsed kidney and pinto beans. Gently stir everything together.

6. Set it and Forget it: Cover your slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours, or for a longer period on low heat throughout the day for even deeper flavor development.

7. Adjust Consistency (Optional): If you prefer a thicker chili, you can mix a bit more masa harina with water and stir it into the chili during the last hour of cooking. For a thinner chili, add a little water or beef broth.

8. Serve and Garnish: Once cooked, ladle the chili into bowls and let everyone customize their serving with their favorite garnishes!

Stove Top Chili Instructions

For those who prefer the traditional stove top method, here’s how to make Pioneer Woman chili:

1. Brown Ground Beef: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook and crumble the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain off any excess grease.

2. Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced garlic and tomato sauce to the pot. Cook for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.

3. Season the Beef: Stir in the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Mix well to coat the beef evenly.

4. Simmer for Flavor: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the chili simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If the chili seems too thick, add a little water (about ½ cup).

5. Thicken with Masa Harina: In a small bowl, combine the masa harina with water until smooth. Stir this mixture into the chili.

6. Add Beans and Finish Simmering: Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans and pinto beans to the pot. Simmer for another 10 minutes.

7. Serve with Garnishes: Serve hot with your favorite chili toppings and a side of cornbread.

Ground beef being seasoned in a dutch oven as part of the chili making process.

Instant Pot Chili Directions

For a quicker chili fix, the Instant Pot method is your best bet:

1. Sauté Beef: Set your Instant Pot to the Sauté function. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain any excess grease.

2. Add Aromatics and Tomato Sauce: Stir in the diced garlic and tomato sauce. Cook for about a minute until fragrant.

3. Incorporate Seasonings: Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.

4. Masa Harina Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together masa harina and water until smooth. Add this to the Instant Pot.

5. Add Tomatoes and Beans: For the Instant Pot version, use 14.5 ounces of diced tomatoes with their juice for added liquid. Add these to the pot along with the drained and rinsed kidney and pinto beans.

6. Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the pressure valve is set to sealing. Select the Chili/Beans setting and set the cooking time for 20 minutes.

7. Release Pressure and Serve: Once the cooking cycle is complete, you can do a quick pressure release or allow for a natural pressure release. Stir the chili before serving with your desired garnishes.

Pinto beans being added to a pot of chili, illustrating the final stages of preparation.

Instant Pot Burn Notice Tip: If you frequently use your Instant Pot, you might encounter the burn notice. To minimize this, make sure to scrape the bottom of the pot with a silicone spatula before sealing to remove any stuck bits. Often, the notice will resolve itself as the Instant Pot pressurizes.

👉 Pro-Tip: For all cooking methods, adjust the chili’s thickness by adding more masa harina mixed with water to thicken, or more water or broth to thin it out, until you reach your perfect consistency.

Masa Harina Alternatives

If you don’t have masa harina on hand, you can use these substitutes to thicken your chili:

• Flour or Cornmeal: These can be used to achieve a similar texture, but they will slightly alter the flavor profile.
• Cornstarch: Mix cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water to create a slurry, then stir it into the chili to thicken.

Freezing and Storing Leftover Chili

Freezing: Chili is an excellent make-ahead meal! It freezes beautifully, making it perfect for meal prepping or saving leftovers. Store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.

Storage: Keep leftover chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating: Thaw frozen chili in the refrigerator overnight or use the microwave. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.

What Goes Best with Chili? Serving Suggestions

Chili is a versatile dish that pairs well with many sides and toppings. Here are some popular serving suggestions:

• Cornbread: A classic pairing! The slight sweetness of cornbread complements the savory chili perfectly.
• Toppings: Set up a chili topping bar! Offer shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, diced green onions, lime wedges, and tortilla chips or Fritos for everyone to customize their bowl.
• Salad: A fresh side salad can balance the richness of the chili.
• Baked Potato: Serve chili over a baked potato for a hearty and satisfying meal.

Close up shot of chili in a pot, topped with melted cheese and garnished with fresh herbs.

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Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours (Slow Cooker) or 1 hour 10 minutes (Stove Top) or 20 minutes (Instant Pot)

Rating: 4.8 from 53 reviews

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef, 80% lean
• 2 cloves garlic, diced
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ cup masa harina, white or yellow
• 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 15 oz pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, (for Instant Pot only, with juice)

Optional Garnishes

• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Lime Wedges
• Sour Cream
• Tortilla Chips or Fritos
• Diced Green Onions

Instructions

Slow Cooker (Crock Pot)

1. Brown ground beef in a skillet or stove-top safe slow cooker and drain grease.
2. Add garlic and tomato sauce; cook 1 minute.
3. Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne pepper.
4. Transfer to slow cooker. Mix masa harina with water and stir into the pot.
5. Add drained beans and stir gently.
6. Cook on low for 4 hours or more.
7. Adjust thickness with more masa/water if needed.

Stove Top

1. Brown ground beef in a large pot and drain grease.
2. Add garlic and tomato sauce; cook 1 minute.
3. Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne pepper.
4. Simmer covered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally (add water if needed).
5. Mix masa harina with water and stir into chili.
6. Add drained beans and simmer 10 minutes.

Instant Pot

1. Set Instant Pot to Sauté; brown ground beef and drain grease.
2. Add garlic and tomato sauce; cook 1 minute.
3. Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne pepper.
4. Mix masa harina with water and add to Instant Pot.
5. Add diced tomatoes (with juice) and beans; stir.
6. Secure lid and cook on Chili/Beans setting for 20 minutes.
7. Quick or natural pressure release.

Recipe Notes

Masa Harina Substitute: Use flour, cornmeal, or cornstarch slurry as alternatives for thickening.

Nutrition: Estimated per serving (6 servings total).

Enjoy your Pioneer Woman inspired slow cooker chili!