Tips & Tricks

• Brown the beef first – This adds flavor and prevents excess grease from making the chili too heavy.
• Don’t skip the root beer – It doesn’t make the chili taste “soda-like,” but instead enhances the depth of flavor and sweetness.
• Use a liner – Chili can stick to the crock, so a slow cooker liner makes cleanup easy.
• Adjust thickness – If you like a thicker chili, leave the lid off during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
• Make it ahead – Chili tastes even better the next day after the flavors meld.

Substitutions

• Ground beef – Swap with ground turkey, chicken, or pork for a lighter option.
• Beans – Use pinto beans, white beans, or whatever beans you have on hand.
• Root beer – Dr Pepper, Coke, or even ginger ale can be used instead for a different sweet twist.
• Tomatoes with green chilies – Regular diced tomatoes plus a can of green chilies works too.
• Chili seasoning – Use homemade seasoning (chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne) if you don’t have a packet.

Variations

• Spicy Kick – Add jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce for more heat.
• Smoky Flavor – Stir in a bit of chipotle chili powder or smoked paprika.
• Meaty Version – Use half ground beef and half ground sausage for extra richness.
• Vegetarian – Omit the beef and add extra beans, lentils, or quinoa.
• Chili Mac – Spoon over macaroni noodles and top with cheddar for a chili mac dinner.