This homemade slow cooker beef chili recipe is the best since it is so full of flavor thanks to several spices, smokey bacon, and a rich tomato sauce. It is a great no-bean ground beef recipe that everyone should make part of their regular easy dinner rotation. This is the best keto chili con carne - it is almost all carne (meat) without frijoles (beans) and it's totally amazing.
This tasty beanless red chili has simple ingredients that pack in a lot of flavors and it can be adjusted to be mild or spicy. This is one of the quickest ground beef recipes to put together and into the Crockpot. The key to a hearty keto slow cooker beef chili recipe is keeping it low-carb without the beans. Plus it is important to have added fat and protein-rich toppings like bacon, cheese, avocado, and sour cream.
Slow cooker chili con carne is hearty, chunky, and simmers in rich tomatoes and spices for the most amazing bowl of chili. The perfect chili seasoning mix plus crispy bacon, then add fun and delicious toppings for the ideal low-carb keto chili. You will never miss the beans in your chili again.
Jump to:
- What Meat to Use for Chili
- Why Enjoy Chili Without the Beans
- Ideal Toppings for Chili - Set up a Chili Bar
- What to Serve with Chili
- Ingredients for Low-Carb Chili without Beans
- Keto Chili Seasoning
- How to Make CrockPot Beef Chili Without Beans
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- How Long to Cook Chili in the CrockPot
- How to Serve Keto Chili
- How Many Carbs in Chili
- PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!
- Slow Cooker No-Bean Chili (keto)
What Meat to Use for Chili
My classic chili recipe calls for ground beef but any combination of ground meats will work. If you prefer other ground meats such as turkey, pork, bison, venison, or any mixture, they can all be used in this keto slow cooker recipe. All will work and can meet your dietary or taste preferences.
You can even brown chunks of beef roast and then add to or replace the ground beef. By the time the slow cooker does its magic, the beef will shred and be so tender (just make sure if you use beef pieces vs ground beef, the slow cooker needs 8 hours on low vs 6 hours on low). This makes the ultimate chili con carne without beans! It would be an award-winning recipe for any friendly chili cookoff, vote for bacon.
Why Enjoy Chili Without the Beans
- Fewer Carbohydrates - the carbs in chili without beans is very low, this recipe has only 6 net carbs for a large bowl
- The original chili recipe refers to meat cooked with red chili peppers. (chili con carne - chili with meat) Chili does not refer to beans.
- Beans for many people are not an "agreeable food"
- More meat and flavor when you leave out bland beans (really just a filler)
After all, a classic chili recipe has no beans. It is just hamburger meat, spices, and chili peppers. This easy chili recipe is perfect for all chili lovers, especially those on a keto, soy-free, gluten-free, diabetic, paleo, or low-carb diet since it is so tasty without any beans or fillers.
When I was in college one of my favorite easy fast meals was making a baked potato in the toaster oven and then topping it with this chili & some cheese. Or top sweet potato fries or air fryer french fries with this chili for the best appetizer or game-day food.
Ideal Toppings for Chili - Set up a Chili Bar
- shredded cheese
- sour cream
- avocado
- cilantro
- lime juice
- crumbled bacon
- jalapenos, other peppers
- salsa or diced tomatoes
- chopped onion or scallions
- additional hot sauce - for those that want a lot of heat!
What to Serve with Chili
Here are some delicious recipes that go well with chili. I have included some keto-friendly recipes. Most are also gluten-free and all are fantastic. I love this chili as a side for BBQ nights with meats like grilled tri-tip steak or grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs.
More Recipe Ideas Using Beanless Chili
Here are great ways to enjoy this chili. These recipes are great for using up leftover chili without beans.
- Poach an egg, then put both on a grain-free keto roll, recipe HERE
- Top a hot dog or hamburger
- Top zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash
- Use a topping on nachos or in a burrito
Ingredients for Low-Carb Chili without Beans
There are only a few ingredients needed for this chili. The slow cooker and the perfect spices work the magic to turn plain ground beef into a bowl of comfort. Besides a blend of spices, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, ground beef, and bacon are needed for this high-fat & low-carb chili recipe.
Keto Chili Seasoning
To keep away from grains or other unnecessary ingredients that are in premade seasoning packets, make your own. This is ideal for the low-carb diet when you want to know all the ingredients going into your meal. This homemade seasoning blend includes chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, minced onion, salt, & pepper.
How to Make CrockPot Beef Chili Without Beans
I love my Crock-Pot for many quick recipes but the #1 reason I use the slow cooker, is to make meats tender and infuse flavor slowly into them. Chili is just the sort of thing that begs for the meat to infuse with the other ingredients and there is no better way than to slow-cook it for hours in a variety of spices. Cooking low-carb chili in the crockpot is so basic and the most flavorful recipe by far.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Crumble and brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Once browned, DO NOT DRAIN! You want fat, aka flavor. Plus if you are on a keto diet, you really want that fat.
Add the ground beef and fat to the insert of your slow cooker. Next, add the spices and minced dry onion.
Add the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine evenly.
How Long to Cook Chili in the CrockPot
Close the lid and set the timer to 6 hours on LOW. The meat is already cooked so you wonder why so long. This step is all about infusing the spices into the meat and keeping it tender and juicy in the acidic tomatoes.
Now for the BACON!!!
I bake my bacon in the oven. I have done this since my first job at a burger place where large baking sheets of bacon were baked up every morning. To this day a bacon cheeseburger is one of my favorite foods. Ok, back to the bacon - crisp it up as you like. We like our bacon extra crispy. Then crumble.
How to Serve Keto Chili
Once the Beef and Bacon Chili is ready - spoon it into bowls and bring out all the toppings you want, including the bacon. Stir the bacon into the chili. The reason I do not suggest adding the bacon any sooner is that the crispy bacon will now soften and not have the same texture we love with bacon. The crispiness of the bacon balances the velvety meat and the soupy tomato base.
Next, add any of the toppings I listed above or your own favorites. On this night I had shredded sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, and avocado. I usually love cilantro too but just didn't have it tonight.
How Many Carbs in Chili
Each recipe or premade chili you buy at the store will have a different carb, fat, and protein count. This recipe keeps macros that are important for a keto diet. A full detailed list of nutritional information is shared in the recipe card below.
However for a snapshot of the carb count in this homemade chili without beans, here is the main breakdown. For ⅙ of this recipe, if you use ground beef that is 80/20 there will be 6 net carbs per large bowl. It packs almost 16g of fat but top with some avocado and cheese to add to that count.
PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!
Product Recommendations for this Recipe:
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Slow Cooker No-Bean Chili (keto)
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (or other meats, see above comments)
- 6 slices bacon
- 15 ounces can diced tomatoes
- 15 ounces can tomato sauce
- 3 TB chili powder
- 1 TB minced dry onion
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper Optional - for added heat
Instructions
- Crumble meat into a large skillet and saute on medium until meat is browned and cooked all the way through.
- DO NOT drain the fat. Transfer meat to the insert in your slow cooker.
- Add both canned tomato products and remaining ingredients – not the bacon- and stir. Close the top and set the timer to 6 hours on LOW.
- Bake bacon in a single layer on a baking sheet in the oven at 425°. Cook until desired crispness, we like it super crispy which takes about 20-25 minutes.
- Drain bacon on a paper towel-lined plate. Once cool, crumble into bite-sized pieces.
- Once the chili is done, spoon into serving bowls and stir in bacon. Top with desired toppings. See above for a great list of chili topping options.
Notes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 6 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 357 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 15.9g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat 5.4g | 27% |
| Cholesterol 122mg | 41% |
| Sodium 1508mg | 66% |
| Total Carbohydrate 9.3g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber 3.3g | 12% |
| Total Sugars 5.2g | |
| Protein 43.5g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 32mg | 2% |
| Iron 23mg | 129% |
| Potassium 1045mg | 22% |
Brad says
Chili with no beans.👍 Not draining off the fat. 👍 Bacon? Hell yes!👍 This looks delicious.
Angela says
The three main food groups, right .... beef, bacon, and fat!
Holly says
I love chili without beans so I am really excited to try this recipe!! Thank you!
Angela says
Great, I hope you love it. Come back and let me know what you think and how you top yours!
Caroline says
Wow! This must immediately go on the list for this weekend at my house!
Angela says
Great, enjoy it especially during this winter weather.
Jere Cassidy says
No beans in the chili would make my kids happy. I love you added bacon to this soup. It's definitely some good comfort food,
Liz says
Beef and bacon that's sounds like a delicious dream to me.
Angela says
Dreams do come true - it is a delicious reality!
Raquel says
This was such an informational post about chili. I didn't think there was much to learn about the dish, but there really is! I appreciate how you listed the multiple ways to enjoy chili (:
Angela says
Thank you. That was only a few ways to enjoy chili, I am sure I will add to this post as more recipes develop. Stay tuned.
Beth says
We all like beans in our chili, especially the toddler, but I've never added bacon to mine. I'm also in the crisp-bacon camp! I can't wait to try it in my chili, mmm.
Angela says
You are missing out if you have never had bacon!
Christy Boston's Kitchen says
I love all the suggestions for toppings and ways to serve this chili. The addition of bacon is something I need to try. I bet it add a nice smoky flavor to the chili.
Jacqueline Debono says
I was actually planning to make a classic chili today with beans but I think I'm going to try this one with bacon instead! Looks so good!
Simone says
What a great idea to set up a chili bar! Great for parties & game days... no why didn't I think of that? lol
Sonila says
Add bacon to anything and I know I will love it, this chili with no beans sounds so goooood. Plus, slow cooker...that's the solution for every busy mom!! Thank you for this recipe:)
Nart | Cooking with Nart says
Finally! A chili with no beans YAYYYYYY! I'm so gonna love this 😀
Angela says
Yes, it is a wonderful thing!
Lathiya says
I have seen lots of chili recipes using beans. This one without beans sounds and looks fabulous.
Stephanie says
So being a vegetarian I sure love beans, peppers, tomatoes, and onions in my chili. I love the toppings and different ways to eat the chili. And yay to crock pots doing the cooking for you! 😊
Charlotte says
All meat sounds great, but then you added bacon. My stomach is growling thinking about it! Can’t wait to try the recipe out.
Lisa says
We have tried different variations of chili and would have never thought to add bacon! We will be adding that to our next batch. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Eva says
Of all the things I've put in my chili through the years (rice, pasta, cheese, sour cream, chives, cinnamon, potatoes), I have never thought to put bacon in it. Great idea and I love that it's keto. Definitely adding it to my upcoming menu. Thanks, Angela!
Angela says
Yes, there are so many choices when it comes to topping chili and what to eat with your chili. I am glad I opened your eyes to the best of all - bacon!
Sydney Delong says
This looks so good! Printing the recipe to try it out soon!!
Miz Helen says
This will be a delicious slow cooker full of chili, we will love it! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Allison says
How would this taste without the bacon? I have a bacon intolerance so I haven't eaten it in years.
Angela says
It would be just fine, enjoy.
Shirley says
I love chili but my hubby does not. He is not a big bean eater. So I bet he will live this chili! Thanks for sharing. I cant wait to try it!
Angela says
I hope you both enjoy it.
Kat says
This looks delicious. love the bacon idea.
Shirley says
I'm going to try this for Super Bowl Sunday!
Angela says
Great - enjoy the chili, game, and commercials!
Melissa Jones says
I love having new slow cooker recipes!!!
Gina says
My husband would love this. He hates beans in chili and picks them out and who doesn't love bacon?
Angela says
He sounds like a good man! lol
Dee | Grammy's Grid says
Yummy chili! Thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 12 for Crock Pot and Instant Pot Recipes, open February 28 to March 10. All entries shared on social media if share buttons installed.
Douglas Jasper says
This looks awesome. Will definitely try this one. We love beef and bacon so this definitely works.
Angela says
Beef & bacon for me is like other people's PB&J - haha!
Becky says
Yes! This is my new favorite keto dinner. I have made it twice this month including for fourth of july and everyone agrees with me. It is so good. I cannot wait to try your other keto recipes now.
Angela says
I am so glad you found a new keto recipe to love. Let me know what you think of the other keto recipes on my site that you try.