This Sweet Chili is a hearty, sweet, and delicious crock pot chili loaded with beef, bacon, and five types of beans. These are easy, crowd-pleasing recipes that will win cooking competitions and have everyone coming back for seconds.
Easy and Delicious Crock Pot Sweet Chili
Don’t be embarrassed by the name.sweetish and chili Although it doesn’t usually go together, this recipe has been captivating people for over 20 years and even became a hit at chili cook-offs. It’s rich and hearty, deeply flavorful and wonderfully balanced. Ground beef, smoky bacon, and colorful beans are simmered together in a sweet and savory sauce made from brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and spices.
This is one of those rare meals that “everyone loves.” I’ve yet to meet anyone who hasn’t gone back for more than a few seconds, and I’ve shared recipes with them countless times.
But here’s the real magic: It takes less than 10 minutes to throw together—Especially if you have cooked beef and pre-made bacon on hand. Add everything to your crock pot, turn it on and leave. Come evening, you can enjoy a cozy, satisfying meal that feels like you’ve been hovering over the stove all afternoon.
Perfect for busy nights, potlucks, game days, or when you need a slam dunk dinner with no fuss.
tips and tricks:
To speed things up, use pre-cooked bacon
Pre-cooked, high-quality bacon crumbles beautifully and drastically reduces prep time.
Taste before serving
The sweetness varies slightly depending on the bean. Adjust the brown sugar and vinegar at the end to achieve balance.
Have a meal
Comes with:
- Cornbread
- green salad
- baked potato
- tortilla chips
- garlic bread
Double your meal prep
This chili reheats beautifully and thickens over time. Great for lunches, leftovers, or freezer meals.
Thick or thin? you choose
- If you want a thicker chili, leave the lid off for the last 30 minutes.
- If you want a thinner consistency, add 1/2 cup of broth.
Substitutions and Variations:
protein exchange
- ground turkey or chicken
- Vegetable crumbles for a vegetarian version (omit the bacon)
- Add sausage for a richer flavor
bin swap
Use a combination of the following:
- zebra
- navy
- black beans
- cannellini beans
- borlotti
- additional chili beans
sweetness level
- Reduce the brown sugar for tastier chili peppers
- Add more ketchup for tang
- Add honey or maple syrup for a different sweetness profile.
To add columns
- 1-2 jalapenos, finely chopped
- 1-2 teaspoons red pepper powder
- pinch of cayenne
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo
Make it Smokey
- smoked paprika
- Liquid smoke (1/4 teaspoon)
- hickory bacon
Make it creamy
Stir:
- Cream Cheese (4oz)
- Sour cream (1/2 cup)
- Sprinkle plenty of heavy cream
Looking for more delicious chili recipes?
sweet chili
This award-winning sweet chili strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory. This is a quick, crowd-friendly pot meal that kids and adults alike will love!
Serving Size: 8
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 pound bacon
- 1 middle onion chopped
- 16 oz. pork and beans Or baked beans
- 15 oz. chili beans undrained
- 15 oz. kidney bean undrained
- 15 oz. Great Northern Bean undrained
- 15 oz. Butter beans or cannellini beans undrained
- 15 oz. chickpeas undrained
- 1/2 cup ketchup Add more for extra tang
- 3/4 cup brown sugar adjust sweetness
- 1 tablespoon White vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- salt and pepper gustation
- Shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese For topping
- thinly sliced green onions For topping
Brown Ground Beef with Chopped Onions; Drain and transfer to a crock pot.
Chop the bacon and fry until brown (it will be soft in the chili). Add to crock pot.
Add all the beans and stir well.
In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and dry mustard.
Pour sauce mixture over chili and stir well.
- keep cooking Best for 3 hours or Low for 6-8 hours.Oven method: grilling place 375°F for 90 minutes Or until heated through.
Serve topped with shredded cheese, green onions and additional bacon.
