3 Ingredient Crock Pot Chili

One thing I missed when I began gluten-free cooking was how quick and simple meals were no longer quick and simple. I couldn’t throw together a quick pizza, prepare a batch of spaghetti, or any other of the time-saving tricks I had used for so long. I happened across this 3-ingredient Crock Pot Chili recipe while sitting in the doctor’s waiting room and thought, “I’ve got to try this!”

Updated with new tips, new pictures, and easy directions!

3-ingredient Crock Pot Chili Recipe

This 3-ingredient Crock Pot Chili recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free and can be made in the crock-pot or on the stovetop. The recipe calls for common pantry and freezer ingredients so it’s easy to have everything on hand to prepare the chili.

Here’s What You Need to Make the Chili

  • Salsa, in your choice of mild, medium, or hot
  • Ground Beef- I prefer to use 80/20
  • Chili Beans

If desired, you can also add in your choice of extras like

  • sauteed onions
  • sauteed garlic
  • sauteed green peppers
easy-crockpot-chili-recipe

Make it in the Crockpot:

To prepare the meal in the crockpot, mix the browned and drained ground beef with the salsa and beans. Cook on high for 4 hours or for 6 hours on low.

Make it on the Stovetop:

Mix the browned, drained ground beef with the salsa and beans in a large saucepan. Over high heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 15 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Can You Substitute Ingredients?

Yes! Here’s a list of simple substitutions:

  • Use a different type of canned bean. Kidney beans, black beans, or pinto Beans work well.
  • Substitute plant-based meat substitute crumbles found in the freezer section for a tasty vegan version of the chili
  • Use Picante sauce instead of salsa or use a mixture of salsa and diced tomatoes with chili peppers (like Ro-tel)

Good Toppings For the Chili

  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • sour cream
  • chopped green onion tops

Printable 3-Ingredient Chili Recipe

3 Ingredient Crock Pot Chili

Recipe by Pam
Servingsservings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking timeminutes
Calorieskcal

Easy 3-ingredient chili recipe that is naturally gluten and dairy-free.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef

  • 2 (24-ounce) jars chunky salsa

  • 1 can (16 ounces) chili beans, rinsed

  • optional: sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

  • In a medium skillet, over high heat, cook ground beef for five to seven minutes or until browned, stirring often. Drain.
  • In a crockpot, place the ground beef, salsa, and chili beans. Stir until combined.
  • Cook over low heat for 6 hours or over high heat for 4 hours.

What is Sautéed?

Saute means to “fry an ingredient quickly in a little hot fat.” If you want to saute the onion, garlic, or green peppers to add into the chili, here’s how to do it.
Place a small amount (around a tablespoon) of oil or butter in a shallow pan, like a skillet. Melt the oil or butter over high heat and quickly add in the onions and/or peppers. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for five to seven minutes, until onions are translucent and peppers are soft, stirring often.

Garlic only needs a quick saute of around 30 seconds. Add it near the end of the cooking process if you want to add it to the onion and pepper mixture.

This gluten-free, dairy-free 3-ingredient chili is good served with crusty French bread or with cornbread. You can also pair it with a grilled cheese sandwich for a hearty meal. It might become a winter staple in your house just like it is in ours! What is your favorite winter soup?

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79 Comments

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  12. My favorite crock pot dish has got to be this one I found for 3 ingredient Orange chicken. It’s so delicious. I’m actually gathering a few recipes to compile together. I would love to link back to yours!

  13. Not a bad idea, I’ll have to try making it like this… it sounds delicious!

  14. I love it when you can get converts from a recipe. Now you can make it more often. I think this sounds great and am anxious to try it.

  15. How yummy and so easy!!!!! I love it!

  16. I love the idea of topping the chili with cheese, looks delicious! I mu9st try that onle day.,

  17. Looks delicious! Not a fan very much of chili but I’ll still eat it.

  18. This looks so incredibly easy, even I could make it! I’d swap out hamburger meat for ground chicken or turkey, but other than that, love it!

  19. OMG, who knew chili could be so simple to make! I’ve never tried chili in the crockpot, but I am so going to do it now. Yum!

  20. This looks like a good meal to have ready when you’re at the end of your rope when it comes to “new” foods to make and don’t have a lot of time. Plenty of protein and tasty!

  21. It sounds really good and I love the simplicity! I’ll bet you’re getting much faster and better at pulling the gluten-free meals together now.

  22. Looks delicious and you cannot ever beat simple with just 3 ingredients!

  23. My husband loves chili recipes and I really like that this one is so hearty and gluten free.

  24. Ive never thought to put salsa in chili!! How interesting! Sounds super yummy too!! I’ll have to make this for this weekend!

  25. Pingback: 35 Crockpot Soups, Stews and Entrees #Recipes

  26. yum! this looks and sounds delicious 🙂

  27. Must be so hard to find good tasting food thats gluten free i have tried some and not liked it this looks good although i am not keen on beans.

  28. Wow, it looks amazing … I can’t believe it is healthy. I also much prefer fast and easy meals, so this works out great!! Thanks for sharing … unfortunately, I don’t have any crock pot recipes to give you *I really suck at cooking).

  29. Yum! This sounds fantastic. I can’t wait to try this recipes.

  30. This is so simple, and so hearty! I will be bookmarking this one for sure. Thank you for sharing.

  31. I think you might have hit a spot for a lot of us! Chili is some serious awesome comfort food and it’s great for the cold months! So great of you to share a recipe with so few ingredients and it’s gluten free!

  32. I love chili. Especially on a rainy day like today!

  33. It is so cold right now that chili is the best meal and with only 3 ingredients this is perfect!

  34. impressive three ingredient dish. Looks tasty too.
    I don’t use a crock-pot but might get one someday.
    Eliz

  35. love my crockpot meals! i’ve never thought to use salsa for chili! genius!

  36. Thank you for this recipe. This Chili looks delicious.

  37. Can’t wait to try this!

  38. Only three ingredients? WOW!

  39. I love dishes like this! So easy and quick and delicious. Thanks so much for sharing this.

  40. I would definitely use the optional ingredients, of course I would ruin the GF part by adding Fritos. I love how easy this would be to make.

  41. Such a simple recipe.. Love it.. I love to use Salsa in my chili, makes it rich, spicy and I can get it done in no time..thanks for sharing

  42. looks delicious. I love that there are only three ingredients too. I looooove me some chili.

  43. I love chili on a cold winter night!! It’s the best for warming me up.

  44. A three ingredient meal of any kind is well worth making. Many times! Sounds good too!

  45. You had me at crockpot…love any slow cooker recipes!

  46. I am so glad you shared this gluten free chili recipe. My grandson has to eat gluten free and he has complained about missing grandpa’s chilli. perhaps this will replace that for him.

  47. Yum! this looks so good. I’ve had chili but never really tried to make it.

  48. Delicious! Your recipe is perfect for this cold weather! Love the foods that warm me up!

  49. Yum. I love making chili in the crockpot and this looks super easy.

  50. I have a big pot of chili on right now for dinner tonight! It is a staple meal in our home. Even during the summer! The kids love making frito pie with it.

  51. That looks amazing! And so simple! I love chili this time of year! I will have to make some soon, thanks!

  52. Now that’s a super simple chili to make! My husband’s rocks, but has a ton of ingredients in it.

  53. Simple, yet delicious…my kinda recipe! I have saved the url to this recipe so that I can make it this weekend. I bet it will be a keeper for sure. I am going to add low fat cheese and sour cream.

  54. It’s hard to believe this is only 3 ingredients. It looks delish!

  55. I love simple and easy meals, this looks so easy and good!!

  56. Thank you for the stove top directions which actually sound simpler then the crock pot way (I am still going to get one of those one of these days.). I would probably 1/2 the recipe since I am single and will definitely be making this one of these cold winter days!

  57. That looks delicious and so easy to make!

  58. It’s so cold here today and this looks amazing! Easy!

  59. What a great recipe. This would be perfect for a week night dinner. So easy to make, but I know my kids would eat it up.

  60. I am gluten, wheat and grain free and have a great cauliflower pizza recipe that is simple. Thanks for the recipe

  61. Okay, I love this! I did a post not long ago on 3-ingredient cookies – perhaps I should do a whole series of 3-ingredient recipes and have folks like you contribute! How great would that be?!

  62. Sounds simple and delicious, perfect for these cold days we’re having in Indiana.

  63. Mmmm… this is the perfect weather for chili, for sure! Love how easy this is to whip up. Haven’t tried making chili in the crockpot yet, but definitely will be soon. Thanks for sharing!

  64. Love how simple and easy this is. Thanks

  65. I am all about making chili in the crockpot! It’s just so easy, thanks for your awesome recipe!

  66. Love chili, this recipes sounds nice and hardy! Looks delicious!

  67. I love how easy this is! My husband really appreciates the easy recipe. Since I can’t eat beans, I rarely make him his favorite chili. I mean, why go through so much effort if you can’t eat it right? So I could totally throw this into the crock pot for him and not feel like I wasted my day on a meal I can’t eat!

  68. Wow, just three ingredients? So easy, I’ll have to try it. Chili sounds so good on these cold winter days.

  69. This one is a for sure recipe! Can’t wait to do it!

  70. This sounds amazing and I love how easy it is to make. My kids and I love Chili, so we will have to try this.

  71. Looks delicious! I’ve never put slasa in chili – gonna have to try that! One of the ways we combat the no convenience foo thing, is by making things like pizza crust ahead of time and freezing them. 🙂

  72. This looks amazing, and I love that it is only 3 ingredients, what a time saver!

  73. Oh my gosh! So simple and looks so good. I’m going to have to try this soon!

  74. Love that it’s 3 ingredients!!!! Totally making this!

  75. I absolutely love chili. Appreciate the gluten free recipe so I can make it for my daughter.

  76. My mother in law puts salsa in her chili. My husband loves it that way.

  77. Oh my goodness – this will really make me enjoy the food while feeling full! 🙂 Love it!

  78. Eating a special diet isn’t easy at first. But once you get into a routine, it is easier than most people think.

  79. Oh my goodness so simple and it looks delicious! Pinned! What I really like is that I usually always have those three ingredients in my house. The stove top method is a great meal when I need a fast meal to feed my bunch! 🙂