Paleo beef chili is not only easy to make in a slow cooker, but also full of flavor! Loaded with sweet potatoes, beef, spices, tomatoes, and more. It’s whole 30 friendly, quick to prep, and pure comfort food. Hearty yet healthy!
Hey friends! Guess what? I’m human. Yes, although I wish I was super woman. For the cape and all, but sadly, I am not her. And I need help, like MAJORLY this week. I am up to my eye balls in snow and boxes and other work while moving. But I really wanted to keep this accidentally Paleo week going. So, my dear friend and bad ass chef/photographer/cookbook author Katie is taking over. She has a ridiculously tasty slow cooker paleo beef chili recipe to share. Dang, you know I love my sweet potato paleo chili. If only I had slow cooker or crock pot here. It’s coming though!! In the meantime, get a kick out of Katie’s post and her fabulous recipe.
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Hi there. It’s Katie. Get ready for some Katie thoughts and a Paleo recipe. I hope you like both!
Last week after finishing the testing phase of this Slow Cooker Paleo Beef Chili recipe, I realized that I didn’t really know what I wanted to talk about in the text portion of my guest post. Probably because I wanted to make a good impression on you all. I started to get a little writer’s blocky (is that a word?)
What would any normal person in my position do?
Google it, of course.
- Tip #1: If you’re having writers block, it is not helpful to Google “What should I write my Slow Cooker Paleo Beef Chili blog post about?” It will make you hungry, distracted and not answer your question.
- Tip #2 Do not go on Facebook and spend five minutes weeping about an inspiring weight loss success story. That will not help your cause to write a kick ass blog post for your friend.
Finally I decided to google “Chili Quotes” and after scrolling through random lyrics to Red Hot Chili Pepper songs and drawings of sexy jalapenos holding signs that say “I’m kinda hot” I found a quote by famed food writer Calvin Trillin. He’s always a great source for witty food quotes.
- Tip #3: I should have googled him first.
He said, “I like chili, but not enough to discuss it with someone from Texas.”
And that was when I knew I was really in trouble. Not only did I not know what I was going to write my copy about, but I was attempting to write a blog post on a Texan’s food blog about chili! And to make matters worse, anyone with two eyes can see that it is so not Texas chili. It’s Slow Cooker Paleo Beef Chili.
What was I thinking??? So I called my mom. She’s also from Texas.
She asked about the chili and I sheepishly told her that there weren’t any beans in it, she said, “That’s too bad.” Maybe I shouldn’t have called a Texan. But wait, isn’t Texas chili made with out beans? Oh dear.
When I hung up the phone I realized that I probably should just wave my Slow Cooker Paleo Beef Chili Freak Flag high and just embrace the fact that it is not Texas chili, and proudly so. This is 100% bean free, loaded with vegetables, and I even added in sweet potato. The beef is grass fed and ground, and oh yeah, I am on a roll, it’s browned in coconut oil!
I am such a rebel.
Alright, enough about me. Let’s slow cooker some paleo beef chili. Easy, simple.
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Easy Slow Cooker Paleo Beef Chili {Whole 30 Friendly}
- Total Time: 5-7 hours
- Yield: Makes 8 cups 1x
Description
Easy Slow Cooker Paleo Beef Chili with Sweet Potato
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or coconut oil
- 1 pound ground grass-fed beef
- 1 each green and red bell pepper, diced
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced (about 1 ½ cup)
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted
- 1 14-ounce can petit diced tomatoes, preferably fire roasted
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground chipotle chili
- Optional Garnishes: cilantro, diced avocado and/or minced red onion
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add beef, and cook, stirring often and breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon until the beef is browned, 4 to 6 minutes.
- Transfer the beef to the insert of a large slow cooker.
- Stir in bell peppers, onion, sweet potato, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic, cumin, salt, cinnamon and chipotle.
- Cover and set slow cooker on high for 6 hours.
- Serve topped with garnishes.
Notes
Nutrition – Cal: 330 Total Fat: 13 g Sodium: 1616 mg Carb: 33g Fiber: 7g Protein: 18g Vitamin A 75%Vitamin C 144% Calcium 9% Iron 21%
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 6 hr 30 min
Cheers! I mean YEEEEHAW!
Texas Chili or Beef Chili…. what’s the difference to you? Chime in folks! And send me your slow cooker chili recipes to add to my collection.
Thanks so much for having me today Lindsay! And dear readers, I’d love if you came by to visit me over on my blog Healthy Seasonal Recipes some time. Or catch me on Facebook watching tear jerker weight loss videos where I share all sorts of healthy seasonal recipes.
Katie
MORE HEALTHY HOMEMADE CHILI RECIPES HERE!
This recipe is part of our Healthy Homemade Chili Recipes collection. Check it out!
My whole family loves this recipe. I often make it, especially when on a round of Whole30. Thank you!
★★★★★
I”m so glad you enjoyed it Gemma! Thanks for feedback
This is delicious. I made a few changes to our taste. One was we only used 1 tablespoon of chilli (that was hot enough for us!) And I just used 2 tins of diced tomatoes and half a cup of water. As we are in Australia and I couldn’t find the fire roasted ones. This has become a new household staple.
★★★★★
Oh i love the tips! Thank you. Glad it worked out. My husband is from new zealand, so I understand the ingredient swap!
This is my go-to chili recipe, on or off Whole30. The spices are on point and I love the hint of cinnamon. I cook on low for 8 hours and it’s perfect every time!
★★★★★
so glad! We love it too! Thanks Erica!
Sounds delish! Don’t have a crock pot.
Might there be an insta-pot version?
I think it could work! I haven’t tried it though. Maybe saute/brown meat and onion, then drain grease. Add the rest of your ingredients, stir, and place on manual for 20 minutes, slow release. Or if you have the soup/slow cooker option. the only thing that might not cook all the way are the sweet potatoes, ya know?
Amazing non-bean chili! I triple the recipe and call it Wild Meat Chili by using Venison, Bison and Grassfed beef. Going to try Ostrich to replace the beef this year for New Years. YUM!
★★★★★
wonderful! So glad! Thanks for the feedback Julie!
Three tablespoons of chili powder?! Is this a mistake?
that’s correct. but feel free to tone it down a bit. The sweet potatoes soak up a lot.
If I don’t have 6 hours, but want to make this, how would this convert to stovetop?
This sounds so good that I can’t wait to make it!
I think so! I would brown meat then cook all on medium to medium low in Dutch pot. Maybe try similar timing/procedure as this one https://www.cottercrunch.com/easy-beef-stew/
I agree with Lindsay about browning the meat first as directed in steps 1 and 2. Then just add in the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. When I tried testing this in the slow cooker for 4 hours the sweet potatoes didn’t become tender enough. My guess is that has to do with the tomatoes inhibiting the potatoes from taking up the liquid and softening. So my advice would be to try it, but consider adding more liquid (like 1 or so cups of broth) as you simmer it on stove-top and keep stirring pretty often so it doesn’t stick to the bottom. You’ll know it’s done when the sweet potatoes are soft enough that they’re starting to break down and melt into the chili. Hope that helps! Let us know how it comes out.
Do the canned tomatoes have sugar in them? and do you taste the sweet potato? Sweet potato sounds odd to me in chilli.
The canned tomatoes have no added sugars, but may have a small amount of natural sugar. The sweet potatoes give it great texture and natural sweetness!
Hello! I see that the yield is 8 cups, am I missing the serving size?
Serving size is around 1.25 cups. Does that help? Sorry about that
My dad was a major fan of this!!
★★★★★
Love this recipe, thank you Katie! Can you be more specific about the nutrition breakdown – i.e. is that per serving and how many servings (ish) in this recipe? Thank you!!
★★★★★
Oops! I think the nutrition was deleted. Serving is around 1.5 to 2 cups or so. I can double check.
Born and raised Texan here – Texas chili has no beans, so you are correct! But I have grown to love chili many ways. Can’t wait to try your recipe!!
I love the fact that the meat is grass fed 😀 It’s hard to get here in Europe 🙁
I also didn’t know that texans are proud of their chili 😀
Elis
Hi! Question, this doesn’t need any liquid ? Broth or water ?
I think most the liquid comes from the tomatoes. Canned, don’t drain them. I’ll ask Katie though
Hello, is that really on High for 6 hours or Slow?
Hi Venus, believe it or not, yes high. The reason is that the sweet potatoes need to soften, and they weren’t soft after 4 hours on high. After 2 more hours they broke down more and were tender. They add an overall sweetness to the chili that balances the acidity and spice. If you want to try it on 8 hours on low, my guess is that would work as well, though I never tested it myself. Hope that helps and Happy Cooking!
Can this be cooked on low in the crockpot? If so for how long?
HI LIndsay! I will ask Katie about this and get back to you ASAP!
Hi LIndsay! Spoke with katie. She said this. ” 8 hours on low should work fine. I tested it on 4 hours on high and the sweet potatoes didn’t cook into the sauce as much. The texture was a little under and I wanted them to add sweetness to the acidity of the sauce, so increasing to 6 hours on high gave them enough time to break down more. I haven’t tested it myself at 8 hours on low, but my guess is that the texture will be somewhere between what I experienced at 4 and 6 on high. “
Thanks so much!!
Hi! I’m making this today! Looks great and it’s a perfect day for chili! One thing I want to point out in the recipe it has smoked paprika listed but there is no mention of it in the directions – or is that just me?? Just pointing it out because my Virgo nature follows instructions to a tee! Anyway, can’t wait to see how it comes out
Hi Kris, so glad you’re making this! That’s my mistake. Add it in with the other spices. I’ll edit the recipe to reflect the change. Thank you for catching that, and happy cooking!
Wanted to let you know that we loved the chili! So good and easy! Thank you for a keeper recipe and it was done after 4 hours in the crockpot!
Awesome!! Love that chili
Ok, this may sound funny, but sometimes I get this odd idea that the professional bloggers are more like superwoman or superman, but I have to remember that you are human too. And I’m so grateful that you’re stepping back and sharing guest posts. This looks absolutely amazing. Chili is so so good, especially for all those awesome snowy glorious days you’re having there!
I’ll do a day in the life of my non super woman powers. LOL! i am a mess. Bless this mess! haha
I just love how the slow cooker makes everything super delicious. We love chili so going to give your version a go.
woohoo! Let me know how you like it Bintu
The chilli looks amazing! Looking at the pictures is making me really hungry and it’s not even 12pm over here! I get the writers blocks a lot, I try to get away from my computer, do something else and then come back to write.
haha i’m always hungry when looking at this too!
Okay first this looks and sounds amazing! Second that is the cutest dish you have! I love it!
isn’t it? I love it too!
Isn’t it? I want all of Katie’s props!
Ha ha, Thank you! I need a prop room at this point. It is out of hand.
This looks so great Katie! It’s been far too long since I’ve made chili of any kind which I’m sure any Texan would be absolutely appalled by. I’m definitely no chili connoisseur but I do love a good bowl of warm, cozy food and this one sounds lovely.
PS. Lindsay – Congrats on the move! Best of luck getting settled in. I’m sure you’ll have it feeling homey in no time! 🙂
thank you friend! we are closer to you now! YAY!
Thanks so much Angela! You’ll have to change that, STAT! 😉 Have a great day!
I have like… 4,527 friends doing Whole 30 this month lol. They need this!
you and me both! Haha
Linds… you’re not super woman?! Insert looks of shock here. HAHA!
This looks lovely and warming. Almost enough to make me want to live some place colder… almost… 😉
unfortunately no. Unless we are in New Zealand, then I have super woman powers. I think it’s the wine
You ARE a super woman… just not Superwoman. LOL!
Looks delicious, Katie — even if it’s not officially Texas chili! 🙂
Thank you Blair. It certainly isn’tt but heck, it tastes great!
I have chicken chili in my slow cooker now! Definitely in a chili mood lately. I’ll have to make this recipe for Adam and I next week, love using the slow cooker when I can 🙂
Ha ha, glad to know you are human, I wondered about that. 😉 Thank you so much for having me today Lindsay! Hope your move goes smoothly.
haha human and crazy. <3 you so much friend.
Battle of the chilis! Though I’m guessing yours will win, I also have a chili up today on my blog. Good luck with everything, Linds!
we are chili twins today! YAY!
WHAT a pretty chili recipe and I so get the writers block! Happens at the most inconvenient times. Sometimes if I walk away for a few hours that helps me.
totally a good refresher. Walk away, make chili, come back ready to write. haha