Chili is a comfort food that many enjoy, especially during colder months. It might be time to dust off your crockpot and make use of dried beans to cook up a delicious batch of chili. Using dried beans instead of canned beans not only saves money but also allows you to control the level of salt and seasonings. Here are four ways to make crockpot chili with dried beans:

1. Classic Beef & Bean Chili

Ingredients:

– 1 lb lean ground beef

– 1 cup dried kidney beans, soaked overnight and drained

– 1 large onion, chopped

– 2 cloves garlic, minced

– 1 green bell pepper, chopped

– 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

– 3 cups beef broth

– 2 tbsp chili powder

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain the fat. Place the cooked beef, soaked kidney beans, onion, garlic, green bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, chili powder, salt and pepper in the crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5 hours.

2. Spicy Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

– 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts

– 1 cup dried black beans, soaked overnight and drained

– 1 large onion, diced

– 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped

– 14 oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles

– 3 cups chicken broth

– 3 tsp cumin

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Place the chicken breasts at the bottom of the crockpot. Add soaked black beans, onion, jalapeno peppers, diced tomatoes with green chiles, chicken broth, cumin, salt and pepper. Cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours. Shred the chicken with two forks before serving.

3. Vegetarian Three-Bean Chili

Ingredients:

– 1 cup dried red kidney beans, soaked overnight and drained

– 1 cup dried pinto beans, soaked overnight and drained

– 1 cup dried black beans, soaked overnight and drained

– 1 large onion, chopped

– 2 cloves garlic, minced

– 1 green bell pepper, chopped

– 2 red bell peppers, chopped

– 28 oz can diced tomatoes

– 3 cups vegetable broth

– 3 tbsp chili powder

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in the crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5 hours.

4. Turkey & White Bean Chili

Ingredients:

– 1 lb ground turkey

– 1 cup dried Great Northern beans, soaked overnight and drained

– 1 large onion, chopped

– 2 cloves garlic, minced

– 14 oz can diced green chiles

– 14 oz can diced tomatoes

– 3 cups chicken broth

– 2 tsp cumin

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Brown the ground turkey in a skillet and drain any excess grease. Place it in the crockpot with the soaked Great Northern beans, onion, garlic, green chiles, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours.

These four variations of chili made with dried beans in a crockpot are sure to satisfy your comfort-food cravings. With a little planning and some basic ingredients, you can enjoy a warm bowl of chili any time of the year.