Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Chili


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This hearty chili is packed with bold enchilada flavor and slow-cooked beef that melts in your mouth and great with chips!

If you can’t get enough recipes with enchilada sauce in them, also try my chicken enchilada pasta or Lazy Enchiladas.

beef enchilada chili in a slow cooker.

I was craving chili this week and wanted to make something different from my usual go-to chili recipes. This recipe has red enchilada sauce as a base and uses beef stew meat instead of ground beef. I loved the way this turned out, the sauce had an amazing flavor after cooking all day and the beef was nice and tender.

Key Ingredients

Beef Stew Meat – Cooks low and slow until it’s tender and full of flavor.

Enchilada Sauce – Gives the chili its bold, saucy base.

Mexican-Style Stewed Tomatoes – Adds richness and a hint of sweetness.

Pinto Beans – Hearty and protein-packed, they help bulk up the chili.

Chili Powder & Garlic – A punch of seasoning that ties everything together.

Cilantro & Red Onion – Fresh flavor with just a little bite.

ladling beef enchilada chili from the slow cooker.

Variations

Use ground beef instead of beef stew meat, be sure to brown and crumble it first.

Swap pinto beans for black beans or kidney beans if preferred.

Add diced green chiles or jalapeños for extra heat.

Stir in a can of corn toward the end for color and sweetness

Green enchilada sauce is a great choice to change up the recipe.

bowl of beef enchilada chili with chips on the side.

Best Ways to Serve

Ladle into bowls and top with Colby Jack cheese, fresh avocado, and tortilla chips for crunch.

Serve with warm cornbread or a side (or flour tortillas) of rice to make it stretch further.

We like to store in small containers so we can do grab and go lunches.

beef enchilada chili on a ladle coming from the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Chili

5 from 12 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 9 hours
Total Time: 9 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8
This isn't your ordinary chili with an enchilada sauce base and meaty chunks of beef.
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How to Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 2 lbs. beef stew meat, 1.5 – 2 lbs.
  • 2 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. oregano
  • 2 tsp. garlic, minced
  • 1/8 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 cup red onion, diced
  • 30 oz. Mexican Style stewed tomatoes, (Two-15-oz. cans)
  • 19 oz. enchilada sauce
  • 30 oz. pinto beans, (Two-15-oz. cans); drained

Options for Serving

  • tortilla chips
  • Colby Jack cheese
  • Fresh avocado

Instructions 

  • Add everything to the slow cooker and stir.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 9 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • When the cooking time is up, and if desired, break up the tomatoes if they are still whole. (see notes)
  • Serve with tortilla chips and cheese if desired.
  • Enjoy!

Sarah’s Notes

Stewed tomatoes will easily break up by pressing them against the side of the slow cooker with a wooden spoon.

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 999mg | Potassium: 752mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1242IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Many more Slow Cooker Chili Recipes here:

Creamy and comforting, Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili combines tender chicken, white beans, and green chiles for a cozy meal.

For a classic, hearty dish, this Crockpot Chili features ground beef, beans, and a rich tomato base with a flavorful blend of spices.

Skip the drive-thru and recreate the fast-food favorite at home with this Copycat Wendy’s Chili, packed with ground beef, beans, and veggies.

Thick, zesty, and full of flavor, this Hot Dog Chili makes the perfect topping for grilled hot dogs or chili cheese fries.

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Recipe Rating




6 Comments

  1. Jody says:

    Also, can I use ground beef instead of stew beef?

  2. Jody says:

    I don’t wish to buy a lot of individual spices since I am not living in my own home, so can I use a packaged chili mix with this? If so, how many would I need? Thanks, Jody

  3. Harry La Vasseur says:

    5 stars
    so easy and quick to make and soooooo good

  4. Bridget says:

    Looks delicious. Can I make it stove top

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I don’t see why not, though when cooking things like this on the stove top you may have add more liquid for some will evaporate off.

  5. thomas hoover says:

    Often wondered as to how it would match the usual process. .Taste is excellent, flavor and heat develop well. Time saver to boot.