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Slow Cooker V8 Chili has plenty of vegetables in it because of the V8 juice in the sauce! This recipe makes a big batch of chili, enough to freeze or share.
If you love making big batches of bean recipes, also try my 15 bean chili and my crockpot red beans and rice recipes.
Table of Contents
Featured Comment
I am a horrible cook and this is the easiest and most delicious recipe for chili ever!! I Would give 100 stars if I could.
- CJ
Why this Recipe is a Keeper
- The recipe was given to my husband by his best friend's mom, Janet. She gave him a handwritten recipe card, and we had it taped on the inside of a cabinet for years at our old house (we make it that often!) Her recipe is made on the stovetop, but I adapted mine for the slow cooker.
- It makes a filling dinner, and we love having the leftovers for lunch throughout the week.
- Feeds a large crowd (think game-day!), and the leftovers freeze well.
What is V8 juice?
V8 juice has eight different vegetables. I mostly taste tomato, but it also has carrots, beets, celery, parsley, spinach, watercress, and lettuce. I love using V8 juice in chili because it adds great tomato flavor along with a variety of vegetables. You can make other recipes with V8 juice such as bloody mary's, goulash, or even spicy braised pork.
The Ingredients
Ground beef - Brown the meat before adding it to your slow cooker.
Stewed tomatoes - These aren’t as common in chili recipes nowadays (most people use diced tomatoes), but we love the texture and flavor they add. Give them a rough chop before adding them to the slow cooker.
V8 Juice Original - The base and star of the recipe.
Kidney beans - Use canned kidney beans for this recipe. Don't use dried kidney beans directly in the slow cooker because they need to be properly boiled first.
Onion and Seasonings: Diced white onion, garlic powder, pepper, and chili seasoning packets add plenty of flavor.
How to Make V8 Chili
- Brown and drain the ground beef.
- Add the beef, V8 juice, tomatoes, beans, onion, and seasonings to the slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes! Ground turkey is so good in chili. I love how much flavor turkey gives the broth of soups and chili. Brown the ground turkey the same way as the beef in this recipe for great results.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes! Try one or more of these options to make this V8 chili vegetarian.
- Use soy crumbles instead of beef.
- Add more beans such as pinto or chickpeas.
- Add extra vegetables such as bell peppers, celery, corn, or sweet potatoes.
What to serve with this
This is one of the very few chili recipes that I can eat without toppings but I know it's fun to have an array of choices. Here is what I set my table up with alongside the crockpot of V8 Chili.
- Saltine crackers, mini saltinies, or oyster crackers
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Diced sweet onion
- Sour cream
- Cornbread (I love Krusteaz Honey Cornbread or Southern Style)
More Crockpot Chili Recipes
Creamy and mild, white chicken chili pairs perfectly with the bold, slightly sweet flavor of crockpot pumpkin chili in your fall rotation.
For a meaty, satisfying option, venison chili and crockpot hot dog chili both deliver big flavor—great in a bowl or over fries and buns.
With its familiar taste, Wendy’s copycat chili is a cozy favorite, while Crockpot Cincinnati chili brings a spiced twist served over spaghetti.
If you tried this V8 Chili Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Happy Slow Cooking!
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground beef,
- 30 oz. stewed tomatoes, (2 cans) not drained
- 1 white onion, diced
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 2.50 oz. chili seasoning packets, (2 packets)
- 30 oz. kidney beans, (2 cans) drained and rinsed
- 46 oz. V8 juice original, (this is about 6 cups)
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet on the stove-top add the ground beef. Brown and drain.
- Add the stewed tomatoes to the slow cooker. I like to cut them in quarters right in the slow cooker with a butter knife. If you are skilled with a paring knife you can cut them up by hand.
- Add the ground beef to the slow cooker along with the onion, garlic powder, pepper, chili seasoning packets, drained kidney beans and V8 juice.
- Stir and add the lid. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
Sarah's Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
I use the V8 in a lot of my dishes with tomatoes, great taste- thanks for all you do to help us be healthy cooks
This an incredible recipe. I have made chili exactly this way since I was young, except on a stove. My uncle showed me years ago. Last year I added some diced jalapeños from a jar. Maybe 1/4 cup for this size recipe. It took it over the top and I won the chili cook off!!!! Can’t wait to try this in a slow cooker!
Made it and I used 1 more pound of ground beef cuz my husband likes it meatier lol I also added 1 more can of beans , used 1/2 teaspoon more of garlic powder, used spicy v8 juice and added a couple of Tablespoons of better than beef bouillon and topped each bowl with fritos, sour cream and cheese. Delicious !
so glad you liked it!
Could I use an instant pot and if so what would be the cooking instructions and time? Thank you.
I’m unsure if it’s too much liquid for an instant pot, it’s right at 6 quarts.
I want to make the V8 Chili, but want to cut it in half, 1# beef, etc,all ingredients. Should I adjust the 8 hr. cooking time to less
Hi Shirley, you could get away with 6 hours on low.
Onion is listed as an ingredient, but there is no mention in the instructions. I presume the onion is chopped and added at one point. I think I would cook the onion with the ground beef.
It’s in the instructions, add with everything else. I did forget to add it in the video, I added later when I found it on the counter.
I use V8 juice in my chili recipe. I also put picante sauce (salsa) in it to instead of the onion and garlic powder. It really flavors up the recipe!!
Sorry Sarah I just realized it is .50 ozs
Hi Sarah, Can I replace the beans for potato, carrots etc Love your recipes here in downunder Aus.
I don’t see why not! Sounds like a great idea.
Hi, Sarah In the ingredients of this you mention 2x 50 oz chilli seasoning packets. is that correct as it seems like a lot to me. Most of our packets seem to be 35 grams. I will try the vege’s instead of the beans.
Your ingredients list a taco seasoning packet but the picture shows chili seasoning packet.
thank you. I fixed it. Had taco on the mind apparently. I had to fix it in 3 places!