Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 (16 ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 (16 ounce) cans chili beans, undrained
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 (7 ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, finely chopped
• 1/2 (3 ounce) package bacon bits
• 1 tablespoon chili sauce
• 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef and sausage in the hot skillet until some of the fat renders, 2 to 3 minutes; add onion and garlic and continue to cook and stir until the meats are browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes more. Transfer beef mixture to a slow cooker.

Stir kidney beans, chili beans, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, celery, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, chipotle chiles, bacon bits, chili sauce, hot pepper sauce, chili powder, brown sugar, cumin, and salt with the beef mixture.

Cook on Low until vegetables are completely tender but the celery retains a slight bit of firmness, 6 to 8 hours (or 3 to 4 hours on High).