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After sharing my Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe, I felt like my Crock Pot deserved some love, too. I really do enjoy using both! With the cold and dreary days of January in full swing, I’m majorly craving comfort food. Chili has always been one of my all-time favorites in that category. More recently, I’ve fallen in love with this keto low carb chili recipe in the Crock Pot slow cooker. And if you’d rather use your Instant Pot pressure cooker again, you can make it in there too!
Don’t forget the keto cornbread! It makes this keto chili recipe even more amazing.
Keto Chili without Beans (No Bean Chili)
I’m really happy that this paleo chili turned out. I was a little unsure about it, since beans are such a crucial part of most recipes for it.
Unfortunately, the carbs in beans are just too high to make it work. The only possible exception might be soy beans, but I didn’t want to use those. They are not really the right beans for chili, anyway.
So, is chili low carb? The answer is usually no.
I knew that if I wanted a keto chili recipe, I would have to make it chili without beans. That’s really the only way to avoid too many carbs in chili.
Besides, I had the same uncertainty that I did with my sugar-free BBQ sauce. As with that recipe, people have different perceptions about what a good beef chili should taste like, and it’s so much of “a thing” that people have contests about it.
Uncertainties notwithstanding, I decided to try my hand at low carb chili anyway! I’m really glad I did. It made such a satisfying, healthy dinner.
Surprisingly, I didn’t even miss the beans!
I think the key to getting no bean chili right was being generous with the spices. Even my little girl enjoyed it, after I mellowed out the heat a bit for her by adding sour cream and shredded cheese.
Obviously, these fixings aren’t paleo, but if you don’t mind that, they make delicious additions. They are perfect if you are going for a keto chili.
Why I’m Making So Much Paleo Chili
Another reason I had to make this low carb chili recipe, like ASAP? I’m in total freezer meal making mode.
I’m officially six months pregnant today, which means there are just three months left until a newborn turns our world upside down all over again. Eek! I’m excited, stressed, nervous, and curious to meet her… all in one.
While I still have the time, I’ve had all kinds of home improvements in queue. If nothing else, it’s been a good way to distract myself from the morning sickness that is still persisting.
I spent the last couple weeks rummaging through every closet in our house, cleaning out extra “stuff” we don’t use. Oh my goodness, when did all these things even pile up?! Whew, it felt so good to get rid of it all!
The next project on deck is painting a few accent walls throughout the house in complimentary contrast colors. With multiple visits to the paint store (while trying to keep my daughter from destroying the place) and poring over color samples, I’m both exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.
I’m not doing the painting myself, but even the design steps are a lot of work. Once that’s done, we’ll be converting the formal dining room we never use into a playroom. I hope it all looks as nice, when it’s finished, as it does in my head!
Paleo Chili for Freezer Meals
I digress. Back to freezing that paleo chili.
It’s super easy! You can make it ahead in your Crock Pot or Instant Pot, and then freeze it using freezer bags. I also like to do this with beef barbacoa for a ready to go taco night!
If you want it to last even longer, you could vacuum seal the freezer bags to remove any remaining air once it’s solid. When you’re ready to eat, just thaw and reheat it.
And, since this is a dairy-free keto soup, there are no texture issues associated with freezing. Did I mention it’s easy?
I keep thinking of more things I want to do before this baby comes, but she’s not going to wait for anyone! And that’s a great reason for me to make this keto chili recipe.
I made lots of freezer meals in advance toward the end of my first pregnancy, and it was the best decision ever. It was a relief not to be stressing over meals when we were sleep deprived and busy with the new baby. I’m already getting a head start on that again.
Fortunately, Crock Pot low carb chili (or Instant Pot low carb chili, if you prefer) is perfect for freezing. This one is a big batch recipe that makes ten cups – plenty to cover dinner right away and the freezer for later.
Low Carb Chili in a Crock Pot Slow Cooker
Like I mentioned before, you can make this keto chili in both a Crock Pot and an Instant Pot.
I tried it in a Crock Pot first, because I’m just more familiar with using it. I’ve had it around for so much longer.
Low carb Crock Pot chili is a great option for those times when you’ll be running around all day, or even doing other things at home all day.
Brown the ground beef, dump all the ingredients into your slow cooker in the morning, and off you go! It will do its thing on its own. You’ll have a delicious low carb dinner ready to go at the end of the day.
This is one of the reasons I make my no bean chili more often in the Crock Pot. It’s super convenient to take care of dinner early on and not have to worry about it for the rest of the day!
If you agree that no bean chili in the slow cooker is the way to go, you can also try slow cooker steak chili from Perry’s Plate. It has just a little sugar that you can easily swap with a low carb sweetener or even simply omit if needed. Otherwise, it’s naturally low in carbs just like this one.
Instant Pot Chili is Even Faster
If you want to know how to make low carb chili even faster, the Instant Pot is the way to go.
I have to admit, this device is still pretty new to me, but I can already tell it’s going to be one of my favorites. I love that you can get a slow cooker effect with it very quickly!
The Instant Pot actually has a slow cooker function too, so you can use that if you want to prep in the morning like I mentioned before.
Otherwise, if you want to make dinner quickly at the end of the day, use the pressure cooker function. This method will only need a little over a half hour to cook. It’s up to you!
No matter what method you use, I hope keto paleo chili will become a staple in your house, like it is in mine. With only fifteen minutes of prep, it’s perfect whether you’re short on time now, or like me, you know you will be later.
And even if neither applies at the moment, there’s always the aspect of it being the ultimate low carb comfort food. Will you try it?
Tools To Make Keto Chili:
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Saute pan – For sauteing the onions and ground beef. This one is hard anodized, so it’s non-stick without PTFE or PFOA, and virtually nothing will scratch it.
- Wooden spatula – This one is great for both stirring and breaking apart the meat, and won’t scratch any cookware, in case your pan does scratch.
- Meat chopper – This little tool has 3 sections to break up ground beef faster for quick and even browning. Also awesome for tacos or taco salad!
- Crock Pot – This is the slow cooker I use for everything, including this Crock Pot low carb chili!
- Instant Pot – Use this if you prefer pressure cooker keto chili over the slow cooker version. Just as good, but much quicker!
Keto Low Carb Chili Recipe - Crock Pot or Instant Pot (Paleo):
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Keto Low Carb Chili Recipe - Crock Pot or Instant Pot (Paleo)
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Instructions
Get RECIPE TIPS in the post above, nutrition info + recipe notes below!
Click on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
Crock Pot slow cooker instructions
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In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped onion for 5-7 minutes, until translucent (or increase the time to about 20 minutes if you like them caramelized). Add the garlic and cook for a minute or less, until fragrant.
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Add the ground beef. Cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking apart with a spatula, until browned.
- Transfer the ground beef mixture into a slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients, except bay leaf, and stir until combined. Place the bay leaf into the middle, if using.
- Cook for 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. If you used a bay leaf, remove it before serving.
Instant Pot pressure cooker instructions
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Select the "Sauté" setting on the pressure cooker (this part is done without the lid). Add the chopped onion and cook for 5-7 minutes, until translucent (or increase the time to about 20 minutes if you like them caramelized). Add the garlic and cook for a minute or less, until fragrant.
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Add the ground beef. Cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking apart with a spatula, until browned.
- Add remaining ingredients, except bay leaf, to the Instant Pot and stir until combined. (For the Instant Pot version, it is recommended to also add a cup of water or broth.) Place the bay leaf into the middle, if using.
- Close the lid. Press "Keep Warm/Cancel" to stop the saute cycle. Select the "Meat/Stew" setting (35 minutes) to start pressure cooking.
- Wait for the natural release if you can, or turn the valve to "vent" for quick release if you're short on time. If you used a bay leaf, remove it before serving.
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Recipe Notes
This is a very chunky keto chili, which I think is a good thing. If you prefer yours thinner, you can add a little water (or broth!) prior to cooking to thin it out as desired. This may also reduce calories and carbs per serving, depending on how much you add.
Serving size: 1 cup
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Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Net carb count excludes fiber, erythritol, and allulose, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. (Learn about net carbs here.) We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
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451 Comments
Traci
This recipe has become a staple in my husband and my diet. We love this chili! And it gets better with age. We make it on a weekend and have it for dinner a few times that week. It’s delicious. Best chili recipe I’ve come across so far.
JJ Ford
FANTASTIC!! Everyone loved this in our family!!!
Renee
I want to try this tonight but I’m out of chili powder. Any suggestions?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Renee, I have not made this recipe without chili powder. It’s a large flavor component for the recipe.
Michelle Welden Taylor
Love this recipe! Delicious!!
Glenda A Baer
This chili recipe is amazingly like the real thing (with beans). I had a bit of an issue when following the instant pot instructions. When sautéing the onions and garlic, the instant pot over-heated, the time it takes to sauté them is quite a bit shorter in the instant pot, I found. Also, following the instruction to use the meat/stew setting for 35min., my instant pot got too hot again, projecting the warning, “FOOD BURN.” I did add the suggested cup of broth and even increased the liquid to include 1/2 cup of water. So, I was disappointed to have my instant pot over heat multiple times; however, the chili did turn out delicious! I do thank you for the awesome recipe, but I think I’ll make it in a regular slow cooker next time, or try to remember to reduce sauté time significantly and to add even more liquid when stewing the ingredients–OR, forget the meat/stew setting and use “slow cook.”
Susannah
HI could I make this on the stovetop instead of Instant pot or Crockpot? I’ve had it before with crockpot and loved it but I don’t have my crockpot with me right now.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Susannah, Yes, You can make this on the stovetop. Enjoy!
Cathy
Turned out Yummy! I like how there isn’t very much broth after it was done cooking.
Sarah
I made this over the snowy weekend and I have to say, it’s excellent! I don’t follow a keto diet but wanted a chili recipe without beans; this would make a great sauce for a chili dog type meal, too. The only change I made was using ground turkey, as I can’t eat beef (or pork) products right now. It was a very comforting winter meal.
Jenny
Also should mention, we added a small grated carrot and a couple of grated zucchini to bulk it out for a larger family, and add extra vegetables
Jenny
This is a great recipe for kids to try too! My 9 and 12 year olds have both successfully made this recipe, the 12 year old unsupervised (Dad was in the other room, so close by but no assistance) – we keep dried sliced onion on hand so they don’t have to stress about tears whilst cutting up onions. Love this recipe!! (we use 1/4 tsp chilli powder as I’ve learned the chilli powder we get is SUPER hot – Haha
Samantha
This was delicious! I used ground venison instead of ground beef. I did add fat to browning because the venison can dry out so much. I used 1/3 cup of my homemade chili powder. Sour cream, fresh shredded cheese, and avocado toppings with a low carb tortilla on the side.
I’m going to let it rest overnight then divide into freezing bags. I’m the only member of the household who eats chili so it’ll give me plenty of servings. Loved it!
Carmen
Really delicious, even the kids loved it!
Elaine K
American chili powder is different than British chili powder. In the UK chili powder is just that, hot chili peppers that have been dried and ground to a powder. American chili powder is a blend of spices including things like cumin and oregano with a little bit of hot chili.
Joanne
Fantastic flavor, not too hot but there is an underlying warmth! I usually cut the salt in all recipes by half as I did with this, the next time I make this, I will only put in 3/4 tsp. This will be awesome for nachos!! Thanks for all your recipes!
Melissa
Made this for the Chief’s game and it was a hit!
I added mushrooms and zucchini just to make a bigger pot for 5 hungry people.
This is a great recipe, thank you!
Doreen Burke
This was the best keto chili I have ever had! I had made a number of chilis over the years both with and without beans. It was just the right heat! I am making it again today since I finished the whole pot myself!
Don Tart
Thanks. I substitute Meatballs for beans and add whole Chili peppers 2 hour before serving.
Da Coach
Wow–if you are looking for the best low carb/keto chili recipe on the interwebs, look no further…this is it! I have made a LOT of chili recipes over the years, both keto and non, and this is my favorite. So much flavor. 1/4 C of chili powder? Heck yeah! It’s chili! I routinely have to add lots of ingredients to chili recipes to make them to my taste. This one? Nothing but a little bit of nutmeg. So many are watery, bland…this one is delicious from the first taste. Make it tonight!
Ms
Should I drained the cooked meat before adding into crockpot?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Ms, There’s no need to drain the meat first. Enjoy!
David Geddes
A couple of comments here saying how much chili powder this calls for and how hot this was – I’m almost certain that they are thinking about straight hot chili powder – like cayenne hot. I make my own chili powder with various spices (mostly paprika) and for this recipe I used about 3/4 of a cup – I might add 1/2 tsp of hot chili powder for a little bite.
Shirley
Would crushed tomatoes work? That’s all I have on hand. Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Shirley, Yes, crushed tomatoes will work too! Enjoy.
Cynthia J Campbell
Does the 35 minutes on meat/stew setting (InstaPot) include the slow release time? I used the auto setting, but my Instapot only read “15” at the start. I was afraid to increase it, so I’m just sitting patiently as it naturally releases steam hoping it’s perfect.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Cynthia, The 35 minutes is the cook time on the Instant Pot. It does not include the natural release time.
Makenzie
This is delicious. It was so fast to throw together. I was so sad to know I couldn’t have beans on keto but this doesn’t even need beans. Highly recommend, it’s also very filling.
Sally Gray
1/4 CUP Chili powder???
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Sally, Yes, 1/4 cup. I get that it seems like a lot, but this recipe has great flavor from the spices.
Mallory I.
This is my first successful Instapot dish, and it came out so good that I felt compelled to comment. I did not have tomato paste so I omitted it and I didn’t have green chilies so I subbed with pickled jalapeños, and I can’t get over how insanely flavorful and delicious this chili came out (even with my modifications). Thank you for convincing me I do not miss the beans!
Kristen
Fab recipe – altho I did add mushrooms (needed more umami) and didn’t need to simmer it in the crock pot as long as was indicated. Also, I included beef better than bullion to round out the bottom end.
Charlotte
If I omit the canned tomato, do i need to add more liquid for moisture? TIA
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Charlotte, I don’t recommend omitting tomatoes, as that’s a key part of the flavor of chili. Why are you looking to omit it?
Charlotte
I have a sensitivity to tomato. I can usually do a little bit of paste for taste but usually stay away from sauce, canned and fresh.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Charlotte, Ah. If you are going to make it without the tomatoes, then yes, you will need some extra liquid. I think beef broth will work best for this.
Carol A.
My husband really loves his recipe. I do add one can of white beans and only one pound of meat. I’ve made it successfully a number of times however the past two times I’ve gotten the dreaded burn warning on the display which is very frustrating! Any thoughts on what I might be doing wrong? Today I opened it back up and added a half can of broth and scraped the bottom really well as I mixed it in. Unfortunately that did not help. The burn warning went on again! Please help.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Carol, I have two possible solutions for you. 1. If you had enough liquid in the pot, then check your seal to make sure it’s seated correctly. If steam is escaping, it could give you that warning. 2. Remove the ground beef after cooking in the Instant Pot (step 2) and reserve it to add at the end. Proceed with the rest of the recipe, including the can of beans you add. After you release the steam, you can add the ground beef. Use the saute function to bring it all back up to the right temperature and serve.
Kylie Sabra
I love spicy food, but this was so hot I had to actually throw it away.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Kylie, I am sorry this recipe didn’t suit your tastes. The recipe itself isn’t very spicy, so I’m not sure what was done differently in your chili. Also, it may have been saved by making a second batch of the recipe (minus the spices) and combining the two batches together. This recipe does freeze well and it’s a better alternative to throwing it out entirely.
Me
You need to tell your audience about the difference between North American Chili powder versus Just plain chili PEPPER powder which is made from cayenne peppers. I will be trying this recipe out tomorrow!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi, Oh yes! chili powder in the US is a blend of several spices. It is not just ground chilis! Thanks for pointing that out.
Sabra
Honestly the best chili I have ever made… did substitute the tomato and green chilies for rotel… it’s all I had but it was amazing!!
Eva
Very tasty and easy! perfect for making ahead and freezing for putting on a salad or with some cauiflower rice topped with some avocado and sour cream. Delicious.
Sheila
Best low carb chili yet. Simple and perfect blend of spices. Family loved it. Definitely on my dinner rotation. Thank you.
BarefootD
Awesome chili. Made per recipe using ground turkey and pork. Spicing is perfect.
Sarah Basso
Fantastic level of flavor and spice. Whole family gives it 5 stars!
Rodney Dobson
Yes only recently in Canada are we able to buy Rotel tomatoes which I added to this recipe. Next time will also add some cayenne pepper as you suggest.
Nancy
Really great flavor, but had to add some cayenne pepper for spice for us Texans! A can of Rotel tomatoes and chiles would be awesome also!
Lori
Love this recipe. So good and filling. Thanks!
Jennifer Wraspir
Such a great recipe. I added a can of beans (I know that’s not low carb). Still delicious.
Katie Smith
This was a great recipe! I used deer meat instead of ground beef and it was perfect. This will be a staple in our home. My picky toddler, 1.5, even loved it!
Natalie Edwards
This was lovely! I’m in the U.K. so converted the recipe to grams but think I got the amounts about correct! Served it with sour cream and a chopped avocado. Delicious!!
Michelle T
Good chili. Nice level of spice. I paired with some Keto biscuits. This was a very filling meal. I made mine in the Instapot.
Karen Smith
I tried to find this answer in the comments but was not able to. How long should I simmer this if I’m not using the instant pot?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Karen, On the stovetop, let the chili simmer at low heat for 45 minutes to an hour. Be sure to check it so it doesn’t lose too much liquid and dry out. Feel free to add a little beef stock or water as needed.
Amy
Loved it!!!
christina hoffman
Thanks again for a perfect recipe! I’m a wimp so I used half the chili powder but left everything else as written. Great flavor!
Elizabeth Phelps
Absolutely delicious . . . However no way I can do all that chili powder! I did 1tbsp of Chili Powder and 1 tbsp of Red Pepper Flakes – didn’t do the Green Chili’s. Heat is just perfect for me. Hubby would have liked it a bit spicier but I just can’t take that much. I also added some ground pork. Served over roasted Spaghetti Squash . . . Would be awesome over Zoodles as well. Yum!!! Definitely going in the rotation!
Courtney Aston
Great & easy recipe!
Kelly
You had me at “8 cloves of garlic” then sealed the deal with a quarter cup of chili powder and 2 T of cumin! You complete me!
Debnga
I didn’t see instructions to drain the fat when cooking ground beef. Is it not necessary or is just assumed you drain the fat?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Debnga, It’s not really necessary to drain the fat unless you want to. I did not for this recipe.
Hope
2nd time making this this week! So yummy!! Put it over brown rice for my youngest and topped with cheese, sour cream and avocado. Today I added bell pepper because I had it in the fridge. I’m so excited to have more leftovers this week!
Jessica
I loved this! I halved the recipe but really wish I wouldn’t have.
Liz David
I made this tonight in my instant pot and it was delicious.The spices are great, so I snuck in some zucchini and a whole bell pepper to get a few more veggies in! Other than that, my only other modifications were to use ground turkey and adding 2 cups of chicken broth (following the advice of other reviewers to avoid the burn notice). I still got a burn notice about 5 minutes after turning on the pressure, but after a good stir it went away. The chili was really tasty, rich and flavorful like it had been cooking all day. Thanks for a great and healthy recipe!
Carol Lynne
Just wonderful .added 1 cup water as it was a bit thick and used rotel . Topped with 18% sour cream and shredded some 5 year old cheddar
Corey
I’ve made this twice in my 8 quart instantpot and got the burn food notice both times.
The first time I added the cup of water to the other ingredients and stirred. When I got the notice I stirred again and added another cup of water are put it on high pressure cook mode for 30more minutes. It turned out great!
The 2nd time I sprayed the pan with no stick, stirred the ingredients and poored the water on the top. Still got the burn notice. Added a cup of water and restarted on the meat/stew setting and it also turned out great!
Next time I will try adding 2 cups of water to the top of the mixture and hope it will cook without the notice.
Great recipe, thank you!
Glenda
I had the same issue making this in my instantpot. I will definitely add more water next time.
Brittney
Literally the best chili I’ve ever had/made! (Im not a fan of beans so this was perfect for me) Made it for a crowd and not a bite was left. Curious if you’ve ever tried with ground Turkey?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Brittney, This recipe works great with ground chili!
moschel.evie
I’ve been trying different Keto chili recipes looking for our favorite since the March lockdown. This was delicious. I was concerned that it would be bland so chose to use a can of hot chili peppers rather than mild. Also, I used 3 lbs of ground beef rather than 2.5 because I had 3 1-pound packages. Spices were great. Can’t wait to eat the leftovers today. Also, will try a version of chili Mac using noodles. I have a question though: Is there a way to get fewer than 10 net carbs for a 1-cup serving?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Moschel, I am glad you loved the recipe! You may be able to cut the carbs a little by cutting back on the amount of diced tomatoes or tomato paste, but not too much or you may lose some of the traditional chili flavors. Enjoy!
Yvonne Bell
Made this yesterday in a crockpot and it is delicious!
Alex
Seasoning on this recipe was spot on. I used 3lbs of beef and added about a cup of mushrooms. Then, I added a 12oz michelob pure gold and a half cup of water to add liquidity and volume.
Michelle
1/4 CUP? Chili powder? Is that correct? Thx!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Michelle, Yes that is correct. 1/4 cup of chili powder.
Molly
I want to preface this by saying that I’m not what I would consider a “real cook.” I can follow a recipe, but I’m not the kind of “natural” who can fidget around with a recipe and come up with something good. I followed the recipe exactly, but it didn’t come out the way I expected it to. I’m not sure which ingredient(s) wasn’t/weren’t to my liking, but I don’t think I’ll be making this again. Of course, not being a natural cook, it’s possible that the fault was mine somehow, so please take this review with a grain of salt. Thank you.
Chris
This was so good, quick and easy. There is something missing for my taste. Might need more onion but I added some after cooking. Thank you so much for the easy, filling meal.
Katie
Love this recipe! It’s so simple to make and taste delicious!
Keara Nadeau-Grandy
This was DELICIOUS!! Everyone in my family truly enjoyed it. The only thing I did differently was use 3 pounds of ground beef (only so I wouldn’t have a half pound left over), a little extra tomato paste to compensate. No other changes!
Nadine
I loved this recipe. I doubled the batch and have been eating it for several day ( that’s what I do since I don’t like to cook everyday.) The double batch made enough for 5 work days ( 2 meals per day).
Laurel Avery Dewitt
This was very good! We made it on the stove top and it worked well. I liked the Worchestershire Sauce in this recipe. We did add a small amount of water to the recipe.
Dawn
This Chili is AMAZING! I made it, and when its finished…I WILL MAKE IT AGAIN. I put the chili in single serve containers and grab one when I’m to busy to cook. I just can’t say enough about this recipe…super easy to make as well.
Holly
Are you supposed to drain the fat with this recipe after cooking the ground beef? Also, how lean should the beef be? Thank you!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Holly, There is no need to drain the fat unless that is your preference. I use 85/15 ground beef, but whatever you have on hand will work great!
JOSEPH SORTINO
Great Recipe, Just an FYI the instant pot has a saute function so you can actually saute the beef and onions in the instant pot, eliminates the need for extra dishes being washed!
Jamia Thursby
Made it with ground bison. Some of the best chili I’ve ever eaten!
Matt H
My first try at using the Instant Pot and this recipe was easy and turned out great. Also precooked some bacon and threw that in there at the end before serving and then added shredded cheese and some tame jalapenos on top. Very yummy!
Snannontchr
The spices in this recipe were just right! I added 12 oz frozen cauliflower and eight oz fresh sliced mushrooms into the instant pot and it came out thick and chunky and delicious! Didn’t miss the beans at all because there were other chunks in there. Thank you!
Denise
Made this chilli a few days ago in the slow cooker and wasn’t disappointed, its so yummy! And even better we used it for our chilli dogs (without buns) I included the bay leaf and added about 1 cup of water and used rotel tomatoes with green chilis instead of plain tomatoes. My husband never missed the beans, and we loved this chilli so much. Thank you!
Caleb
Let me start off by saying that ever since I’ve started keto (about two months ago), I’ve ate almost nothing but this for dinner and have lost about 15lbs thanks to this DELICIOUS recipe. There are a couple of things I’ve changed through the numerous batches I’ve made. Instead of ground beef, I’ve used plain ground pork sausage. Believe me, you won’t taste a difference and it still has plenty of fat and protein. I’ve also switched up the types of canned tomatoes from canned diced tomatoes such as rotel to crushed tomatoes, or even fire roasted and it makes a difference. One important thing to note is that with any chili, one thing I’ve noticed is that the consistency is typically thicker than desired. To counter that, I’ve added approximately 2 cups of beef broth and not only does it give it a great consistency, but it adds quite a bit of flavor. Lastly, if you ever liked eating Fritos with your chili before keto, substitute that with crushed pork rinds as It’s the icing on the cake and gives you that delectable crunch you’ve been missing while still being keto friendly. Ever since I’ve made it like this, I have made this recipe over and over again and have been losing weight! Thanks for this awesome recipe and I hope anyone reading sees this! Cheers.
Molly
Soooo yummy!! I made it in my Instant Pot, used half ground turkey / half ground beef, didn’t have two cans of diced tomato but had a larger can of tomato paste and a larger can of diced Chili’s! Kept the rest just as the recipe called for, added plenty of sharp cheddar, a generous dollop of sour cream and diced avocado and we LOVED every bite!!! Thank you!!
John Quinn
I am trying this today, pretty close to my recipe, so looking forward to it. And, as most Texans will say, “No beans in chili!” Thaks, I hadn’t even thought of doing chili as keto.
Tracy
This was a winner with my family! I’ve made it twice this week! I’m the only one in my family eating keto, but this pleased EVERYONE and it is now my family’s favorite chili recipe ever! I substituted ground turkey, because I had extra I needed to use, and it tasted just like beef, probably because of the beef broth. Thank you so much for an awesome chili recipe!
Susie P
Absolutely delicious! Thank you!
Lynda
Loved this recipe, made more in my Instant Pot. I always I enjoy tweaking any recipe and experimenting with different levels of flavor. I find store bought chili powder to be rather flat so I roasted 3 types of dried chili peppers, removed seeds and ground in my Magic Bullet. I used Guajillo, Arbol, and Ancho chilies. Guajillo is my favorite with a slightly citrus flavor, round and mellow not too much heat. The other 2 are new for me.
I also used 3 cans of Rotel original recipe in addition to the tomato sauce and tomato paste. Added chicken broth since I was out of beef. Deleted any additional salt. Came out fabulous! Nice rich robust flavor not too spicy just delicious and satisfying.
Sarah Reed
I made the keto chili in the instapot, it was great! I was pleasantly surprised. I like my chili with bean and crackers. But without those two additions, it was very tasty. When I make it next time I’ll back the oregano off to one tablespoon. It was a wee bit overwhelming.
Sara B
This was amazing. I am not the cook of the house, my husband is and he raved about it. I didnt have any diced tomatoes so I put one can of mild rotel and one can of hot rotel. The perfect heat, although some may think it was too spicy, i just cut it with a little bit of sour cream and some cheese. Ups the carb count a bit but delish! I am going to add beans and enter it in my office’s chili cook off this year!
Christine
Which would you think would make the chili more flavorful — the grease from browning the ground beef or draining the grease and replacing it with beef broth? I don’t like soupy chili, so I’m guessing I should use either one or the other. Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Christine, I would boost the flavor with good quality stock.
Christine
Thank you for your reply, Maya! By “boost,” do you mean I should I use the beef stock as a replacement for the ground beef castoff (grease) or in addition thereto? Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Christine, If you like your chili drier, then I would drain off the fat and use beef stock as your wet ingredient.
Dale
I googled IP chili recipes and stumbled across your recipe and boy am I glad I did as this recipe ranks right up there with the best of them. I followed the recipe to the letter except I only used 2 lbs of ground beef instead of 2.5 lbs but it still turned out great and the spice level was just perfect. Planning to freeze some for the next time we have baked potatoes. Thanks for sharing!
Catherine
Made it today in the slow cooker. For the chili powder, did 1/4 C (as recommended) of Penzey’s Salsa & Pico mix. It was absolutely perfect. Couldn’t help but add a bit of smoked paprika and some zucchini and celery cut small. It’s going to be a hit for the family dinner. (Not spicy but rich-flavored; we have hot sauces for those who like it spicier.) Sides of sour cream, shredded cheese and cut green onions. A wonderful basic recipe I’m going to continue to use.
Julie
Wow! Perfect chili! Add more heat if you love it hot, less if you don’t. The perfect starter. Loaded it with cheese before serving. Will definitely make again and again.
Ili
Yummy recipe! The best part is that is also gluten free and dairy free so my boyfriend was able to eat as well.
Shannon
This recipe was SO easy and absolutely delicious!!! I subbed ground venison for the ground beef and added a couple extra dashes of Worcestershire sauce when I was browning it. But after 8 hrs in the crock pot…magic! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Cathey East
It’s a cold, rainy day here in east Texas and nothing warms the family like chili. I don’t currently have access to a crock pot or instant pot so I went the old-fashioned way and simmered it on the stovetop for 6 hours.
It was delicious. I had the keto version, but my guys love their beans. I separated 2 servings out for myself, then added beans to the rest. It worked out great.
I love beans in my chili as well and wasn’t sure I would be satisfied with the keto version. This chili has such wonderful flavor, I didn’t miss a thing.
Super easy to make and cooks up a big batch so you can cook once and eat several times. This one is a winner and I will be making it again.
Brenda B.
This was so good! Quick & easy too, with leftovers to freeze. I actually made it in my crock pot over night while I slept. Yum!
Janet
Is the recipe true to put a 1/4 cup of chili powder or is that a typo? Thank you.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Janet, Yes that is correct. You can scale it back if you don’t love the chili powder spice.
Dawn
Excellent flavor. I chose to add poblano and jalapeño peppers to spice it up and sliced black olives for healthy fat and just because I love them.
Janna Settles
This is an easy but delicious chili recipe for those cold, dreary winter evenings!! Leftovers help with less meal prep for the week!!
Amy
This is my first ever attempt at making a low carb soup. I made it exactly as written except using half sausage and half ground beef. This is the BEST chili I have ever made. I absolutely love it and can’t believe it fits on my low carb meal plan. Thank you!
Mjo
My SECOND review 🙂 BEST chili I’ve ever made & now the only chili recipe I use!! I’ve always made it in my Power Pressure cooker XL but have realized when making chili for more than just my family, I need a lot more so I’m going to try it in the slow cooker 🙂 SO good- love this recipe.
koby72cuda@gmail.com
Made the keto chili and it was fantastic, I added a half of a cup of beef broth. Looking forward to making the chili again, thank you Maya
Lori
Simple ingredients and easy to follow recipe! Turned out to be the best chili I’ve ever made! Thank you Maya!!
Jennifer Cramer
Has anyone added mushrooms? Any good?
Valerie
Amazing flavour.. I will make this many times over.. My new go to chili recipe
Michelle
It was “ok”. I felt it was a little bland. Next time I’ll add some hot sauce for a little chili kick. This just taste like hamburger in sauce.
Plus I cooked it in my instant pot – I DO NOT recommend the extra cup of water. It made it soupy. All the liquid from the diced tomatoes and chilies I think was plenty.
Otherwise good attempt just needs some revamping.
April Leger
I made this last night for the first time. My husband is diabetic so I am always trying to find delicious things to make for him. Well, he loved this chili and I can honestly say this was the best chili I have ever tasted! I used course ground meat and was a little concerned about not draining it, but it wasn’t too greasy at all. We like our chili thick, so I used 3 lbs of meat and it was perfect. It went great with the Wholesome Yum almond flour crackers I made last week! This recipe is going to be a new staple in our house during the cold weather months.
Dianna
I loved the chili but it was just too spicy for me. The spice I used was a cayenne/chili powder blend. So I’m going to try just a chili powder. I think this may have been my problem. Hoping for better results.
Sue Loomis
I made this recipe tonight and it was so easy and so delish! I added more canned tomatoes than the recipe called for and less ground beef because I like my chili more soupy. The chili was spicier than what I usually make but I just added a lot of sour cream while eating it to calm it down! I didnt even miss the beans!
Debbie Bashford
Made the Keto Chili yesterday in the slow cooker, it was so easy and delicious. I used jalapenos instead of canned chilies as I could not find those where I shop. Started it early in the day, the house smelled wonderful. Had some for supper then portioned it out into freezer bags and froze them.
Baker Judy
Hi Maya, I had so much fun with the cookie challenge. So I want to do this one. Gets me out of my comfort zone.
I want to make a half batch in the crockpot. Is the timing different?
Made another batch of your double chocolate high protein muffins. They are insanely good!
So excited for your new baby! Take care of yourself, please.
Judy
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Judy, The timing will be the same if you do half a batch of chili. I hope you love it!
Baker Judy
Thanks so much, Maya! Kosher meat is 3x the cost of non kosher beef. So this is a great answer.
I will get non dairy cheese to go with it, since we don’t mix meat and milk. Sounds fabulous!
Another question. I’d only make something like this for our special Friday night/Sabbath dinner. But, if I do that, it will be too late for the contest. Can I post the picture of it all in the crockpot on Thursday night–before cooking it on Friday? That way, I can enter the contest.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Judy, Yes Thursday night will work great! Best of luck!
Kelly
It was great! Just started the keto diet and tried this recipe tonight and a keto cornbread that I found as well. This was a great meal! Fills you up. Full of flavor.
Kara Harris
I made this last night. I used my Instant Pot and my husband and I both enjoyed it. I purchased some keto “cornbread” from my keto baker! It was yummy.
Lois
I made this for a Seahawk football party and my husband’s birthday. Everyone loved the chili- there was none left! I added kidney beans to make it stretch more since they are not on Keto, only me. It had fabulous flavor. I used my Cuisinart pressure cooker and after I did the pressure part I realized I forgot the tomato paste. I had added afterwards and kept it on low heat for the party. It worked out just fine. I’ll be making this again.
Rob
I’m cooking this right now overnight. I doubled every ingredient so I can feast on it from a week. Only difference is I added a little cocoa powder (to cut the acidity – instead of sugar like a lot of people use) – threw in some red wine instead of water to thin it a tad. I’ll let you know how it tastes tomorrow!
Vicki
How are you calculating 10 grams of carbs per serving? Other than the onions, there really isn’t that much more carb content in any of the other ingredients. I make a chili that is only 12 grams of carbs for the entire recipe.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Vicki, This chili recipe includes both diced tomatoes and tomato paste, which are where the majority of the carbs are coming from.
Alicia
This is the bomb! Have made it twice with the addition of diced pork belly. So good, satisfying and easy…Thank you!
Lindsey
We loved it! Made it in the Instant pot and reduced the water to 3/4 cup. Ended up very watery once finished so cooked the water down to thicken it up and it was perfect (we prefer thicker chili). I had to get creative with the spices as I didn’t have enough cumin and oregano so I had to throw in some substitutes. Served it with keto cornless cornbread. My boyfriend loved it so much he asked that I bring it to his parents for Christmas! Love all of your recipes! Thank you!
Marshawn
This chili is AMAZING!!!! I did 3 meat style…1lb ground beef, 1lb pork sausage and 1lb cubed beef and omg!!! I also added 1 package of cream cheese and 1 cup beef bone broth….5 STARS!!!!
Joy
Can you give the link for the corn bread recipe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Joy, I have a keto cornbread recipe coming in January 2020, you can use the site search function to find it anytime after that. 🙂
Rita
This is absolutely the best chili I’ve ever tasted! Super easy recipe-the spice blend is perfect! I made the crock pot version and the only additions I made was a cup of water (it is very thick), more garlic and threw in some jalapenos to add just a little fire! I am ecstatic to be able to have chili without the excessive carbs! Many, many thanks to you! Your recipes are awesome!
Emily
Does anyone know if I double this will it fit in a 6 qt Instapot? Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Emily, I don’t think it will fit into a 6qt Instant Pot if you double the recipe. There is too much volume for the pot.
Debbie H
I think there is a mis-print on this recipe and it should read 2 teaspoons of cumin instead of tablespoons? My chili came out so spicy, I can barely eat it and there’s no way it would win any competition as described. I followed the entire recipe EXACTLY as written. Not sure why all the positive reviews. I’m baffled.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Debbie, I’m sorry this recipe didn’t turn out as you had hoped. The cumin is not actually what provides the spicy element to this chili, it’s actually the green chilis. Please either half or omit the amount of green chilis if you would like a more mild version of this recipe.
Maria
Hi there! I want to make this but just wanted to make sure it’s not too spicy for my boyfriend that’s a little sensitive to spicy foods. Should I omit the green Chile’s? Thank you!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Maria, Yes, if he is sensitive to heat or spice, then cut the amount of green chilis either down by half or omit entirely.
Jill
This is THE BEST chili I’ve ever had in my whole life!!! It’s so good I ate too much and threw up in my mouth a little.
Dean
This recipe was GREAT!!! I added a couple of diced jalapenos, a chopped ripe tennis ball sized tomato and a 1/2 of a chopped red pepper. Topped with shredded cheddar and sour cream of course :). This isn’t just a good low car chili, it is great chili period!
Candace
Hubby says he does not like beans in his chili. Weirdo. I found your site while searching for a bean free recipe. Very tasty and easy recipe. We like ours a bit spicier so I added some pepper sauce and peppers. I liked the thickness as I don’t care for rice with my chili. I made it in the instant pot and followed the instructions. Regarding the suggestion to add a cup of liquid – I used 3/4 cup beef broth.
Alicia L Robertson
This was awesome and I added bell peppers, pork belly and rotel instead of diced tomatoes and a bit of smoke. Thank you for this recipe! Will be making this again over the winter!❤
Karen
This recipe sounds so good. But at 10g. of carbs per serving, my keto carb balance for the entire rest of the day is 4 g.
Wholesome Yum A
Hi Karen, you can always adjust the serving size to suit your needs! You can also reduce or omit the onion to cut down more carbs.
Bonnie Yang
How many net carbs would it be if we took out onions?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Bonnie, I am not sure, the original recipe was developed to include the onions. If helps, there are several recipe/food calculators online to help you re-calculate the recipe without onions.
Rachel
Awesome ! Thank you!
Angela
Do you think I could substitute bison for beef in this recipe?
Wholesome Yum A
Angela, I haven’t tried that but I think it would work here!
Heather
I just finished making the chili, it was fast and smells fantastic. I can’t wait to try it tonight. I believe this will be a family favorite.
Kathy S
I loved this chili! I’d never made chili before and I’m astounded at how good this is!!
I added black soy beans because I prefer beans in my chili.
I used my Instant Pot and it did give me the burn warning. So, I had to add more than the recommended one cup of broth. In all, I used 2 cups of beef broth.
Delicious!
Jody
Chili was delicious!! Would definitely make again and serve to dinner guests.
Stephanie Chandler
My friend made this and brought it to a chili cook-off party. It was up against 16 other crockpots full of non-keto chili and won the most votes! I asked her to share the recipe and it’s now part of our regular rotation. Thank you! I love your recipes!
Marc L. Filippone
I made this in an Aroma rice cooker, which also has a sauté function and a slow cook function (with a low and high setting). It worked well.
The great thing about chili is there are so many ways you can tweak it, according to your preferences, and it will still come out great. For instance, I threw in some chopped fresh jalapeño peppers, and even left some of the seeds in because I like my chili on the spicy-hot side. Yum!
Marilyn
I am looking at the chilli but it gives the ingredients but not the amount of each ingredients
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Marilyn, You may need to turn off your browser’s ‘Reader Mode’ to be able to see the recipe card properly.
Linda Dalton
Just put in the crockpot, minus the green peppers cuz we don’t have any. Looks and smell great!
Zana Sugar
I made this last night and was really happy with the beautiful melding of flavours. This one’s definitely a keeper! Thank you and please keep those recipes coming!
Cathy
I am in heaven. This chili is wonderful. I made it without beans and again with black soy beans. I started the black soy beans before the chili so when the chili was ready I was able to just at the black soy beans to the pot. It was delicious and I plan on making it often. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful recipes that you have created for all of us.
Doris
You rescued me, as I read the recipe it sounded great. I had no hamburger. I had cooked neck bones for broth and had the meat that I pulled off the bones. I had not found anything to do with it. I used it in this chilli recipe. OMGosh it is delicious .Thank you.
KC
This is the BEST chili we have ever had. My son never liked chili but now he looks for this one! Thank you!
Melissa
This is DELICIOUS!! I’m so used to chili with beans- I thought my family would miss the beans ( husband on keto diet) wow was I wrong!! My son usually won’t eat chili but he ate 2 bowls of this 🙂 I added a diced jalapeño, only because I had one & I cooked it on the stove. Perfect!! Thank you – I’m going to definitely try your other recipes 🙂
Sierra
I was planning on making a vegetarian version of this (with soy beef crumbles) but I’m wondering if you can recommend a vegetarian-friendly alternative to the Worcestershire sauce?
Wholesome Yum A
Hi Sierra, coconut aminos might be your next best bet. There are also many vegan Worcestershire recipes online, but the carb count may be higher for those.
Phyllis
This is exactly the recipe I’ve used for years, not even knowin it was Keto. I don’t use beans either! The only difference is I cook mine on the stove in a big pot. I’m going to try the crock pot. Delicious!!!!
Charis
This is my absolute go to meal prep recipe. I will double it up for me and my fiancé. I prefer ground turkey for it.
It’s just so tasty and easy to make a ton of it for our busy weeks.
Judy
I’d like to make a half batch. This is way too much for the two of us.
Would the cooking timing be different?
Thank you, Judy
Wholesome Yum A
Hi Judy, no need to adjust cook time for this particular recipe. You can simply halve the measurements.
Kim
I made this chili and it was delicious!
Lana
Very similar to the chili I make, except no paste or Worcestershire sauce which reduces the carbs, double the cumin, jalepenos instead of green chilis and then i also slice two or three bell peppers like a red and a green. My son says he hates bell pepper but in chili he will eat them. He told me the other day he would eat anything in chili because all you taste is the chili. So now I want to find other veggies I can hide in there. I’m new to your site but I really love it. I’ve been jotting down recipes to try and planning my meals for next week. Can’t wait!
Michelle S C
Lana, For years I have been dicing zucchini in to pieces the size of kidney beans and “hiding” them in chili! I agree with your son – you really can’t taste anything besides the chili! 🙂
Frannie
I noticed net carbs is 10 g for one cup. That’s not really that low in the keto world and then if you add avocado and cheese and sour cream you’re pushing almost 20 g. But it is good.
Liz
Followed the recipe exactly and tasted great!
Anne
I’ve made this with ground beef and ground turkey. Both equally delicious! My husband is diabetic so we have to watch the carbs. This recipe makes it possible for him to have chili.
Kathryn Pyles
I made his for my non-keto family last night and it was a HUGE HIT. My parents are notoriously picky and they gobbled it up! Thank you for creating recipes that can be enjoyed and loved by all, not just those with dietary restrictions.
Robert B
Made this the other night and was a hit with our Keto Family
Amber
I am having trouble finding the list of ingredients and amounts. I saw the video, but was not able to see the ingredient amounts. Please share with me. I want to make this today. Thank you.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Amber, Turn off Safari reading mode and you’ll see them. Thanks!
Sarah
Loved this so much (plus the amount of work I don’t have to do in the upcoming weeks…since I am only meal planning for myself)! Instead of the green chiles, I used chipotle peppers which made the dish just as amazing. It is very filling and satisfying, thanks for putting this recipe up!
Kristi Gray
Awesome recipe! Have made it several times!!! Perfect for quick meals with instant pot!
Shannonlaraine
This Keto Chili is one of the best! I’ve tried other keto chili’s and something always tasted off. This however is wonderful, I even forget beans were omitted! Bravo!
Carol Stibich
I doubled this recipe for a potluck at work and actually made it in a huge pot on the stove. I added chopped bell pepper and two chopped Anaheim chilis instead of the canned. I simmered for about 2 hours after every thing was added to the pot. I got nothing but raves from my coworkers. Everyone loved it.
Brosky
I made this tonight in the instant pot. It came out ok, but I think the cumin was overpowering. 2 tablespoons was too much for my taste. When I make it again I will cut down to 1 teaspoon. I read all the comments, no one else mentioned this, so maybe it’s just me. I might substitute some cayenne and red pepper flake instead.
Elizabeth
Hi,
We just began our keto diet – two months ago. I went a bit mad – missing bread and toast soooo much.
I have been vegetarian plus salmon and some fish every week. If you have special veggie recipes I shall look for them. Thank you for your great sense of humor, excitement over life and help in this strange time of not being able to eat what you want!
Keto bites help. If you have macaroons with dark chocolate – that will help too.
Thanks, smiles and namaste, Elizabeth and David
Linda
This chili recipe is the bomb! I didn’t even miss the beans. I added celery like a couple of other commenters mentioned and banana peppers in place of the green chilies. So good and very filling. Thank you for this recipe and I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of your site.
Chelsea
This chili is amazing!!!! I was concerned that not adding beans to it would make it less of a traditional chili flavor, however, it is just as good! Strongly recommend this recipe as this will be my new go-to recipe for chili!!!
Michele
My family loves your chili! We make it in the instant pot. Two of us are Keto, two of us are not so we add canned kidney and pinto beans after we Ketos have had our fill. It’s so easy to make and has great flavor!
Jeff
Check out Eden Organic canned Black Soy Beans. Great Keto bean replacement in chili!
Lia
I love this recipe so much! My family even loves it! I used fire roasted diced tomatoes instead of regular and chopped red bell peppers and sauteed with the onions… Delish!!!
Shawn Hart
This chili is AWESOME! I was gifted an Instapot and was determined to find some good keto recipes for it. I love chili but hate the carb counts in most or the fact that they are just “meh” taste wise. I tried your recipe and holy smokes it’s delicious! Seasonings were perfect and my family and I all fought for the last bits in the pot (and it’s rare for me to find a recipe I don’t tweak in some way with more salt, less veggies, etc). I am super excited about making this chili again and trying more of your recipes!
Linda
I made the Instant Pot version. It was literally the best chili I’ve ever made!
Dr. Stan DeLoach
To reduce carbs even further (I have Type 1 diabetes and don’t eat fruits/tomatoes), I am making this chili today with green tomatillos (instead of tomatoes and tomato paste) and with only green onion tops (not the whites of the onions)…will let you know how it turns out. Thanks for the inspiration.
Amy
Looking forward to making this!! Do you have to cook the meat first? I’ve never done that and was wondering what the difference would be ♀️
Thank you so much!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Amy, Yes, cook the meat first. Browning gives it a ton more flavor.
Tracy Wild
Best Keto Chili, and so easy to make!
Lisa
Made this chili last night and it was fantastic! Chose to make it stovetop in a Dutch oven, perfect!
Sheryl B
I am just starting Keto, and this is one of the things I made as part of my meal prep. I taste tested it last night before I packed it for today’s lunch. SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD! I’m very appreciative that you shared this recipe- especially since it’s particularly cold in CA (go figure!), it’s a real treat that’s well in line with my macros! Thank you!
Sarah
Lovedddd it!!!! I always add some beef broth and cayenne pepper!!! Awesome
Joycema
Just to note your chili is AWESOME!! I did add 3 medium stalk celery
Riley Landry
1/4 CUP of chili powder?? Is this correct?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Riley, Yes, that’s correct. It’s a pretty big batch. 🙂
Beth
I agree it is a bit much for the chili powder, and I love spicy! I made it last night but think you could use half the chili powder. Very tasty!
Debi
I made this tonight. It was excellent. I made as directed, in the IP, and used 1 cup beef bouillon like suggested. Hard not to eat more 🙂
Thank you!
Priscilla
Hi! Yum! I used ground turkey and by mistake only used 1 can tomato’s but did add 1 C broth for instapot. It turned out great. It was thick and meaty and very filling. Thanks! I’ve already written it down by hand in my favorite cookbook. I’ve never used so much chili powder but I think that is the key to the delicious taste.
Aydee
I found this recipe the other day and thought it would be great for the slow cooker on one of my long work days. So I got up did my prep work so when I came home for lunch I could just throw it in the slower cooker set the timer and it would be hot and ready when I got home. Six and a half hours later I came home grabbed a bowl of chili and threw it out. Cooking it that long in the slow cooker turned the texture of the meat into mush with a strong tomatoe taste. I will try this recipe again but I will either use my instant pot or just cook it on the stove top. I will also reduce the amount of tomatoes. Thank you for recipe.
Kathy Holzheuer
Do you drain the grease from the burger? I would but I am sure that some people will not, since it does not say to drain.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kathy, I don’t drain it. I think it provides more flavor to the chili. But you can if you want to.
Jacalyn N
I also did not drain the first time I made it, and although I think it totally makes this chili over the top, my husband isn’t a fan of seeing the “grease” in his bowl so I drain now, but I found this recipe last fall (maybe late summer?) when we started Keto and it is a very regular meal for us!!!
Beth M Corrente
I chop up red cabbage and add it to my chilli to bulk it up a bit. I also add cocoa powder to give it a bit of richness.
Norine
It’s delicious. I don’t like beans in my chili. I’m not carb free; I may make chili mac out of some of it. The recipe was a little too much for the 3 quart Instant Pot. After I put the ingredients in it, but before I pressure cooked it, I took out 2 cups of the mixture and kept it in the empty 28.5 oz Diced Tomato can to cook later.
Yvonne
I have made this chili a few times now it is my favorite sometimes I use roast beef instead of hamburger but I love it.
Jenn
I’ve never really followed a chili recipe before, but this will be our go-to from now on! My husband and 2 years old twins loved this! My daughter kept saying, “More chili, Mommy!” The only thing I really did differently was to cook it all on the stove. Yum!
Tracy
We both loved this! Added 1 chopped bell pepper with the onion and omitted the green chilis and Worcestershire sauce. If using Instant Pot (way faster), remember to de-glaze bottom of pot before pressure cook to prevent “burn” warning.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Great tip, Tracy! Thank you for sharing!
Abigail
Does your nutritional information include the seasonings? I’m getting 6.8 net carbs when I enter the ingredients into carb manager as a recipe
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Abigail, Yes, it does. We don’t verify against every single calculator out there, but instead use the USDA food database for nutrition info.
Abigail
Thank you. This turned out delish! I guess it’s just the brand specific ingredients I used vs generalized ones. Now to try and find a good cornbread(ish) to go with it. Thank you again
Robyn Dunham
Are the carbs you noted including avocado and cheese?
Wholesome Yum L
Hi Robyn, avocado and cheese are not part of the main recipe and are not included in the nutrition information.
Sandra Martinez
I couldn’t find a can of green chiles, so I used a can of mild Rotel tomatoes. I cut back a little on the garlic. This chili is SO good, and so easy. This recipe is definitely a keeper!!
Laura
Be sure to check the Mexican food section of your grocery store for the canned green chiles. I was in a very small grocery store today and found them there (instead of in the canned vegetable section).
John
Made this last night, naturally with my own tweaks. Used a bit more meat since I had it, added about 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and also added in a can of chipotles in adobo. The smokiness this adds is amazing! Was just spicy enough to make me sweat a bit without making me want to die. Will definitely make again.
Erik
Nice recipe. I had 4 pounds of beef and it worked without doubling up. I tasted it with 30 minutes to go and it was a little flat. Added a tablespoon of Sherry vinegar and it really helped make it pop.
shannon
This is a really good chili recipe! This is the 2nd time I’m making it this winter, and I usually don’t make chili often. I do two things differently from the recipe:
– I don’t bother pre cooking the meat and onions as I don’t think that extra step makes any difference in the final product. And,
– I add two cups diced celery for texture without adding a lot of carbs.
Thanks, Maya! Another great recipe.
Jacqueline
Hi! Will be making this tomorrow. Just curious – have you ever made it in a dutch oven? If yes, how long did you cook it and what setting on the stove? Thanks 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jacqueline, Sure, you can make it on the stovetop if you want. After browning the beef, it would be pretty low heat, just enough for a gentle simmer. You can really cook it for as long as you like to let the flavors develop.
Kelly
Instead of diced tomatoes can we substitute tomato sauce?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kelly, The result would be different but you probably could.
Jackie
We LOVE this recipe. Second time we’ve made it in two weeks using the instant pot…
I adapted it slightly – added 2 tbsp chipotle in adobo and 2 squares of intense dark chocolate. Next time I may use only 1/2 cup of broth to get it even thicker. My fiancé who isn’t even doing keto (but hates beans) swears it’s his favorite chili
Thank you for helping to make keto fun and a great! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes. ❤️
Lisa
I made this last night and it was a hit with my family, including my picky 4yr old! I toned down the heat for him, but it was still spicy and we loved it!
Gail
What does the chocolate add to this??
Beth Packer
What the heck?! Why is this so delicious? It’s one of those Aristotle recipes where the whole>the sum of its parts. Try it today. I can’t stop thinking about it. Thank you for sharing your deliciousness!!
Barb Perkins
Just finished making this and put in a crock pot. Does anyone know how long on high? Since it’s kind of late… thanks, can’t wait to try!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Barb, It’s 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
Debo
Hi there, I’d like to make this with ground venison. Do I need to change anything, especially spice wise? And I was hoping for a recipe that would call for ground AND cubed meat just because that’s what my friend gave me and I’d like to use it together. Thanks so much!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Debo, I haven’t tried that but I’m sure you can. I don’t think you’ll need to change anything else as long as it’s the same total amount of meat.
Suzanne Fernen
Do you think ground turkey would be okay?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Suzanne, Yes, you can use ground turkey.
Mandy
This was just an amazing chili recipe in general. I am not a Keto-eater and made this for my boyfriend. I wasn’t even planning on eating it. But let me tell you, I LOVED this. This is seriously a delicious recipe. I made it in the Instant Pot and added the cup of water as recommended. This turned out to be a new favorite, staple recipe. Thank you!!!
Rachel Rieck
Thank you for always coming up with great recipes, This one was delicious!!
Jessica Kelley-Lee
Any idea how much water to add to make the serving size closer to 2 cups?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jessica, If you wanted to keep the nutrition info the same for 2 cups, it would likely be too watery. If you wanted to thin it out that much, I’d suggest at least using broth instead of water. You can add a bit of water, but to double the serving size you’d have to add the same amount of water as the entire batch of chili, which would be too much.
Mary
What are the carbs in the Keto Chili if I go right by the recipe? Total carbs, carbs less sugar, carbs less fiber.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Mary, The carb count is on the recipe card above. Both total carbs and net carbs are listed. You would not subtract sugar from the total carbs for the net carb count, only subtract fiber and sweeteners (when present, not for this recipe).
Gab
WOW – what an amazing recipe. This was a hit. Thank you for blessing us with such deliciousness.
Kristin
About how many servings did this yield? 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kristin, It makes 10 servings, 1 cup each.
Jamie
Do you need to drain the hamburger meat so it’s not too greasy??
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jamie, You can but you don’t have to. With how thick a chili is, you don’t really detect any greasiness.
Lisa
I tried this tonight. 1/4 cup of chili powder was way way too much, at least if you are using high quality spice.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you for the feedback, Lisa. Most people have said the amount in the recipe is a good amount, but it might vary a bit depending on your personal taste and how potent your chili powder is.
Kim
Yes! Originally I thought I misread the directions. I also feel 1/4 cup is too much. I talked to some friends and they were surprised about the amount. I made this two nights ago. My daughter wouldn’t eat it and I added sour cream to calm it down. I took it to work hoping others will enjoy it. I’m sure if I drastically cut back on the chili powder next time, it will be perfect!
Melissa Mullen
Is the Worcestershire sauce really necessary?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Melissa, It’s there for flavor, and ends up being a tiny amount per serving, but you can definitely omit it if you want to.
Mary
I just won my work Chili Cook-Off with this recipe! The only change I made was to “proof” the chili powder in some garlic olive oil on the stove top before cooking. I will definitely make this again.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Yay, I’m so glad to hear that, Mary!
Nikki
How do you think Rao’s tomato basil sauce would be to sub for the tomato ingredients? Lol, that’s all I have and want to make right now!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Nikki, You’d have a bit of a mix between Italian and Mexican flavors, so I’m not sure. It might be okay in a pinch. Let me know if you tried it!
Pip
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This was the first recipe I used to try out my new instant pot and it was amazing. I followed the recipe exactly, adding in the beef broth as you suggested. My husband said it was the best Chili he had ever have. We are so lucky to have people like you so generously sharing your hard work. Thank you again!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Pip! Thank you!
Mary Anne
This was a good chili recipe. It’s a keeper for the instant pot. I have another chili recipe that always triggers the “burn” message, but this recipe did not, so that in itself is a big plus 🙂 I made some alterations because of what I had on hand. I didn’t have 2 15 oz cans of diced tomatoes, only one can, so I put a 1/2 cup of salsa in place of. I also put in a cup of vegetable broth, because that’s what I had handy with no MSG. When it was done, I opened a can of refried beans and popped some of them in to each serving. Everyone liked it, and I’ll add it to my go to list. I was a little afraid of using a full 1/4 cup of chili powder, so I did reduce that just a bit.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thanks for sharing your tips with us, Mary Anne!
Carolyn
Amazing. This is the best chili recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Carolyn!
Karen Scouten
Just curious, but where are the carbs coming from. I know 10 is not bad, but that is all I allow myself on the diet, so where are the carbs coming from,and can I lessen them?
Thanks
Karen
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Karen, The carbs mainly come from the tomatoes and onions.
Jody
Hello!! I wanted to let you know I won a Chili Cook off with your Chili recipe!! We hold a chili Cook off at my Assisted living community and out of the 6 entry’s this year, mine won!!! We invite the local police dept. & fire dept to judge!! Keto for the win!!!
I won a $10.00 & chili plant that I bought because I’m the Activity Director but never thought I would actually win!! Thank you for a great recipe!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Jody! That makes me so happy!
Sara
I made this in my Instant Pot. This chili had just the right amount of heat for me and hubby!! A little too much for my kiddo. But we all loved it!! I served it with kidney beans on the side for them since that’s what they’re used to. They also ate buttered bread with it to help with the heat factor. I liked that we (hubby & I) didn’t have to add sriracha like we usually do. Thank you for this recipe!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Sara! I’m glad to hear you all liked it. I agree it could be a little on the spicy side for kids, but usually I add sour cream for my kids and then they love it.
Jherica
Hello! Thanks for sharing this recipe.. It will be my Sunday dinner 🙂 Is it ok if I use garlic powder instead of cloves?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Glad to hear that, Jherica! Yes, feel free to use garlic powder instead.
Dave
Delicious and very satisfying! Varied the recipe by adding a tube of Bob Evans Zesty Hot Roll sausage to the ground beef. Was pretty zippy initially (because of the extra zest from the sausage), but sour cream took the edge off. Really flavorful! The chili mellowed out beautifully overnight in the fridge, and was great for lunch the next day.
I’m a bit of a chili snob, and this recipe checks all the right boxes — Great job! Thanks for the recipe!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the chili, Dave! Have a great day!
MJ Mangrum
My family loves big pots of soups as the weather turns colder. My go to soups have always been a beef and veggie soup that I concocted and chili. I was so excited to find this recipe and decided to try it. The smell about drove us crazy long before it was ready. I added some extra salt and a dash of cinnamon (really good in chili) only because I ran out of cumin and was slightly short so it need some extra oomph. Totally my fault for not having enough and not the fault of this fabulous chili. Even my husband who is not low carb and loves his beans liked this enough to request it again. Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the chili! Have a great day!
Niki Lyons
Made this tonight for the whole family (3 teens and 3 adults) and they all loved it! I love that the keto and non-keto eaters all devoured it!! My youngest wanted beans so she cooked some for her bowl, two others wanted noodles, so they cooked some. I added a bit of cheese on top, and the spice was perfect!
Thank you for another successful meal!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Niki! Have a great day!
Sam
Fantastic chili. I topped it off with some sour cream. I think i prefer this recipe over any that ive tried
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love to hear that, Sam! Thank you!
Lisa Lu
Meant to leave a 5 star rating on my previous comment 🙂 Oops!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Yay, thank you!!
Lisa Lu
I just made this chili – it’s currently in the crock pot for about an hour now. I keep stirring and tasting and it’s wonderfully delicious already!! I followed the recipe exactly sans the bay leaf. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe – it’s a keeper for sure!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Lisa! I’m glad you like the chili.
Kristin Hathaway
This is perfect and delicious! Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am happy you liked the chili, Kristin! Have a nice day!
Kristie
Hey.
I made this recipe tonight and loved it!!
I have a question – I changed the beef to ground turkey – will this effect the nutritional value?
I am trying to keep track of everything in a log so I want to make sure I enter the correct information.
Thank you,
Kristie
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kristie, Changing beef to turkey is fine but it does change the nutrition info. You can enter it into an online calculator if you need exact amounts.
Deborah Prefontaine
Making soon and know from the other comments, it’s going to be a favorite. Thanks for the nutritional facts.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hope you love it, Deborah!
TJ
Taste-wise this recipe is fantastic. I personally loved the spice level, though it was a bit too much for hubby. Sour cream to the rescue!
I made this in my electric pressure cooker. Though I did add that extra cup of water, I still had a little burning on the bottom of my pot. Plus… it was a little soupy. That may have been from the water plus I did not drain the fat after browning the beef.
I will definitely make this recipe again just because the taste was great, but I might try the slow cooker option on my cooker next time. And I think I might drain the fat after browning. Would love to hear your thoughts or any other suggestions on using the pressure cooker for this recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, TJ! Spice is definitely a matter of taste, and I’m glad you liked it. Agree that sour cream takes care of it if it’s a bit too spicy for some family members. (Even my 3 year old eats this with sour cream in it!) I don’t usually drain the beef but you can if you’d like. The water does make it a bit thinner in the pressure cooker, but it’s necessary to avoid burning. I haven’t had it burn if you add the water, but you can add more if you want to be on the safe side and don’t mind the extra liquid. If the water is too “watery” for you, you could also try beef broth instead of the water when using the pressure cooker.
TJ
I’m looking forward to making this tonight in my pressure cooker. Did you drain the ground beef after browing it? I’m using a fairly fatty grind (80/20).
Can’t wait to let you know how it goes, it sounds awesome! Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi TJ, Sorry, I just saw this and see you already made the recipe. I don’t usually drain it, but my meat is typically 85/15. It’s up to you if you want to drain it or not.
KBec
Hi Maya, This looks like a pretty straight forward, and delicious Texas chili. I do add a variety of chile powders for flavor nuance, and dark chocolate. Is dark chocolate too carb-y?
If you are not draining the beef, do you think there’s a reason to cook it ahead of time? You could just put into the crock in the morning, or the night before in the fridge, then turn on and go to work, no? just a thought!
Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Regular dark chocolate has sugar and would be high in carbs, but you could use cocoa powder, baker’s chocolate (no sugar), or stevia-sweetened dark chocolate instead. I do recommend browning the beef first for the best flavor and texture, even if you don’t drain it.
Julia
I was just telling my dinner guest that I did not have a go-to chili recipe…until we ate this one! Thank you, this is one for the books.
I made a few modifications due to resources and it turned out beautifully. 1lb ground beef, 1/2 lb ground turkey, 1/2 lb ground chicken, + 1/2 large red pepper diced. Everything else remained the same. Delicious!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked it, Julia! Thanks for stopping by!
Bobadosh
Where do the five grams of sugar come in at ??
Maya | Wholesome Yum
These are from the veggies, mostly from the tomatoes.
Bruce
I think this would be great Julia. I love to mix things up a bit and I would want it bulked up a bit without beans. I will be adding others things to mine not sure what yet but something. Maybe cabbage,bell peppers and whatever else is low carb.
Karren Pitts
My 94 year old mom loves chili cheese dogs, I’m thinking of how easy it will be to thaw a package of the low carb Keto chili so she can have her version with a bun and I can have my Keto bunless version! The avocado and cheese will be a perfect addition, along with some finely chopped onion… I’m seeing lots of delicious possibilities here and I’m making and freezing this soon!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you and your mom like them, Karren! Thanks for stopping by!
Annie
I made this tonight!!! It was excellent. And yep….did not even miss the beans. Served it on a bed of lettuce and topped it off with a spoonful of guacamole! Excellent low carb meal! Thanks for the recipe! It’s a keeper. If you are reading the reviews, all I can say is….make this recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thanks so much, Annie!
Gatorrach
Made this for dinner and the whole family loved it and I love that it was low enough carbs I could fit it into my macros. Wonderful recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy that you liked the chili, Rachel! Have a great day!
Cameron
Can you make this on the stove top for the ones like me who really want this, but decided to wait until later in the day to figure out dinner and do not have time to wait for the slow cooker? How long would you suggest?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Cameron, Yes, you can! You can also make it quicker in the Instant Pot.
Juanita Garner
I thought this chili was amazing… Thanks for sharing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Juanita! I’m glad you liked it.
Hillary Hedin
Great recipe! I added some cut up rutabaga for a little more depth…
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you for sharing, Hillary!
Cindy
This was sooooo GOOD! I needed something for a potluck at work and everyone LOVED it! Almost everyone there had no idea what Keto was, but they ate the whole pot of chili in record time. Super easy and great for feeding a crowd.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love to hear that, Cindy! Have a great day!
Julie
How many carbs does this recipe have?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Julie. Please find the nutritional information below:
Calories: 306 | Fat: 18g | Total Carbs: 13g | Net Carbs: 10g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Protein: 23g
Thank you!
Mel
How big is a serving for 10 carbs…
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Serving size is 1 cup.
Tiffany
What if you don’t have the green chilies
Maya | Wholesome Yum
You can easily leave out the chilis, Tiffany! Thanks for stopping by!
Jason
Hi. This looks wonderful and I’m excited to try it this weekend. I’m sorry if I missed it but what is the serving size to make sure I stay in the numbers listed for net carbs? Thanks!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thanks for stopping by, Jason! A serving size in one cup. I hope you like it!
Tiffany
Hi this sounds so yummy but what is I don’t want to use the green chiles will it still come out right?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Yes, you can easily omit the green chiles, Tiffany. I hope you like it!
Donna
I thought beans were high in protein ?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Donna, there aren’t any beans in this chili recipe. Thanks for stopping by!
Mary Ann Ann Kuczmarski
High in protein but also high in carbs.
Donna
Sounds more like a sauce for pasta than a chili. Need beans in my chili.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Donna, Unfortunately beans are not low carb, so this is a no bean chili. If you are looking for low carb or keto recipes, I hope you’ll give it a try. Many people have told me they were pleasantly surprised even without the beans.
Shane
Hello, this is the first keto recipe that I’ve tried, and I love it. I’m just confused as to carbs per serving. I wish I knew that a serving was only a cup before I dug in. Is 13 carbs or 10 carbs the number that I really have to worry about?
Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Shane, I’m glad you liked the chili. You can look at net carbs, which is 10g, and excludes fiber. Net carbs are total carbs minus fiber and sweeteners when applicable.
Mel
Hi! What are your thoughts on switching the ground beef for ground turkey? I’m trying to get my partner off of canned turkey chili post workout (6grams of sugar!) but he is adamant about the turkey part.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Mel, Yes, you can definitely use turkey instead if you’d like!
Jill
This was so delicious! I ate “as is” and served it with noodles for my boys. Love your recipes.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the chili, Jill! Thanks for stopping by!
KetoBoss
Great recipe. I added a whole stick (1/4 lb) of unsalted butter and it tasted great! Better fat/protein ratio for keto diet as well.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you for sharing! Glad you liked the keto chili.
Cindy Underwood
Hello! When you say add a cup of water if you’re using the Instant Pot, does that mean in a separate container or just add in with the chili itself? Sorry, we’ve only used our Instant Pot once but are trying to figure this all out!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Cindy, Just add it to the chili before cooking in the Instant Pot. A pressure cooker needs more liquid.
Mary
This one is a bit too spicy for me. Second time around, I left out the garlic and cut the chili powder in half and it was PERFECT for me.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am glad you were able to switch it up to your liking, Mary! Please come back again soon!
Kay
Chili with beans is just stew 🙂 Glad you evicted them.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Ha! I am so happy you liked the chili, Kay!
Maureen fanta
Except for, you know, the chili powder.
Sophia Tolliver
This is so good! I added coriander and more salt. Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thanks for sharing with us, Sophia! I am so happy you liked it!
Angie
Hi, We love this recipe and make it often at home. Going on a camping trip next week. Would like to make this but will not have an Instant Pot or Crock Pot. Could we make in stock pot and if so how long would you suggest simmering?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Angie! Yes, you can make it in a stock pot. You might need more liquid since it will evaporate more that way. The minimum cook time would probably be 30 minutes, but you can taste and simmer for longer, even if a couple hours if you’d like.
Brillana
Used ALL the ingredients and added 2 jalapeños because I love the heat, but this wasn’t spicy at all, and it tasted a little bland, so next time I’m going to add 1 cup of chili powder, maybe some cayenne pepper, and 2 more jalapeños. Hopefully that not only spices things up, but also adds a little more flavor.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you for the feedback, Brillana. Spice is a little difficult to get right to please everyone, and I tried to find a balance. You can definitely feel free to adjust it for more heat!
Kay
Instead of that, try adding 2 fresh chile arbol (unseeded), 2 rehydrated + minced guajillo chiles, 1 unbroken habanero, half a can of chipotle in adobo sauce and 2 minced serranos, only one seeded.
If you’re okay with a few more carbs/serving, also add 2 anaheims.
Willow
Add a package of chopped spinach to alkalize this high acid dish 😉
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Spinach is a wonderful addition, Willow!
Shannon Dahr
The first time I made this i was skeptical, but both my husband and I LOVED it. It’s now a regular dish on our table each week!
Thanks You so much for this recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you and your husband liked the chili, Shannon!
Lisa C
WOW!!! I’m so happy to have found this!!! Thank You!! We used venison because we had it, it turned out great!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked it, Lisa! Thanks for stopping by!
Tammie
My husband and I are eating Keto, so I needed to find a recipe that had no beans. This is DELICIOUS! I made this a week ago, and my husband wanted it again. We put a little sour cream and cheese on it before eating, and it is the bomb. I used a little less chili powder, and chilies, since I don’t like things too spicy, but followed the recipe otherwise. It makes for great leftovers too. This is now my go to chili recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Tammie! I am so happy you enjoyed the chili!
EMILY BISHOP
I struggle finding anything my hubby likes to eat that I make. He’d rather go out to eat. He ate all this and NEVER eats leftovers… he wants it tomorrow for chili dogs 🙂 So happy! Thank you for sharing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy your husband liked it, Emily! Thanks for stopping by!
Alicia
This is my new chili go to recipe!!! It’s excellent!! Thank you so much for this!! I made it exactly as above and wouldn’t change a thing. Perfect!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked it, Alicia!
Eric Gunia
This recipe is AMAZING! My mother, who loves making chili, actually threw out her handed down chili recipe after I made this for my parents. My Dad loves it 😛 I’m actually not on a keto diet, so I add red beans to mine. *IMPORTANT* USE GLASS TUPPERWARE TO STORE THIS CHILI, or disposable freezer bags like the author suggests. The amount of seasoning in this will stain regular tupperware orange, guaranteed.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you and your mother liked the chili, Eric! Thanks for stopping by!
Josh
I plan on trying this recipe soon, however some of my family hate spicy foods due to heartburn. How spicy is this made as directed? Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Josh, It’s somewhat spicy but not extremely. My 3 year old daughter eats it with sour cream and cheese. You can reduce or omit the black pepper if you prefer to make it less spicy, but I don’t recommend changing any other ingredients. Please let me know how it goes if you make it!
Lacey Green
I am fairly new to the keto diet having just started it a few weeks ago and I’ve been craving chili and found your recipe. Am I ever glad I did! I don’t miss the beans at all and this will definitely be my go-to chili recipe! Even my son and grandsons liked it. The house smells delicious and I will definitely be making this again and again! Thank you so much for posting 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Lacey! I’m so glad your family liked it, too.
Shannon Dahr
Made this tonight for the first time and it will now be a regular meal in our house. We were missing chili and now we don’t have to any more. Thanks so much!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Awesome – thank you, Shannon!
Marc Lajoie
Wow! I just cooked this keto chili and I’m impressed. I didn’t have to add spicy touch in it. Everything was perfect! I’ll keep your receipe and will cooked some chili periodically. And by the way, it was so simple to do, my teenagers could do it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Marc! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Kathy
I love this chili recipe and make it often; I do add about 1-2 Tbs of cacao powder, which adds a nice, rich chocolate flavor, minimizing the “sting” of the heat. My husband loves it!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Great idea, Kathy! Thanks for stopping by!
Mike C.
Kathy, thank you for recommending this. Based on your suggestion, I added 2 tbsp cocoa powder after cooking and it helped thicken up the chili and deepen the flavor. (Plus, cocoa is a great source of antioxidants.) This is a great recipe, but I do recommend draining the meat before adding it to the slow cooker to cut down on the grease, especially if you use a high-fat 85/15 ground beef.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thanks for the tip, Mike! Thanks for stopping by!
Jorge
Great looking recipe. I want to make this with ground turkey to make it a little healthier, any recommended changes you would make?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jorge! Yes, you can easily substitute ground turkey in this chili. Thanks for stopping by!
Esther Mack
Hi, I currently have this in the Crockpot for a Galentine’s dinner tonight! It’s tasty! However, it is a bit greasy (I used a higher fat content on meat – 77, 23) I believe. What would you recommend for making it less greasy and/or thickening up?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Esther, I usually make it with 85/15 beef so haven’t had that issue, but if you want to use a higher fat meat, you might want to drain it after browning, before mixing with the other ingredients. Unfortunately it’s too late for that but hope you still liked it!
Confused Wife
How is this Keto if it has 5 grams of sugar? I thought Keto diets removed all sugars? Is there another way to make it without?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi there, There is no added sugar in this recipe. Almost all fruits and vegetables have small amounts of sugar. In this case, the sugar is coming from the tomatoes, onions, garlic and green chiles. Since these ingredients make up the basic flavor of chili, they are required for the recipe. But, skipping the onion would probably have the least impact on the end result. At 10g net carbs per serving, this chili is on the higher side of carbs for a keto meal, but you can still fit it into a keto diet depending on what else you have that day. Most people stay between 20 and 30 net carbs per day for a keto diet, some can get away with a little higher and stay in ketosis.
Elizabeth
Absolutely amazing!! I thought 1 cup isn’t enough for me but man oh man it was so filling that I had to stop. My husband enjoyed it and I’m about to freeze some for another day.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Elizabeth!
Michelle
Just made this and it is beyond amazing! I didn’t miss the beans at all! It was a tad too salty for me so next time I would eliminate the 2 tsp of sea salt. I did add the Bay leaf. This chili is so filling. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Michelle!
Karen
Great Chilli get feed it to my partner. Great for the freezing for those days I have to work.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Karen!
Shelly
I followed the Instant Pot directions exactly as written and got the burn warning on my pot twice. I had to stop, add more liquid and try again. The second time it was enough to cook the chili with out the error. I’ll add extra liquid from the start next time.
So despite having two cups of bone broth in mine, it was good. It was a bit too rich For me but my hubby liked it. I topped mine with avocado to cut the richness a bit.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Shelly, Thank you for the feedback! I’m glad you liked it. I tested the recipe again with the Instant Pot and added to the instructions to add a cup of water or broth.
Diane Carter
This was very good, however, it was way to thick and meaty for us. But I fixed that by adding chopped cauliflower to it for the last 10 minutes or so of cooking in the slow cooker. Also each time I took out a portion to reheat I added more bone broth to it to make it a little more of a “juicy” consistency. Overall probably one of the easiest chili recipes I have tried.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Diane! That sound perfect if you want it less thick!
Richard
Tastes great with ground turkey as well!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Sounds delicious!
Jan Oldenburg
I added green pepper and grated carrots for texture and used ground turkey rather than ground beef. Still very good!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Jan! Sounds delicious!
Stephanie
Thank you so much! Very good keto recipe! My husband devoured the whole thing after work. I made it again but without cumin and Worcestershire sauce and substituted with wine and red pepper flakes and still very good!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Stephanie!
Jenn
Made this last night and it was fantastic! Great recipe!
Just curious, though — the recipe calls for a 1/4 cup of chili powder? I used 2 tsp instead, and it still turned very spicy. I’m not complaining; I love heat. But I can’t imagine using a quarter cup of chili powder. Was that a typo?
Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Jenn! It’s 1/4 cup chili powder. Some of the spiciness comes from the black pepper, too. The chili powder provides flavor as much as it does spice, and I haven’t had others say it’s too spicy. But as you found, you can use less if you want to!
Michelle
I did use 1/4 cup and it was fine. A little spicy but delicious. I’m not usually a spicy person either but it definitely was not too much spice.
Bobby
I couldn’t get it to stop “burning”. Not sure what went wrong.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Bobby, I’m not sure what you mean by that – do you mean it was burnt or that it was too spicy?
Lisa
I know this post is old, but I had the same “burning” problem when I was trying to get it up to pressure in my instant pot. Basically, it burned on the bottom and would not come up to temp. After two attempts I just switched it to slow cook for two hours. Hopefully, it will still taste ok.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Lisa, Thank you for the feedback! I have since updated the Instant Pot instructions for the recipe to add a bit more liquid, which should avoid this issue. Hope you liked the chili otherwise!
Darlene
This was FANTASTIC! I used ground turkey and the instant pot method! Served with creme fraiche and chopped cilantro. Keto friendly and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Darlene!
Amy
Made this chili for the first time, the pot was empty now I’m making a 2nd crockpot. It was very simple and delicious, some said it was the best they had ever eaten.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Amy! I’m glad it was a hit!
Wendy
Such a great recipe. The entire family loved it. Thanks for sharing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Wendy! I’m glad your family loved it!
Heidi
Try adding celery in place of the beans. It adds a chunky bit of texture to it that replaces what you miss with the beans. Looking forward to trying this!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Heidi! That’s a great idea!
Mike Kanney
Amazing recipe! I am notorious for not following directions so I was determined to get it right, everything went according to plan but then realized it was 2.5 lbs. So I used 1.5 lbs of ground turkey and 1lb of a meatless ground soy product. I know my Crockpot tends to cook fast so I prepared at 7 and used the warm setting. When I got home at 4 it was done and super amazing.
.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Mike! I’m glad it worked out for you!
Cyndee
I made this today as my virgin meal in my brand new Instant Pot just now! It is amazing! I followed the recipe exactly. Just the right amount of kick. Next time I may add beef stew meat too!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Cyndee!
Jamie
I made this in the slow cooker, added another can of diced tomatoes and water due to it being so thick. My son has always hated chili but this time he smelled me making it and couldn’t wait to try it. It was very good. I will definitely make it again!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Jamie! I’m glad you both liked it!
Melissa
Used ground turkey instead of beef, it’s fabulous! Great recipe!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Melissa!
Stefani
Are you supposed to leave the ground beef juices in or drain it?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Stefani, It’s up to you, but for me the juices usually soak back in once the beef has cooked enough to brown. I typically use 85/15 ground beef and don’t drain it.
Leslie
Wow! Followed the recipe almost exactly- used hot chili’s and added a roasted jalapeño. Absolutely the best recipe I have ever made off Pinterest. Thank you!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Leslie! I’m glad you loved it!
Devlin
Went to the store to get ground beef for this recipe but found chuck roast for less than hamburger! Bought that and ground it up instead. Other than that (and adding a handful of chopped cilantro) I followed this recipe and the Instapot instructions as written. It turned out fantastic! My wife and son both said it was the best chili they have ever had. Thank you so much for this!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Devlin! I’m glad you all enjoyed it!
Alex
Just made this but put jalepenos in it rather than chiles. Smells great!
What’s the upside to the slow release by the way? Does it make a big difference?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Alex! Natural release reduces the temperature more gradually, resulting in more tender meat and better texture. This is less critical for chili, though, compared to some other recipes.
Allen
I assume that, since you didn’t say to change it, that the saute mode should be kept on normal. Also, are there any changes necessary when using 3 pounds of beef? And can the Worcestershire sauce be omitted?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Allen, Yes, the saute mode is normal. Three pounds of beef is only a little more than the recipe as written, so even though I haven’t tried that, I think the timing would be about the same. You could omit the Worcestershire sauce but it would affect the flavor. You can also use coconut aminos instead if you prefer.
Chelsea
Made this last night to have for lunches this week. It tasted awesome! I’m excited to see how the flavors have developed overnight. I only did 2 lbs of beef and added about a half of a tomato can of water and I enjoyed the consistency that it was. I also added 2 fresh jalapenos. The instant pot makes it tastes like it has been simmering all day and it has such a nice, deep, rich red color to it. Can’t wait to eat more!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Chelsea! I’m glad you liked the chili.
Evangelina
Testing out your recipe right now in my Instant Pot!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Evangelina, Sorry I missed your comment until now! I hope you enjoyed the chili!
KimH
Wow!!! I made this tonight in my Instant Pot and it was beyond awesome. Best chili I’ve had in years!!! Bravissimo!!! I used a jar of Hatch Green Chilis that I canned a couple years ago, about 6oz, and it was quite warm but not too much. Best flavor ever. Thanks and blessings.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Kim! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Lori Adelson
So you don’t add any water or liquid at all?
Lori Adelson
Nevermind:) I just noticed what you stated just below the “Nutrition Facts”. Thanks for the recipe:)
Omar
Great chili! Thanks!