Description
This Slow Cooker Taco Ranch Chili is a hearty, flavorful dish combining ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and a unique blend of taco and ranch seasonings. Perfect for an easy, comforting meal, it simmers slowly to meld all the flavors together and is best served topped with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, and green onions for added texture and zest.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (11.75 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
- 1 can (16 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
- 1 packet (1 ounce) ranch dressing seasoning mix
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Toppings
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Tortilla chips or strips
- Sour cream
- Green onion, sliced
Instructions
- Cook Ground Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble the ground beef together with the diced onion until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are softened. Drain off any excess grease.
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Lightly spray the insert of a large (7-quart) slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Transfer the cooked beef and onion mixture into the slow cooker.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the chicken broth, diced tomatoes with green chilies, both cans of tomato sauce, drained and rinsed pinto and black beans, taco seasoning, ranch dressing seasoning mix, chili powder, and ground cumin into the slow cooker. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Cook the Chili: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 6 hours, or for a quicker option, cook on high heat for 3 to 4 hours. This slow cooking allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Serve: Once cooked, ladle the chili into bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese, tortilla chips or strips, sour cream, and sliced green onions as desired. Enjoy your comforting taco ranch chili!
Notes
- For a spicier chili, add extra chili powder or some diced jalapeños when adding the other ingredients.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- To make this dish vegetarian, replace the meat with additional beans and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Make sure to drain and rinse the beans to reduce sodium and improve texture.
- This chili tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop—store leftovers in the refrigerator.
- If desired, add corn kernels or bell peppers for extra vegetables and color.
