This Sausage Chili Recipe is super hearty and packed with flavor! We like a combo of sweet and spicy sausage, lots of beans and bold spices. Top it off with a dollop of sour cream and scoop it up with tortilla chips.
Why We Love This Sausage Chili Recipe
We love chili of all kinds, especially a hearty recipe like this Chicken Sausage Chili. It’s got all the flavors you’re looking for in a chili recipe, and everything you need in a meal all in one bowl.
- Easy To Make: We often make this recipe in our slow cooker, but you can do it on the stove top as well. Just a few minutes of prep and you can walk away.
- Unique Flavors: Most chili is made with ground beef or cubed beef, so this chicken sausage version is always the one that gets talked about. You can also use Italian Sausage instead of chicken sausage.
- Perfect For Parties: Because you can make this in your slow cooker, you can keep it warm for serving on game days and holidays.
How To Make
We have a couple of process photos for you here to show you how this sausage chili looks when it’s in your slow cooker. For complete instructions, head to the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Cook the sausage and onion first: We like to cook and crumble the sausage before adding it to the slow cooker. Just about 5 minutes, together with diced onion and garlic is all you need.
- Add beans and seasonings: Transfer the cooked sausage to your slow cooker and then add white beans and black beans. Season with cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, hot sauce, tomato sauce and drained diced tomatoes.
- Cook: Cook the chili on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The chili is really “cooked” once you add it to the slow cooker, the cooking time is about blending and deepening the flavors.
What Toppings Go Best With This Chili?
You know that dinner is going to seem like a party when you get a big pot of this sausage chili on the table. We like to eat this chili topped with cheese, sour cream, avocados, cilantro, scallions and jalapeños. Setting out a toppings bar is a fun idea for parties!
Of course there is no chili served at our house without tortilla chips for scooping it up. Spoons are optional.
Can I Make This Chili Recipe On The Stove Too?
Yes, you can also make this chili on the stove if you’re looking for a faster meal. Start with a dutch oven or soup pot, then add the chicken sausage, onions and garlic. Drain any drippings from the pot and then add the rest of the chili ingredients.
Stir and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. You can also cook the chili longer, just keep it on the lowest burner setting until dinner time. Just make sure that you’re stirring the chili often so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Looking For More Chili Recipes?
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Sausage Chili Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
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Pin RecipeThis Sausage Chili Recipe is packed with flavor! We like a combo of sweet and spicy sausage, lots of beans and bold spices. An easy, protein packed dinner made in your slow cooker!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds sweet or spicy chicken sausage (or a combination of both, removed from casings, can also use Italian sausage)
- 1 1/2 cups diced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 (15 ounce) can white beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
Instructions
- Start by adding the oil to a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken sausage (removed from casings) and break up into crumbles while cooking. Once the sausage is broken into crumbles, add the diced onion and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes and then drain and drippings from the pan. Season the chicken with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and salt, stirring to combine. Transfer the sausage to a 7-8 quart slow cooker.
- Add the beans to the slow cooker along with the diced tomato, tomato sauce and hot sauce, stirring to combine.
- Cover and set the slow cooker on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Alternately, you can cook this chili in a pot on the stove top, see note.
Recipe Notes
Stove Top Directions: Follow the same directions for cooking the sausage, onions and garlic except do it in a dutch oven or soup pot. Drain any drippings after cooking and then add the rest of the chili ingredients. Simmer, partially covered, for 45 minutes to an hour while stirring.
Store: Store chili in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Reheat the chili on the stove or in the microwave until warmed through.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American / Tex-Mex
