Chili’s not usually one of those foods that’s kid-friendly. Especially since everyone’s got their own twist and heat level. It’s a crapshoot in restaurants! But this no-heat chili version is sure to please everyone at the table. Toss it in the Crockpot for a busy day, homemade dinner that will please everyone!
Kid-Friendly No Heat Chili
First, you’ll want to gather all your ingredients. We make so much of this chili, I keep all these spices on hand, some in bulk! (We’re paprika people around here.) Cumin, Cayenne (there is SO LITTLE in this recipe, feel free to omit), Oregano, Chili Powder, and Paprika make an appearance in this dish, and even for my non-tolerant of heat mouth, I do put a tsp of the cayenne in there. I leave it on the table when serving my no-heat chili so that diners can add it as they please! 
You’ll also want to gather your canned goods. Beans, tomato sauce, paste, and Worcestershire. Give that one a good squeeze! If you can’t get a 28 ounce can of chili beans, two 15 ounce cans will do just fine.
As soon as you’ve got everything together, chop your onion and throw it in the pan with a hefty serving of minced garlic. You can use the jarred stuff, like I do for a shortcut, or smash your own cloves. Brown the beef with these root veggies until it’s brown throughout.
It should look rather pale and boring when it’s cooked. You can drain your meat, or if you use lean ground beef, toss it and the juices into a lined slow cooker. This makes cleanup a breeze, and I’m never without a few of these liners in the house. Find them in the Ziploc section of your grocery store.
Next, throw everything else in. The seasonings, beans, tomato goodness, etc. Gently mix it all together with a nice southern wooden spoon and cover it with the slow cooker crock pot lid. No need to fasten it down. Just set it right on top!
Now, set the timer on your slow cooker for 5-6 hours on LOW. You want this dish to cook low and slow throughout the day. It will also make the house smell amazing!
Looking for a great option for a new slow cooker? This name brand Crock-Pot is an easy choice to cook up dinner and carry it off. Mine happens to be a cool-touch option that may be out of stock/design. It was gifted to me in about 2017 after I asked for something a bit smaller than the massive slow cooker I picked up at a discount.
In about five hours, you’ll have some of the tastiest, kid-friendly chili this side of the Mississippi! My family likes a “well-dressed” chili, meaning sour cream, Fritos, and shredded cheddar cheese are mandatory condiments on the table. A honeyed cornbread with butter also makes an appearance.
While my kids used to balk at the chili… they soon realized it was a favorite. Even my picky eater will get at least 1/2-1 cup down before I leave the cornbread out for free-feeding. It’s so tasty, and Scarlett asks for it in her lunchbox the next day! (Pro tip: Leave the fixin’s in baggies and let them dress the chili themselves at lunch).
Slow Cooker No Heat Chili Recipe
Slow Cooker No Heat Chili for Families
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds Ground Beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves chopped/minced garlic
- 15 oz. tomato sauce
- 28 oz can of chili beans
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 3/4 cup Water
- 1.5 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne (feel free to omit)
- 1 tsp Worchestershire
Instructions
- Saute the ground beef in a hot pan with chopped onions and garlic until beef is cooked through.
- Put the beef mixture into a slow cooker.
- Add the rest of the ingredients into the slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW for 5 hours. Alternatively, you can simmer on the stovetop for 2 hours.
Will you be cooking this up with your family? Leave me a comment below with your chili tweaks or how you like to serve it!
>>> how can it be Zero heat with cayenne and chili powder amongst the ingredients?
Hi! Chili powder doesn’t really have any heat, like black pepper, but you can lessen it if it’s too much for you! I’m super sensitive to heat, but this recipe is just right for me. As for the cayenne, it’s a teeny bit for my whole slow cooker, but of course, season to your liking!
This was a big hit for my 4 and 6 year old picky eaters! Thank you!
I am so glad to hear it! Cheers!