This Crock Pot Chili recipe is super easy, hands-off cooking, making it a perfect option for busy people who want to come home to a warm, hearty meal.
How To Cook Great Chili Made With Beer
This hearty beer chili is a Southern classic with a unique twist. Made with rich flavors from grass-fed beef, tomatoes, classic chili seasonings, white corn, black-eyed peas, and Calamity Jane beer, it’s a comforting dish perfect for cozy nights or game-day gatherings.
- Flavor: Bold, smoky, and slightly sweet with a hint of beer undertones.
- Easy: Set it and forget it in the slow cooker.
- Time-Saving Tip: Prep all ingredients the night before for an effortless next-day meal.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve with cornbread, over hot dogs, or in a chili bar setup.
A warm, hearty bowl of beer chili is perfect for game days, cookouts, or even a Masters watch party. If you’re a golf fan, you might appreciate that the beer used in the recipe is a PGA beer and is even named after Bobby Jones’ famous putter he lovingly called Calamity Jane. While chili might not be on the menu at Augusta National, the tournament is known for its simple yet iconic food offerings. Explore the History of Masters Golf Tournament Concession Stand Food to see how classic sandwiches and snacks have become just as much a tradition as the tournament itself.
Tips Before You Get Started
Here are some quick and easy tips to ensure your beer chili turns out perfectly every time:
Allow the chili to simmer for at least 6 hours for maximum depth of flavor, which is easy to do using your crock pot.
Use fresh garlic instead of jarred for the best flavor. Also, the smaller you cut garlic, the more flavorful it becomes.
Select a beer that complements the chili, such as a crisp lager or light-bodied ale. However, For this beer chili recipe, there are no mulligans! You must use The PGA Georgia Selection, Calamity Jane beer named after Bobby Jones’s putter. This beer is a smooth-bodied, easy-drinking, crisp, light beer perfect for chili.
Ingredients You Will Need For Beer Chili
Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients. For exact measurements, check the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Please note* There are two cans of beer; one is for the chili, and the other is for you to enjoy while making this slow cooker beer chili. You’re welcome!
- Ground Beef: Use 85/15 organic grass-fed beef for a rich, flavorful base.
- Onion: White or yellow, diced finely.
- Garlic: Always opt for fresh, minced garlic over jarred or powdered for a deeper flavor.
- Beer: Calamity Jane Beer or your favorite light beer.
- Tomatoes: A mix of tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and diced tomatoes for texture.
- Brown Sugar: Balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Spices: Classic chili seasonings like cumin, oregano, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
- Vegetables: Black-eyed peas (it’s a Southern thing), pinto beans, and white shoe-peg corn for a Southern twist.
How To Make Beer Chili
Cook Meat and Add Seasonings
Brown the beef – Cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink, then drain excess fat. Add diced onions and minced garlic to the beef and cook until onions become translucent.
Then, spoon the meat mixture into the crock pot. Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.
Add Tomato Products and Veggies
Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and diced tomatoes, stirring well.
Rinse and drain pinto beans and black-eyed peas before adding them, along with the corn.
Add Beer and Cook
Pour the beer into the chili and stir well to ensure that all the ingredients are combined. Set your crockpot on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, allowing flavors to develop fully.
Tips For Serving Beer Chili
- Serve the chili in a bread bowl for a cozy and delicious meal.
- Use the chili as a topping for crock pot hot dogs or sausages.
- Pair the chili with cornbread for a comforting and hearty meal.
- Top nachos with the chili for a tasty and satisfying snack.
- Use the chili as a filling for tacos or burritos for a Tex-Mex twist.
- Spoon the chili over an air fryer baked potato for a hearty and filling dinner.
- Make a chili mac and cheese by combining the chili with macaroni and cheese.
- Incorporate the chili into a layered dip for a game day or party snack.
Host A Beer Chili Bar Party
Hosting a chili dinner party can be a fun and delicious way to gather friends and family for a hearty meal. Make your next gathering easy using these great chili dinner ideas, make-ahead tips, decor ideas, and topping recipes. By setting up a chili food bar, you create a customizable experience where guests can build their own bowls of chili with a variety of toppings and sides.
Masters Party Food Menu
Get ready for the 2025 Masters Tournament with these authentic tasting copycat recipes inspired by the historic Augusta National’s Masters golf tournament. Create a full Masters Party Food Menu with these make-at-home recipes.
Do you have a question about the recipe? Feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help!
Easy Crockpot Beer Chili: With PGA Beer
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
You can add any recipe from Intentional Hospitality to your shopping list to plan a full menu!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef, 85% lean 15% fat
- 1 cup onion , white or yellow, diced small
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 15 oz crushed tomatoes , can with their juices
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, canned
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt, more or less to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, more or less, to taste
- 15.5 oz pinto beans , can, drained and rinsed
- 15.5 oz black-eyed peas, can, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz white corn can, can, drained
- 14 oz beer , Calamaity Jane or your favorite brand
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until all the pink is gone. Tip the pan and spoon off any excess fat.1 lb. ground beef
- Stir in the diced onions and minced garlic to the cooked ground beef. Cook for 2 minutes or until the onions become translucent. When done, spoon the meat mixture into the crock pot.1 cup onion, 2 teaspoons garlic
- Add the chili powder, brown sugar, cumin, salt, pepper, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine all the seasonings with the beef mixture.2 tablespoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Pour in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes with their juices, and diced tomatoes. Stir everything together in the crock pot.6 oz tomato paste, 15 oz crushed tomatoes, 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
- Add the drained and rinsed pinto beans, black-eyed peas, and white corn to the crock pot, stirring to combine all the ingredients.15.5 oz pinto beans, 15.5 oz black-eyed peas, 15 oz white corn can
- Finally, pour in the Calamity Jane beer, or your preferred brand, and give the chili a good stir to ensure all the flavors are well combined.14 oz beer
- Place the lid on the crock pot and cook the chili on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Notes
- Refrigerator: Store cooled chili in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in portioned containers for up to 4-6 months.
- Reheating: Heat on the stovetop over medium heat, adding broth (or maybe a little more beer) if needed to loosen the texture.
- Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare ingredients by cooking the meat and vegetables, then place everything else in the crockpot liner and refrigerate overnight. Cook fresh the next day for the best results.
Equipment
