Keto Texas-Style Chili (Slow Cooker, No Beans)

There is nothing meatier or chunkier than a big bowl of real chili. Keto Texas-style chili is loaded with flavor and none of the beans or starchy thickeners.

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This is a genuine set-it-and-forget-it recipe, once everything is in the slow cooker, it just needs time to turn tender and delicious.

Get a good, dark brown sear on the beef before it goes into the slow cooker, that step builds a lot of flavor.

Chef Jenn’s Take on Texas-Style Keto Chili

Stew meat often comes pre-cut into chunks, but they can run big. Cut them down smaller if needed, so every bite is genuinely bite-sized.

Fry the bacon first and reserve the fat. Sautee the onion and garlic in some of it, then add that to the slow cooker. Season and sear the beef in batches in the remaining bacon fat, adding oil if you run out, about 2 to 3 minutes per side, without fully cooking it through, just get a good, dark brown sear, that builds a lot of flavor. Toast the spices dry in the same skillet until fragrant, then deglaze with about half a cup of beef broth, scraping up the browned bits, and add that liquid to the slow cooker too. Once tender, thicken with a quarter teaspoon of xanthan gum, let it rest 5 minutes, then add up to another quarter teaspoon if needed.

No beans and no starchy thickeners here, genuinely keto. If you want that bean texture anyway, black soybeans or lupini beans are both relatively low-carb options. Top with sour cream, shredded cheddar, jalapeno slices, or a scoop of Creamy Jalapeno Dip instead of sour cream.

What You’ll Love About Texas-Style Keto Chili

• Tastes even better the next day, great for meal prep.
• Meaty, chunky, and loaded with flavor, no beans required.
• A genuine set-it-and-forget-it recipe, the slow cooker does the work.

Ingredients

• Stewing beef – Cut into small cubes. Cut them down further if the pieces are too large.
• Bacon – Chopped.
• Onion and garlic – Diced and chopped.
• Crushed tomatoes – Canned.
• Tomato paste – Not tomato sauce.
• Keto chili powder – Homemade is best.
• Beef broth – Low sodium.
• Xanthan gum – Optional, for thickening.

How to Make Texas-Style Keto Chili

Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.

Fry the bacon in a skillet and remove most of the fat, reserving it for browning the beef. Add the onion and garlic to the bacon and cook 3 to 4 minutes more, until the bacon is crispy and the onion is soft. Scrape into the slow cooker.

Working in batches with the reserved bacon fat, season the beef cubes and sear for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until browned but not fully cooked. Add to the slow cooker.

Toast the spices in the same skillet, stirring until fragrant. Add 1/2 cup of beef broth to the skillet to deglaze the pan. Pour into the slow cooker.

Add the crushed tomatoes, remaining beef broth, tomato paste, and any leftover pan juices to the slow cooker. Cook on high for about 4 hours, or on low for 6.

When the meat is tender, season with salt and pepper and thicken with 1/4 tsp of xanthan gum. Let rest for 5 minutes before adding up to 1/4 tsp more if desired.

Make It A Meal

I use my own Keto Chili Spice Mix for this. Top with Creamy Jalapeno Dip instead of sour cream for extra flavor.

For more chili options, White Chicken Chili is worth adding to the rotation, or try Sauerkraut and Sausage for another set-it-and-forget-it dinner.

Storage

This tastes even better the next day, so keep leftovers tightly wrapped in the fridge for another meal or two. It also freezes well, packaged in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Frequently Asked Questions