One of my favorite cold-weather meals is chili—it just seems to warm me up. Whenever we dine at Texas Roadhouse, I always order their chili with my meal. I don’t know what it is about it that I like so much, but it’s really good! For the past few weeks, I’ve been experimenting with trying to come up with a recipe that’s as good as Texas Roadhouse Chili—I like this one, and it’s made in a crockpot or a slow cooker, so it’s simple to set up before leaving for work in the morning.

My recipe for Texas Roadhouse Chili topped with onions, cheddar cheese, and sour cream. I cook it in a slow cooker or crockpot.

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Is This Similar to Texas Roadhouse Chili?

Let me start by explaining how I’ve developed my recipe. I did some searching online to see if, by chance, anyone had ever shared the actual recipe for the chili served at Texas Roadhouse. I was shocked to find a recipe shared on September 20, 2013, by Chef Marcus Bundy of Texas Roadhouse! He appeared on FOX8 WGHP, sharing recipes for Texas Roadhouse Chili (no beans) and Texas Roadhouse Bread. On a previous date, he had also shared their Steak Medallions recipe.

Of course, the shared recipes didn’t quite list everything—that would be too easy! The chili recipe lists “chili spices—to taste.” I experimented with the seasonings I use when making my chili, and after a few batches, I feel I’ve gotten the recipe pretty close in flavor. You make this chili in your slow cooker or crockpot.

Here's my version of my Texas Roadhouse Chili after cooking for 4 hours on high in the crockpot. I've topped it with shredded cheddar, onions, and sour cream.

What About the Beans?

Funny! I’ve eaten at multiple Texas Roadhouse restaurants. Some serve it with beans, and others don’t! From what I’ve read on Reddit in Top Secret Recipes, some restaurants use beans, and others don’t. People say Texas Chili does not contain beans, and then there was a big discussion about Texas Roadhouse not being from Texas! It doesn’t matter to me – I enjoy their food!

I like beans in my chili, so my recipe includes beans. However, you can leave them out if you prefer the beanless variety!

How Do I Make Texas Roadhouse Chili?

I hope you like my take on this tasty chili recipe made in a slow cooker or crockpot. If you prefer, you can also use an Instant Pot on the slow cook setting. If you’re considering an Instant Pot, you may want to read this article.

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5 from 1 vote

Texas Roadhouse Chili – Slow Cooker version

If you love Texas Roadhouse Chili, get ready to enjoy my version of this tasty dish!

Prep Time20

Cook Time8

Total Time8 20

Course: Main Course, Side Dish, Soup

Cuisine: American, Mexican, Tex-Mex

Keyword: basic butter cookie recipe, best coleslaw recipe, chili, chili recipe, crockpot, crockpot chili, slow cooker, slow cooker chili, Texas Roadhouse, Texas Roadhouse Chili

Servings: servings

Calories: 400kcal

Author: Cindy at https://savemoneyfever.com

Equipment

slow cooker

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil split in half
2 lb ground beef
1.5 cups onion chopped
3 tbsp garlic minced
1.5 tbsp chili powder dark
1.5 tbsp cumin
0.75 tbsp smoked paprika
0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
0.5 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp brown sugar packed
2 cups beef broth Progresso
2 tbsp roasted beef base Better Than Bouillon brand
14.5 oz diced tomatoes Hunts
4 oz tomato paste Contadina
16 oz tomato sauce Contadina
28 oz crushed tomatoes Contadina
29 oz red kidney beans rinsed & drained, dark, Bush's
1 tbsp red wine vinegar Progresso
2 tbsp masa harina (corn flour), Bob's Red Mill Organic

Instructions

Add half (2 tbsp) olive oil to the frying pan. Heat the pan over medium heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart. Brown and drain, approximately 5-8 minutes. Place the browned ground beef into your slow cooker.
Add the remaining (2 tbsp) olive oil to the frying pan. Add in the chopped onions and minced garlic. Cook for 5 minutes. Drain any excess oil. Place the onions and garlic into the slow cooker.
Add in the seasonings (chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and brown sugar. Stir.
Add the remaining ingredients (beef broth, roasted beef base, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, red kidney beans after rinsing/draining, red wine vinegar, and masa harina). Stir to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours. Note that cooking times can vary depending on your slow cooker.

Notes

Optional: If you like spicy chili, dice 1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, removing the seeds. Fry this with the onion and garlic, and add it to the slow cooker.

Optional: When serving, top with your favorite toppings, possibly diced red onions, shredded cheddar cheese, a slice of avocado, or sour cream.

I’m including all of the brands I’ve used so that others who use them can expect good results if they follow these suggestions.

Nutrition

Shop for the Ingredients for My Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe through Instacart

Here’s the shopping list for this recipe saved in Instacart to make shopping easier. You can have the ingredients delivered home or schedule to pick them up at the store. You’ll see multiple stores with the ingredients listed—you can decide where to purchase based on the best prices. You may be able to save $10 when you click here and place your first Instacart order.

I hope you enjoy my take on Texas Roadhouse Chili! I made it on National Chili Day, February 27th. We loved it!

If you’re in the mood for some other good slow cooker recipes, you may want to give these a try:

If you’re struggling with the high cost of groceries (who isn’t!), reading these may help:

Texas Roadhouse Chili – Slow Cooker Comfort Food You’ll Love!

Is This Similar to Texas Roadhouse Chili?

What About the Beans?

How Do I Make Texas Roadhouse Chili?