Classic Weight Watchers Chili

This Weight Watchers Chili is thick, meaty, and packed with flavor from the perfect combination of warming spices, savory beans and beef, and saucy tomato. It’s a classic cold-weather favorite made easy by using the crock pot. Prep time is just 15 minutes!

Get your ingredients into the crock pot in the morning and come home to the smells and nourishing flavors of this smokey, spicy, and protein-heavy one-pot meal. This family-favorite recipe makes 9 hearty servings coming in at 4 WW points each.

Why you should try this Classic Weight Watchers Chili recipe

This hearty and flavorful meat and bean chili will delight the palate, warm the body, and nourish the soul! It’s a balanced one-pot meal the whole family will love!

• Quick and easy: Ingredients come together in just 15 minutes or less, and the slow cooker does the rest! Prepare the night before for an even shorter story. 
• Warm and nourishing: If winter weather is lingering where you live, this dish delivers the perfect amount of warming spices in a very flavorful tomato sauce.  
• Healthy and balanced: Meat and beans come together for a good dose of protein, balanced by nutrient-dense tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions.

Ingredients in Spicy Crock Pot Chili

This Weight Watchers chili recipe is bursting with classic flavors and uses just a few simple and accessible ingredients you probably have at home already. Here’s what you need to get started:

• 1.5 lbs extra lean ground beef
• 2 cups diced peppers (I used red, green, and yellow)
• 1.5 cups diced red onion
• 1 large can (28 oz) diced tomatoes (or crushed tomatoes)
• 1 can tomato paste (5.5oz)
• 1 can baked beans (I use a 398ml can of Heinz baked beans)
• 2 Tbsp Frank’s Redhot sauce
• 1 Tbsp chili powder or red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 bay leaf

Equipment

I use a crockpot at home, but any pressure cooker or Instant Pot would work. I prefer this method because it’s just so convenient! If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can simmer this recipe on the stovetop in a skillet or dutch oven. 

Variations and substitutions

I love the classic smoky taste of this recipe as written, but you can easily adjust it to fit your dietary needs and flavor preferences. Here are some substitution ideas: 

• • Opt for another meat: You could make this as a turkey chili with ground turkey breast, or ground chicken breast would also work. 
  • Switch out the beans: I like the sweetness baked beans bring to this recipe, but canned kidney beans or black beans would also be delicious. (If using plain canned beans, add a bit of salt to the recipe.)   

• Add some vegetables: Boost the nutrition of this dish by adding extra veggies, like celery, corn, or greens. Sauté them with garlic for some extra depth of flavor. 

• Make a chili dog: Use your chili to make a chili sausage dog! I used a low-calorie hot dog bun, 1 chicken sausage, 1/3 cup chili, and a sprinkle of shredded cheese for 8 WW points. 

How to make weight watchers chili

This dish is nearly effortless, thanks to the crock pot!  Simply brown the meat, saute the vegetables, and let it simmer.  

1. Brown your ground beef in a pan on the stove, drain, and add to the crockpot.
2. Add in all your other ingredients and stir well.
3. Cook on high until bubbling then turn to low and let simmer for at least 2 hours. 

Recipe Notes

If you’re making this dish on the stove top, simply saute the meat and vegetables in olive oil, add the sauce ingredients, and let simmer on low to medium heat for 30-40 minutes or up to 2 hours with the lid on to let the flavors really come together. 

Weight Watchers points breakdown

This Weight Watchers beef and bean chili recipe makes 9 servings. As the recipe is written, the points for this spicy and savory meal are as follows:

• Extra-lean ground beef = 18 points
• Diced peppers = 0 points
• Red onion = 0 points
• Diced tomatoes = 0 points
• Tomato paste = 5 points
• Baked beans = 17 points
• Frank’s hot sauce = 0 points
• Chili powder = 0 points
• Cayenne pepper = 0 points
• Oregano = 0 points
• Ground cumin = 0 points
• Bay leaf = 0 points
• Total of 40 points / 9 servings (1 cup each) = 4 points per serving

The points in the old system are:

• Personal Points- 4pp per serving
• Smart Points– 4SP on the blue plan and green plan

Tips and Tricks for this hearty chili

• Prep in advance: Saute the meat and veggies the night before so all you have to do in the morning is throw everything in the cooker.

• Make it vegetarian: You can easily make this recipe without the meat. Just add more baked beans, or try a combination of your two favorite beans. 

• Add a garnish: Balance the heat of this dish with some fresh green onion and cilantro or top with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of shredded cheese. 

• Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-6 days. It freezes well too!

Related Recipes

Feeling inspired by this spicy one-pot chili? Mix it up with my spicy chicken chili, packed with veggies and loaded with flavor! Or, for a fun chili fusion meal, give these white chicken chili tacos a go!

If hot soup is what you’re after, you can’t go wrong with this nourishing Weight Watchers cabbage soup or this super creamy and comforting Weight Watchers baked potato soup!

3.76 from 33 votes

Weight Watchers Chili

By: Drizzle me skinny

Servings: 9

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 2 hours hrs

Total: 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Ingredients 

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• ▢ 1.5 lbs extra lean ground beef
• ▢ 2 cups diced peppers, I used red, green and yellow
• ▢ 1.5 cups diced red onion
• ▢ 1 large can, 28oz diced tomatoes
• ▢ 1 can tomato paste, 5.5oz
• ▢ 1 can baked beans, I use a 398ml can of Heinz baked beans
• ▢ 2 Tbsp franks hot sauce
• ▢ 1 Tbsp chili powder
• ▢ 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• ▢ 1 tsp dried oregano
• ▢ 1/2 tsp cumin

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

• Brown your ground beef in a pan on the stove, drain and add to crockpot.
• Add in all your other ingredients and stir well.
• Cook on high until bubbling then turn to low and let simmer for 2 hours. Makes 9- 1 cup servings at 4sp or 4pp each.
• Use your chili and make a chili sausage dog. I used a low calorie hot dog bun, 1 chicken sausage, 1/3 cup chili and a sprinkle of cheese for 7pp.
• Nutritional info (not including veggies) per 1 cup serving.. Calories 168... Fat 3.3g... Saturated fat 1g... Carbs 11.9g... Fiber 3.2g... Sugars 4.9g.. Protein 20.1g

Additional Info

Course: Main meals

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