This paleo chili with blueberries is the ultimate in comfort food. This healthy no bean chili is packed with flavour and loaded with vegetables. Because this chili is made in the slow cooker, crockpot or Instant pot this chili is really easy to make. You’ll love that it’s also gluten free, dairy free and Whole30 compliant too.
Why you will love this recipe:
- This is the best paleo chili recipe!
- This Whole30 chili recipe tastes so good! The flavours in this no bean chili blend perfectly.
- It’s loaded with so many healthy ingredients making this a healthy chili recipe.
- Instead of beans this chili is made with blueberries which give a similar appearance to what beans look like in chili.
- This chili without beans is so simple and easy to make in either your slow cooker, Crockpot or Instant Pot.
- It doesn’t require any fancy or hard to find ingredients.
- It’s gluten free, dairy free and safe for paleo and Whole30 diets.
- This chili is packed with vegetables!
- It freezes really well and is perfect for meal prep.
- You can change up the ingredients to make it your own – feel free to add other vegetables such as sweet potato or other meat such as bacon.
Key ingredients and substitutions:
- Ground beef – ground beef is used to make this delicious healthy chili. I recommend using grass fed beef if you can. You could also swap the ground beef for other ground meats such as ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Blueberries – blueberries are used to make this chili without any beans. They give the similar appearance to beans and also add a unique flavour to this chili recipe.
- Tomatoes – while some chili recipes are made with no tomatoes, this is a tomato based chili and fresh tomatoes are used to give it so much flavour!
- Spices – chili powder, cumin, oregano, parsley, paprika, salt and pepper all blend beautifully to give this chili such an incredible taste.
- Cacao powder – cacao powder adds a unique flavour to chili recipes and helps enhance the flavours of the dish. Instead of cacao powder you could use cocoa powder.
How to make this recipe:
Step one:
First you are going to cook the ground beef by placing a medium pan on the stove on medium heat and adding 2 TBSP of cooking fat. Allow the fat to melt and then add the beef to the pan. Cook the beef until it is browned and no longer pink, stirring frequently to break the meat apart.
Step two:
While the beef is cooking, chop all the vegetables and add them, along with all of the other ingredients to your slow cooker or Crockpot.
Step three:
When the beef is done cooking, transfer it, along with the fat it was cooked in to the slow cooker or Crock Pot and stir the ingredients well to combine.
Step four:
Then turn the slow cooker or Crockpot onto low heat and cook the paleo chili for 8 hours. Then serve and enjoy this no bean crockpot chili! I love topping this chili with chopped cilantro and avocado.
How to make this chili in an Instant Pot:
Step one:
First, turn your Instant Pot on to the sauté function and add the cooking fat, tomatoes and ground beef to the Instant Pot and sauté until the meat is browned and the tomatoes are tender.
Step two:
Then add the chopped celery, carrots, and bell pepper and sauté for a few more minutes, until the vegetables start to become tender.
Step three:
Now add the remaining ingredients to the Instant Pot and stir them well to combine.
Step four:
Next, turn the Instant Pot to the chili function and cook for 18 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10-15 minutes or perform a quick release with the vent. Then serve and enjoy this delicious Instant pot chili no beans!
Chef’s tips and variations:
- Feel free to add other vegetables such as sweet potatoes to this beanless chili recipe.
- You could add other meat such as bacon or swap the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Instead of bone broth you can make this chili with chicken broth or beef broth.
- This chili freezes really well so feel free to make a double or triple batch and save some for later.
How to store:
Store any leftover chili in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
What goes with chili?
Chili goes well with so many side dishes. Here are a few ideas:
- Paleo cornbread! Chili and cornbread are made for each other – these Cornbread Muffins are my favorite
- A side salad
- Coleslaw
- Sweet potato fries
- Potato wedges
Frequently asked questions:
Is this a Whole30 chili recipe?
Yes! It’s also safe if you are on the GAPS or SCD diets as well. There is just one modification that needs to be made if you are on the SCD diet (see the recipe instructions).
Can you eat chili on paleo?
Yes you can eat chili on the paleo diet as long as the chili is made with paleo friendly ingredients. You can’t have beans on the paleo diet so be sure to modify any chili recipes accordingly.
What can I substitute for beans in chili?
Instead of beans you can add more meat to chili such as ground beef, ground turkey or ground pork. You could also add blueberries which will give a similar appearance to what beans look like in chili.
Other recipes you will love:
- Easy Stuffed Peppers
- Orange Ginger Chicken Stir Fry
- Three Meat Raspberry Chili
- Texas Slow Cooker Beef Chili
- Burrito Bowls
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Paleo Chili with Blueberries
This is the best paleo chili recipe! It's bursting with flavour and loaded with vegetables this chili is a meal that your whole family will love.Â
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp cooking fat of choice (coconut oil, ghee, bacon fat are all great options)
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 cups bone broth (or chicken broth or beef broth)
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 5 medium sized tomatoes, chopped
- 5 celery stalks, chopped
- 5 carrots, chopped
- 3 sweet bell peppers, chopped (I used one yellow, one orange and one red)
- 1 tbsp organic cacao powder (omit for SCD)
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp chili powder (use pure chili powder, not a mixed spice chili powder)
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
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Place a medium sized pan on the stove on medium heat and add the cooking fat and allow to melt.
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Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until browned, breaking the meat apart as it cooks.
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While the beef is cooking chop the vegetables and add all the other ingredients into your slow cooker.
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Transfer the beef to the slow cooker and mix all the ingredients well.
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Cook on low heat for 8 hours.
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Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- If you find this a little spicy simply add 1/4 - 1/2 cup of full fat coconut milk (as needed based on your tolerance).
- Optional topping ideas: Chopped avocado and cilantro.
- Store this chili in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 5 days.
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