Slow Cooker Aloha Chili

4.8 from 5 votes
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This Slow Cooker Aloha Chili recipe is a delicious combination of sweet heat and meaty bites of beef, beans and tomatoes. Blended together with surprising bursts of juicy, sweet pineapple, this Hawaiian-style crockpot chili is an easy one-pot meal, perfect for weeknights and potlucks!

Hungry for more easy and hearty chili recipes? Try my best ever Beef Chili or this super delicious and low carb Keto Chili!

An Easy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

I always joke that I have a love/hate relationship with my slow cooker. On the one hand, I love how easy it is for one-pot meals. On the other hand, it’s so hard to resist the amazing smells that fill the house!

This recipe for Aloha Chili definitely makes the whole family anxious for dinnertime. I keep it kid-friendly and not too spicy, but this crock pot chili recipe smells and tastes incredible! It also makes a wonderful dish to bring to potlucks. Everyone loves the combination of sweet heat with meaty bites of beef, beans and tomatoes, and the surprising bursts of juicy, sweet pineapple.

A bowl of slow cooker chili with a spoon.

What is Aloha Chili?

Known also as Hawaiian-style chili, Aloha Chili is a delicious and meaty beef chili recipe with chunks of pineapple added in. People are often pleasantly surprised by the tropical taste!

Slow cooker Aloha chili in a bowl topped with sour cream.

Recipe Ingredients

This does require a little advance prep work, simply in the form of browning the beef and chopping some ingredients. The rest is left to your slow cooker! Though if you don’t want to dirty an extra pan, you can do it all in an Instant Pot too!

Here’s everything you’ll need for homemade pineapple chili:

  • Lean Ground Beef: Or regular ground beef if you prefer, just make sure it’s high quality! You can also use ground turkey meat if you’d rather make turkey chili.
  • Crushed Tomatoes: I use canned tomatoes.
  • Kidney Beans: A couple cans, drained and rinsed.
  • Pineapple: Chopped fresh pineapple is best, but you can also use canned pineapple that’s been drained.
  • Carrots, Red Bell Pepper, and Onion: Chopped.
  • Chili Powder: You can use more or less depending on what level of spice you’re after.
  • Salt & Pepper
The ingredients for slow cooker chili.

How to Make Hawaiian Chili

I love how this Aloha chili recipe more or less cooks itself into a weeknight meal that’s bursting with flavor. Not to mention, I freeze any leftovers for easy chili, anytime! Here are the minimal steps involved in making this easy slow cooker chili.

Slow Cooker Method

Brown the Meat: Break up the beef in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until the beef is nice and browned, and drain off any excess grease.

Beef is browned in a skillet.

Assemble the Ingredients in the Slow Cooker: Combine the browned ground beef and other ingredients in the bowl of your slow cooker. Stir and then cover with the lid.

Cook: Leave the chili to cook on Low for 6-8 hours, or High for 4-6 hours. Fair warning: either way, your house will smell amazing! Serve in bowls with your favorite chili toppings.

You can also make this easy chili recipe in the pressure cooker or on the stovetop. Included below are the directions for these methods!

Instant Pot Method

Saute the Beef: In the bowl of the Instant Pot, brown the ground beef.

Add in the Ingredients: Add in the rest of the ingredients including the tomatoes, beans and pineapple. Top with water and stir.

Cook: Cook the chili on Manual, allowing the pressure to release naturally before manually venting the remaining pressure. Adjust the consistency as needed and then serve.

Chili is stirred in the bowl of an Instant Pot.

Stovetop Method

Brown the Meat: Brown the ground beef in a large Dutch oven.

Saute the Veggies: Add the carrots, pepper, and onion to cook until tender. 

Cook: Stir in the other ingredients, bring the chili to a simmer, and cook for as long as possible, at least until the veggies are soft.

Instant Pot chili served in a bowl with a spoon.

Tips for Success

  • Use Good Quality Beef: Lean Angus beef or similar for the best possible chili.
  • Adjusting the Thickness: If the chili is too thick, add water. If you find the chili is too thin, remove the lid and let it cook uncovered until it thickens a bit.
  • If You’re Worried the Beans Might Get Mushy: If you’re concerned that your canned beans will overcook, you can wait and add them towards the end instead.

My Favorite Chili Toppings

Low maintenance is the name of the game when it comes to chili toppings. I love to keep the garnishes simple and let the bold chili flavors do the talking! 

While the chili has been cooking away in the crock pot, I’ll often wrangle some cheese and sour cream out of the fridge, and maybe some tortilla chips out of the pantry. Here are some of my favorite chili topping ideas:

  • Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • Chopped or Mashed Avocado (or try Avocado Crema!)
  • Minced Onion
  • Freshly Diced Red Bell Peppers
  • Jalapeno Slices

To give your Aloha Chili an extra “Hawaiian” kick, top your chili bowl with crispy bacon pieces along with shredded cheese!

Cornbread is dipped into slow cooker chili topped with sour cream.

Make it a Meal 

When it comes to serving this Aloha Chili recipe as a meal, there are some great and easy options. 

Slow cooker Aloha chili in a bowl topped with sour cream, with cornbread in the background.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

To store leftover chili, let it cool completely and transfer it to an airtight container. Chili will keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Reheat the chili on the stovetop or in the microwave for a few minutes, until heated through.

Can I Freeze Chili?

Chili is one of the best recipes for freezing! This slow cooker version is especially awesome for make-ahead meals. Freeze your chili in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and store frozen for up to 3 months. 

Thaw the chili overnight in the fridge, and reheat in the microwave when you’re ready to serve it.

Top view of slow cooker chili topped with sour cream.

What Crockpot or Instant Pot do I need?

Brianne Recommends

SLOW COOKER: A basic 4-Quart Slow Cooker is all you need, though it will be quite full. You can also go with a larger 6-quart Slow Cooker.

INSTANT POT: The 6 quart size is large enough. The Instant Pot Duo 9-in-1 is very popular. But for even more features, you can upgrade to the Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1.

More Crockpot Recipes to Try

Slow cooker Aloha chili in a bowl topped with sour cream.
4.8 from 5 votes

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chili

Slow Cooker Aloha Chili recipe is a delicious combination of hearty beef and surprising bursts of juicy, sweet pineapple! This Hawaiian-style crockpot chili is an easy one-pot meal, perfect for weeknights and potlucks.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2-2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes 1 can
  • 31 oz kidney beans 2 cans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 1/2 cups pineapple chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups carrots chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1-2 Tablespoons chili powder or more, if desired
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Shredded cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt/sour cream, chopped avocado, minced onion, tortilla chips, etc. for serving

Instructions

Slow Cooker

  • Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain the excess grease.
  • Add the ground beef to the slow cooker, along with the crushed tomatoes, beans, pineapple, carrots, pepper, onion, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Pour the water over everything and stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours, or High for 4-6 hours. If it is too thick, add additional water, or too thin, let cook uncovered for a while.
  • Serve in bowls with desired toppings.

Instant Pot

  • Turn on the Instant Pot to the Saute function. Add the ground beef. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Press Cancel and drain the excess grease.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes, beans, pineapple, carrots, pepper, onion, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Pour the water over everything and stir to combine.
  • Cover and close the vent. Set to the Manual setting for 15 minutes. Let it come to pressure and cook, and once the cooking time is completely, allow the pressure to release naturally before manually releasing the remaining pressure.
  • If it is too thick, add additional water. If it is too thin, set to the Saute setting and let it simmer until it achieves your desired consistency.
  • Serve in bowls with desired toppings.

Notes

You can also brown the ground beef in a large Dutch oven, then add the carrots, pepper, and onion and cook for 5-6 minutes until starting to become tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients, bring to a simmer, and cook for at least 30-60 minutes (longe if you have time), until the vegetables are soft.
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chili
Amount Per Serving
Calories 393 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 58mg19%
Sodium 515mg21%
Potassium 1168mg33%
Carbohydrates 41g14%
Fiber 12g48%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 28g56%
Vitamin A 5004IU100%
Vitamin C 47mg57%
Calcium 98mg10%
Iron 7mg39%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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27 Comments
  1. This sounds great. I’ve never thought of adding pineapple to my chili before but I love spicy and sweet so I’m definitely gonna try this. For more Hawaiian flare try serving the chili over rice.

  2. Joanne T Ferguson

    G’day and Aloha indeed, true!
    Your photo is mouth-watering and could go for some right now too!
    Cheers! Joanne
    Viewed as part of Food Friends Friday Chili Party

  3. I think I’m in love with your blog. The photos are beautiful and your weeknight supper meal looks inviting. I’m going to try this with textured vegetable protein (TVP), which has the texture of beef when soaked in water. This recipe is perfect for the weekday!

  4. We are huge chili fans, but I’ve never used pineapple in it. I just happen to have a can in the pantry – I definitely need to try this out. Thanks for the idea!

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