Instructions for sautéing in the crockpot:

1. Cut the bacon into chunks and cook until slightly done.  Do this in your slow cooker, if you have sauté mode.  Also, brown the sausage and beef in the slow cooker on the sauté setting.
2. Once the meat is browned, add the chopped onions and peppers and sauté the vegetables until soft, about 7 – 10 minutes.
3. Add garlic and sauté another 1 minute.
4. Now you can skip to the below instructions labeled “once meat and veggies are sautéed”.

For sautéing in the skillet first:

1. If you don’t have a crockpot which can sauté, first slightly cook the bacon chunks in a large skillet.
2.  Then add the sausage and beef and cook until browned.
3. When it has finished cooking, transfer to the slow cooker to sit until ready.
4. Then, without wiping or cleaning the meat grease or brown bits in the skillet, sauté the onions and peppers in that same skillet, and transfer to the slow cooker when they are soft.

Once meat and veggies are sautéed:

1. At this point, turn the heat on your crock pot to slow/ low cook mode.   If you have 6 – 8 hours to cook this, slow cook on low (recommended).  If you need it to cook faster in 3 – 4 hours, then slow cook on high.
2. Finally, add all of the rest of the ingredients and stir.
3. Now, cook on low for 6 – 8 hours, or on high for 3 – 4 hours.  As it cooks, taste and add salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to your preference.
4. Finally, dish into chili bowls.
5. Then, serve with desired toppings such as sour cream, cheese, green onions, tortilla chips, Fritos, extra chiles, jalapeños, etc.