In this study, we have characterized the roles of $Cr_2O_3$ on the sintering and electrical properties of ZnO. The densification and grain growth of Cr-doped ZnO (ZCr) system was mainly influenced by Cr contents. In the beginning of sintering, the densification of ZnO was retarded as reducing the Zni concentration in ZnO lattice with Cr doping. And the densification and grain growth of ZnO was more retarded due to a formation of spinel phase with increasing the Cr contents. ZCr system revealed varistor behavior with nonlinear coefficient $alpha$ of 3~23 depending on the sintering temperature, implying double Schottky barrier formation on the grain boundary of ZnO. Especially the best varistor characteristics should be developed with 0.1~0.5 at% Cr contents and under $1100^{circ}C$ in ZCr systems.