Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

According to my husband, this is the best chili he's ever eaten! That's a pretty strong testimony speaking to how awesome this recipe is, don't you think? After all, he did grow up in the land of soup, stew, and chili (aka Minnesota), so he has a lot of basis for comparison. ;)

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
Yield: 4-6 main dish servings

Ingredients
1 cup lentils, raw
15 oz can chili with beans
15 oz can white beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
8 oz can tomato sauce
15 oz can vegetable broth (about 2 cups)
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions
1. Add all ingredients to slow cooker and stir until well combined.
2. Cook on high 4-5 hours or low 8-10 hours. (If possible, uncover and stir every few hours throughout cooking time.)
3. Top individual servings with shredded cheese and/or sour cream.

Recipe adapted from Super Healthy Kids.

Lentil Chili

Incorporating meatless meals into your week is a great way to keep costs down when switching to a gluten free diet. I recently discovered a love for lentils and while this recipe piqued my interest, I realized I had no patience for standing by the stove to make it when the weather has finally gotten nice here in South Dakota. (Read: I wanted to be outside!) So I decided to just dump all the ingredients into my crock pot and hope for the best. Result? SUCCESS!

Lentil Chili
Crock Pot Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 cups gluten free lentils
• 2 (32 oz) cartons vegetable stock
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes with liquid
• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste

Directions

1. Sauté onion and pepper in olive oil over medium heat until tender.
2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker; stir well.
3. Cook on low 8-10 hours.
4. Stir well before serving.

Serving Suggestion

• Top individual servings with shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, black olives, green onion, etc.
• Scoop with tortilla chips.

Recipe adapted from Little Broken.

Chili Con Carne

Cooler weather outside means it's time to warm up with some hot chili inside!

Chili Con Carne
Crock Pot Recipe

Ingredients
2 lbs ground beef
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium onions, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup water
3 beef bouillon cubes (I use Herb Ox brand)
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
2 (16 oz) cans diced tomatoes with liquid
1 (15.5 oz) can kidney beans, undrained

Directions
1. Brown ground beef in large skillet. Stir frequently to break up clumps. When no longer pink, spoon meat into slow cooker and reserve drippings.
2. In skillet drippings, sauté garlic, onions, and green peppers over low heat until onions are tender. Spoon veggies into slow cooker.
3. Add rest of ingredients to slow cooker. Stir together until well mixed.
4. Cover. Cook on low 2+ hours.
5. Stir well to combine before serving.

Serving Suggestion:
* Top individual servings with shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, sliced green onions, sliced black olives, etc.
* Scoop with tortilla chips.

Recipe adapted from "Chili Con Carne Supreme" found on page 53 of Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook: 600 Slow Cooker Holiday Recipes by Phyllis Pellman Good.