Healthy Slow Cooker Southern Lentil Chili

There is nothing that I want more during these cold winter months than a nice hot bowl of chili! This Healthy Slow Cooker Southern Lentil Chili is full of flavor and heat to warm your winter soul.

I always find myself adding new creations to my list of staples. I never would make chili by myself at home, but I felt like it was something that was a staple at my parents and in-laws house. If there was a big football game on or we went away for the weekend, there was always chili cooking in the Crock-Pot. It dawned on me that I needed my own chili recipe that I could whip up in a minutes notice.

You can make this recipe as simple or as “complicated” as you would like. All that means is if you decide to add all fresh ingredients, you may add a few minutes extra onto your prep time. Super complicated, right? 😉 If you use mostly canned items, the prep will be almost next to nothing. That’s why I make this recipe when I have a lot going on. I usually have 99% of the ingredients already in the pantry.

Not about that plant-based life? Brown one pound of ground turkey in a frying pan and add it to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low for 8-9 hours and you are golden! Don’t forget to soak the beans before putting them in the slow cooker. Not soaking them leads to under-cooked beans, which do not taste very good…

Healthy Slow Cooker Southern Lentil Chili

This healthy chili recipe is the perfect comfort food to combat the winter blues!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup dried lentils soaked overnight
• 1 cup dried black beans soaked overnight
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 2 large tomatoes diced
• 1 green pepper diced
• 1 yellow pepper diced
• 1 red onion diced
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1/2 cup corn canned
• 2 Tbs tomato paste
• 1 Tbs garlic powder
• 1/2 Tbs cumin
• 1 Tbs chili powder

Optional

• 1 lb ground turkey browned

Instructions

 

• Soak beans overnight in a bowl that is filled with water that covers the beans (about 2 inches above) 
• Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook for 8-9 hours on low. 
• Serve and enjoy! Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for 1 week. 

Optional

• If ground turkey is desired, brown in a large skillet for several minutes. 
• Add to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Cook time is the same. 

Notes

You can used canned beans, but the current cook time may be too long. Try cooking for 5-6 hours on low if using canned beans. Check after that time to see if the rest of the ingredients are done. If not, continue cooking until desired consistency has been obtained. 

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Did you make this recipe?? I would love to see how it turned out! #passportflavor for the chance to be featured on my Instagram!

All images and text ©Alexis Stambaugh for Passport Flavor™

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