Slow Cooker Lentil Chili
User Reviews
4.4
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Course
Main Course, Soup
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Cuisine
Vegetarian, Vegan, gluten-free
Slow Cooker Lentil Chili
Description
The Slow Cooker Lentil Chili is a well-rounded dish featuring diced onion, garlic, jalapeño, red and yellow bell peppers, and carrots combined with rinsed brown lentils and red beans. Tomato sauce and diced tomatoes form the base, enriched with vegetable broth and seasoned with chili powder and cumin. Cooking the ingredients together in a slow cooker allows the lentils and beans to soften and the flavors to blend over a period of four to six hours on high or low, respectively.
The chili develops a thick, stew-like consistency with a balance of savory, mildly spicy, and earthy flavors from the lentils and spices. The mix of colorful vegetables adds texture and sweetness that contrasts with the warmth of the chili powder and the heat of the jalapeño.
This dish can be served on its own as a filling entrée or paired with bread or rice for a complete meal. It is practical for batch cooking and freezes well for future use. While the recipe notes suggest that some may prefer to pre-cook lentils to ensure tenderness, the slow-cooker method here has been tested without issues.
Ingredients
- 1 onion diced, medium
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 jalapeño diced, seeds removed
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper chopped
- 1 carrot peeled and diced, large
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tomato sauce 15 oz cans
- 2 diced tomatoes 15 oz cans
- 1 brown lentils 16 oz bag, rinsed
- 2 small red beans 15 oz cans, rinsed and drained
- 2-3 tablespoons chili powder we used 3 tablespoons
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker. Stir well to combine.
- 2. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or low for 6 hours. Serve warm.
- Note-we use a 6 quart slow cooker. This chili freezes well. Top with your favorite chili toppings, if desired. Some people have commented that their lentils didn't cook in the slow cooker, we haven't had this problem, but you might want to cook them before adding them into the slow cooker to be safe.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.4
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