Slow Cooker Chili
Sunday is the BIG day, SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! Are you going to a party or hosting? Either way this Super Bowl Slow Cooker Chili will win any crowd. Throw it in the crock pot/slow cooker Sunday morning, or even better, make it Saturday, then let it sit overnight to soak up all the goodness. Then, an hour before game time/the party simply warm it back up. I find chili to be even better the next day, am I right?
SLOW COOKER CHILI - For Game Day or Any Other Day!
If you know me, you know I am a veggie advocate. If you here of any job openings with that title, let me know :-) But in all seriousness, veggies are king (or queen). They are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber (less when cooked), as well as bring in another dimension of flavor to the dish. My three year old daughter even at a good helping of this chili two nights in a row. Great way to hide, I mean, get some veggies in kid and the adults.
Start the Chili by sautéing mirepoix or what I like to call it, the tri-medley, aka chopped onions, celery and carrots. I buy BULK carrots, peel them, cut in half long ways and slice them on an angle. Celery is done similarly (but no peeling of course). This can be the base of many recipes, flavor city my friends!
After you get fancy with your mirepoix, add in the garlic, and 1/2 can of the tomato paste. Let the tomato paste bring in even MORE flavor. After a minute or two plop the ground meats in. While the meat is cooking through, this is the perfect time to get the other ingredient ready. Canned tomatoes, broth (I used low sodium chicken broth), chopped red pepper, chopped poblano pepper (seeded), rinsed white beans and all the seasonings. Cook the meat through then plop into the slow cooker.
Dump the rest of the ingredients in MINUS your noodle/pasta of choice. Stir to incorporate everything then set crockpot on low for 4-7 hours, top on, walk away and feel accomplished!
I stir the chili every few hours but not a necessity. Now that the ‘hard work’ is done, let’s talk about toppings. I like to put the toppings in other bowls/serving dishes for a DIY chili bowl. Plain greek yogurt for sour cream, cilantro, green onions, FRESH shredded cheddar cheese, sliced avocado, hot sauce, diced onions, crushed tortilla chips are just a few that come to mind. You could even leave one or two cooked pasta options out and have your family and friends add in whichever they wanted. This recipe, I used red lentil penne pasta to try something different but feel free to us spaghetti, macaroni, whole wheat, white, etc etc. My DIY bowl would include: yogurt, cheese, tortillas chips and cilantro. Yummy! What’s your go-to?
If going to a party, the nice thing about a crock pot is it’s easy to move / travel with, so take advantage and let the host be in awe of the deliciousness you brought.
Oh, and don’t forget about the side of corn bread! My families chili is always complete with a side salad and corn bread, however, I usually put someone else in charge of the baking.
Enjoy a bowl of chili while rooting on the red team this weekend, which one, is up to you :-)
Make sure to tag @Fumagali_Fitplate with your game day chili!
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slow cooker chili
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