Description
Hearty slow cooker lentil taco chili merges Mexican and Southwestern flavors for a comforting one-pot meal. Protein-packed lentils and bold spices create a satisfying dish that brings warmth and excitement to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup lentils (dry, rinsed)
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 onion (diced)
- 2 bell peppers (diced)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Liquid and Aromatics:
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
Optional Toppings:
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Thoroughly rinse lentils and combine with diced tomatoes, black beans, corn, onion, garlic, and bell peppers inside the slow cooker.
- Generously sprinkle taco seasoning, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper across the ingredients for robust flavor distribution.
- Gently pour vegetable broth into the slow cooker and mix everything until well integrated.
- Secure the lid and set slow cooker to low temperature for 6-8 hours or high temperature for 3-4 hours, ensuring lentils become completely tender and ingredients meld together.
- In the final moments of cooking, squeeze fresh lime juice into the chili and stir thoroughly to enhance the overall taste profile.
- Transfer the piping hot chili into serving bowls and personalize with complementary garnishes such as shredded cheese, creamy sour cream, sliced avocado, or chopped fresh cilantro.
Notes
- Choose low-sodium vegetable broth to control salt intake and create a healthier dish.
- Rinse lentils thoroughly to remove any debris and reduce potential digestive discomfort.
- Swap dairy toppings with vegan alternatives like cashew cream or nutritional yeast for plant-based diets.
- Adjust spice levels by gradually adding taco seasoning, allowing personalized heat preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg