Spicy Slow Cooker Red Lentil Chili is a hearty vegan & gluten free chili but satisfying enough for meat-eaters. It’s a healthy meal loaded with veggies & spices guaranteed to warm you up on the coldest of days!
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Is anyone else ready for spring?
I am so sick and tired of all this cold weather that we are having!! I live in the south for a reason and this February is just draggggggging on… I know we don’t have it nearly as bad as some of the country (and if you are reading this and live in one of those areas with who knows how many feet of on snow on the ground…I am truly sorry) but I am soooo ready for flip flops and sun! Our boat is calling my name 🙂 Raise your hand if you are with me!!!
I made this Spicy Slow Cooker Red Lentil Chili last week during one of our many cold snaps that we have had recently. I wanted something warming but packed with veggies and spice that I could feel good about eating multiple bowls 😉 It’s something about the cold weather that makes me hungrier that I usually am and I eat more than I usually do, so it needed to be good for me 😉
Just look at all those healthy ingredients!! Red, yellow and orange bell peppers, onion, garlic, jalapenos, carrots, tomatoes, spicy chili beans, red lentils, corn, vegetable broth, liquid smoke (for depth of flavor since we don’t have any meat) and spices all come together in a big bowl of yumminess 🙂
Don’t you love slow cookers? I certainly do!! It makes me so happy to dump all the ingredients for a recipe in the slow cooker and either 4 hours later on high or 8 hours later on low, you’ve got dinner DONE!
Let me just tell you that my Spicy Slow Cooker Red Lentil Chili just keeps getting better as it sits. The flavors come together and deepen when you enjoy the left-overs the next day! I may or may not have eaten this for lunch every day this week 😉
My Spicy Slow Cooker Red Lentil Chili was inspired by a great blog, Two Peas and Their Pod, and their recipe for Slow Cooker Lentil Chili.
Here is my recipe for Spicy Slow Cooker Red Lentil Chili:
- 1 sweet, yellow onion, chopped
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
- 5 oz. matchstick-cut carrots
- 8 oz. frozen corn
- 2 cans (15 oz.) spicy chili beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cans (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
- 16 oz. red lentils, rinsed
- ¼ cup tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tbsp. chipotle chili powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 2½ cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
- Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste.
- Either place a slow cooker liner in the bowl of the slow cooker or spray well with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add all ingredients into the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Serve hot. Top with your favorite chili toppings, if desired.
I love lentils, gorgeous looking chili!
Thanks Nettie!! I love lentils too 🙂
This red lentil chili sounds really delicious! Love the combination of lovely spices. I must invest in some of those slow cooker liners! What a fantastic idea!
Oooh I’m loving this lentil chili! It looks so jam packed and full of flavour.
Thanks Cindy! Yep, don’t think I could jam one more healthy thing in there 😉
I have lentils that need to be used. Ding, Ding, this is the winner!
This chili looks awesome! and so comforting too. I love all the lentisl in it.
Thanks Thalia! It was definitely comforting but you don’t feel bad about having seconds 😉
I love lentils and they look fabulous in this chili.
Becky, I love lentils and have never thought of making a chili out of them. I’m totally going to try your recipe!
I hope you do try it Jillian and let me know how it goes! We really enjoyed it…even the meat-lovers 😉
This looks really good. And seeing your photos, you reminded me that I need to get some more slow cooker liners. =0)
Love that this is a spicy recipe too.
Thanks Kim!! Yes, slow cooker liners are a life-saver!! Love them!!
This looks delicious and I’m so glad it has lentils too for a healthier option. This looks like a great dinner for eating better and for lots of protein. Love it!
Thanks Meagan!! I think lentils rock 😉
It’s vegan, clean eating, and looks delicious, I’m in! Pinning 🙂
This looks delicious and super healthy! Thanks for sharing!!
xo Emily
http://www.hungryadventurer.com
I am so ready for spring! But I do love my good winter soups. I love making stuff in the crock pot!
Looks delicious! I love lentil chili!
I’ve never cooked with lentils before so this would be a great way to start!
This sounds absolutely amazing! I love chili!
Ohhh. I love spicy chili! Any meal in a slow cooker has me won over, but this recipe looks amazing. I have to get to the store and get some lentils!
Beautiful dish, Becky. Look at those colors!
Definitely trying this!! Looks so healthy.
You had me at chili, this looks great and i love the twists you’ve added!
This looks so hearty! My kids’ pediatrician keeps telling me to feed them lentils for the iron content, but I just never how I should make them. This looks like they’d love it.
Thanks Stephanie! Lentils are loaded with iron and I bet your kids would love this!!
I just purchased Red Lentils at the store and did not know what to make with them. Thanks!
Awesome Krista! Glad I could help 🙂
This looks and sounds so good! I have some red lentils in the cupboard that I keep meaning to use, and now I have something to do with them! Yum! Pinning for making maybe next week!
LOL 🙂 That is exactly where the post came from! I had some in my cupboard too 🙂
This looks delicious, perfect for the cool nights!