Slow Cooker Chili

Slow Cooker Chili

by | Apr 8, 2022 | Food and Nutrition, Recipes

Slow cooker meals are ideal for those busy weeknights! With a little prep work, you can have dinner ready with minimal effort. It’s easy to have everything ready to toss in the crockpot, turn it on, and come home after work to an already made dinner, which is why this Slow Cooker Chili is sure to be your new recipe BFF.

While this dish is a good source of protein, it also has a high lycopene content from the canned tomato sauce. Since canned tomatoes are a critical part of any chili dish, it’s important to not skip this ingredient. It makes the chili juicy, adds more flavor, and contributes a boost of nutrient-rich value, as they contain vitamins C, vitamin E, fiber, and potassium. They also contain lycopene, which is a plant compound (carotenoid) that gives tomatoes their vibrant red color and when it’s cooked into meals, the nutritional value is increased. In this recipe, a healthy fat (olive oil) is mixed into the pot, which increases the nutritional value of the dish because studies have shown that consuming tomato products with a healthy fat enables you to achieve maximum health benefits. When you increase the amount of tomatoes in your diet, you are also reducing your risk of certain diseases and cancers due to the positive correlation between lycopene and health benefits. In addition to its numerous health benefits, canned tomato products are easily accessible and affordable for the general public. They have a long shelf life, which enables you to stock up your pantry and reduce your grocery store runs—especially when time is of the essence. 

So, the next time you are looking for an easy dinner idea, start up the slow cooker and make some chili. Not only will it make your life easier, your house will smell amazing when you open the front door!

Slow Cooker Chili

Slow Cooker Chili

Slow cooker meals are ideal for those busy weeknights! With a little prep work, you can have dinner ready with minimal effort. It’s easy to have everything ready to toss in the crockpot, turn it on, and come home after work to an already made dinner, which is why this Slow Cooker Chili is sure to be your new recipe BFF.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 lbs. ground beef
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 3 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • ½ Tbsp. chili powder
  • 2 ½ tsp. ground cumin
  • 2 tsp. paprika
  • 2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp. granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp. ground coriander
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 (15 oz.) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 oz.) can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
  • Jalapeno slices, for serving
  • Sour cream, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic into the pan and saute until the onions turn translucent. Transfer the mixture into a crockpot.
  2. Heat the same skillet over medium high heat and add in the beef. Cook and crumble the beef until fully cooked. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan then transfer it into the crock pot.
  3. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, paprika, cocoa powder, dugar, coriander, and salt and pepper to taste into the crock pot. Mix until combined then cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours. 
  4. Mix the dark and light red kidney beans into the chili and cook for 2 minutes. Serve chile with shredded cheddar cheese and enjoy!
© Tomato Wellness
For other chili recipes, check out some of our favorites:

California Walnut Firehouse Chili
Wrangler’s Beef Chili
Chipotle Pumpkin Black Bean Chili

 

20+ of the BEST canned tomato recipes

20+ of the BEST canned tomato recipes

by | Mar 15, 2022 | Food and Nutrition, Recipes

Turn a can of tomatoes into a flavorful dish with these canned tomato recipes from registered dietitians.

Get ready to celebrate a world of flavors with canned tomatoes! We are celebrating National Nutrition Month all month long, and this year’s theme is all about how you can appreciate flavors from cultures around the world. This is a tasty way to nourish ourselves and appreciate our diversity, as we are all unique with different bodies, goals, backgrounds and tastes! That’s why we asked some of our registered dietitian friends to share their best canned tomato recipes, as these nutrition professionals are the top in their class for providing healthful and delicious food that also celebrates culture.

We love using canned (and jarred tomatoes) as they provide a plethora of antioxidants (such as lycopene) that play an integral role in the reduction of certain types of diseases and cancers. In fact, numerous studies have linked lycopene consumption with prostate cancer protection. While lycopene is present in other fruits such as watermelon and pink grapefruit, tomatoes (which are the second most consumed vegetable second to potatoes in the U.S.), account for more than 85% of the lycopene in the American diet. Interestingly, cooked tomato products may hold particular significance, as the lycopene from cooked and processed tomatoes is more bioavailable than that of fresh tomatoes. Heating or processing breaks down the tomato cell matrix and promotes isomerization of lycopene from all-trans isomers to the more bioavailable form of cis-isomers. Research shows that single daily servings of processed tomato products produce significant increases of lycopene concentrations in blood and buccal mucosal cells in healthy adults.

So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to see how canned tomatoes can help you uncover a world of flavor with these recipes inspired by global cuisine. 

20+ of the BEST canned tomato recipes for National Nutrition Month

Photo Credit: Melissa Altman-Traub, RDN

Easy Spicy Lentil Chili 

This lentil chili is easy to make and packed with flavor. It’s hearty and filling with fiber from lentils, pinto beans, and veggies.

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Best Vegan Tikka Masala Recipe

Want to learn how do you make the best tikka masala sauce from scratch? Look no further! This vegan tikka masala recipe is loaded with plant-based ingredients and the perfect easy and healthy ethnic recipe to feed a crowd.

Photo Credit: Laura Yautz, RDN

Low Sodium Mushroom Chili

Do you love mushrooms? Then this is just the warming bowl of chili you’ll want to eat all winter long! Mushroom chili is heart healthy, high protein, vegan, and works for all your guests’ dietary needs. So delicious, too! Make a big pot of this meal prep friendly, low sodium chili today!

Photo Credit: Kristi Ruth, RDN

Kid-friendly lasagna

This is the best lasagna for kids! It's made with plenty of sauce, with cottage cheese instead of ricotta, and the spinach blends right in. Even kids who prefer not to eat anything 'green', will likely make an exception when they see this!

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Homemade Pizza Marinara Sauce

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Almost Perfect Tomato Achar

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Instant Pot Chicken Vindaloo

This recipe is all about insanely delicious Instant Pot Chicken Vindaloo made with chicken thighs and toasted spices. All the warm, smokey spices combine to create a silky smooth sauce packed full of flavor.

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Pressure Cooker Minestrone Soup

Vegetarian Pressure Cooker Minestrone Soup is a healthy recipe full of fiber, flavor and other good-for-you nutrition! Cozy up and enjoy a warm bowl on a chilly day.

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Croatian Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is a Croatian tradition. My Grandma made this sauerkraut recipe at almost every family event we had.

Photo Credit: Jodi Danen, RDN

No-Boil Lasagna

The BEST no-boil lasanga recipe around. Made with tons of cheese, beef & sausage, plenty of tomatoes, and ricotta cheese all baked to perfection. Gluten-free instructions included.

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Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

A blend of Sweet Italian Sausage and ground beef with a hearty dose of vegetables makes this hearty dish a perfect, slightly indulgent winter meal.

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Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce

Step away from the jarred spaghetti sauces! Once you try this super-simple, 3-ingredient pasta sauce, you’ll use it on everything.

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Vegan White Bean and Tomato Skillet

This vegan white bean skillet recipe is one we make every week. With a combination of white beans, tomatoes, veggies and pizza spices, it’s earned its recognized name as Pizza Beans!

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One Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac

Vegetarian chili mac is a classic comfort food recipe that's made in one pot in just 30 minutes. This recipe is great for weeknight dinners and is super easy to make!

Photo Credit: Christie Gagnon, RDN

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers--Italian Style

These vegetarian stuffed peppers are absolutely amazing and just may become one of your favorite meals to make! Colorful bell peppers stuffed with zucchini, onion, garlic, farro, beans, tomato, spices, and melted cheese, it's a meal that the whole family will love!

Photo Credit: Rebecca Clyde, RDN

One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Make this 20 minute, pantry ingredient, one pot chicken parmesan pasta with crispy breadcrumbs instead of the traditional crispy, cheesy chicken parmesan. It's quicker, easier, and just as flavorful and cheesy.

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One Pot Baked Greek Chicken Stew

One-pot Baked Greek Chicken Stew is bursting with flavor. Olives, tomatoes, capers, garlic, and beans make this easy chicken casserole one of my favorites!

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Vegan Eggplant Meatballs with Tempeh in Tomato Sauce

Dinner's served with these plant-based eggplant meatballs. They taste so good that your family won't even miss the meat!

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Beef & Quinoa Healthy Chili 

This Beef & Quinoa chili makes a delicious and healthy one pot meal that can be made in less than 30 minutes. A perfect dinner recipe for busy weeknights!

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Instant Pot Chicken Stew

This Instant Pot Chicken Stew will be a cool-weather staple. It’s packed with hearty vegetables, beans and lean protein making it a simple well-rounded meal.

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Easy Shakshuka with Harissa

A traditional Middle Eastern dish with a North African twist, this easy shakshuka with harissa (eggs baked in a spicy tomato stew) is a delicious savory dish to put on your Sunday brunch menu!

Photo Credit: Kitty Broihier, RDN

Spicy Fish Stew with Potatoes and Fennel

This fresh and tasty Spicy Fish Stew with Potatoes and Fennel is inspired by the classic Italian saute of fennel, garlic and crushed red pepper. Perfect year-round, I especially like it in the spring when the nights are still chilly but I’m craving lighter dishes.

Photo Credit: Bracha Kopstick, RDN

Chunky Tomato Cabbage Soup

Chunky tomato cabbage soup is the ultimate cozy comfort food. And this one is so simple to make, you’ll be enjoying it in no time! Cook up a batch and enjoy the leftovers for days. Or pop it in the freezer for some busy time.

For other delicious tomato-based recipes, check out some of our favorites:

Walnut and Mushroom Ragu
Sausage Tortellini Soup
Huevos Rancheros
Greek Style Braised Eggplant

California Walnut Firehouse Chili

California Walnut Firehouse Chili

by | Aug 24, 2021 | Media Recipe

Are you looking for a new recipe to switch things up? This California Walnut Firehouse Chili recipe is a definite winner. With only 30 minutes of cook time, this recipe may become your go-to weeknight dinner! This isn’t your average chili. The secret ingredient here is California Walnuts! The walnuts will give a great crunch on top as well as a boost of healthy fats. All you need to do is sauté your vegetables, season, add the canned tomatoes, walnuts, and beans and simmer! The dish can then be topped with hot sauce and fresh cilantro for an extra burst of flavor. The best thing about this dish is that you can add any other veggies that you like or are in season!

The base of the sauce for this chili dish is canned tomatoes. Adding tomatoes is a great way to not only add flavor to this dish, but to add tons of nutrition as well. Although fresh tomatoes could be used in this recipe, canned tomato sauce will cook more quickly and is more nutritious! Canned tomatoes are picked when they are perfectly ripe and then cooked before being canned. Cooking tomatoes makes them even more nutritious because it allows the lycopene to be absorbed better in the body.

The next time you are at the grocery store, pick up some canned tomatoes to use in your recipes! They are an affordable and sustainable option that is great for health. When shopping for canned tomatoes at the grocery store, be sure to choose cans that are free of any dents, cracks, or any kind of deformities.

Get the full recipe for California Walnut Firehouse Chili by visiting our friends at California Walnuts.

Wrangler’s Beef Chili

Wrangler’s Beef Chili

by | Jul 1, 2021 | Food and Nutrition, Media Recipe

Regardless of the season, everyone is searching for new recipes that can be enjoyed and shared with friends and family. That’s why you should definitely check out this recipe for Wrangler’s Beef Chili! Whether it’s cooked in a slow cooker, stove top, or crockpot, you can never go wrong with a flavor-packed chili dish. This recipe calls for ground beef, veggies, tomato sauce, and macaroni. All of these ingredients provide specific nutrients that make this meal not only full of flavor, but also a secretly healthy comfort meal. For additional flavor, you can top this chili dish off with some crushed baked tortilla chips, green or regular onions, tomato, bell pepper, fresh cilantro, reduced-fat shredded Cheddar cheese, and non-fat Greek yogurt. This dish can be mixed in with baked potato halves or whole wheat macaroni if you are looking for some substitutions. Another interesting component of this recipe is that you can style it two ways: Cincinnati or Moroccan style, by adding alternative seasonings and grains that are specific to this dish.

While this dish is a good source of protein, it also has a high lycopene content from the canned tomato sauce. Since canned tomatoes are a critical part of any chili dish, it’s important to not skip this ingredient. It makes the chili juicy, adds more flavor, and contributes a boost of nutrient-rich value, as they contain vitamins C, vitamin E, fiber, and potassium. The ability of canned tomatoes to absorb more nutrients within the body allow them to contain cancer-fighting properties. Canned tomatoes are easy to find at any local grocery store and are cost-efficient, making them easily available and accessible to the general public. So if you’re trying to stock up on low-calorie, nutrient-rich canned items, then canned tomatoes will be your new best friend!

Get the full recipe for Wrangler’s Beef Chili by visiting our friends at the National Beef Council.

Chipotle Pumpkin Black Bean Chili

Chipotle Pumpkin Black Bean Chili

by | Sep 20, 2020 | Recipes

Looking for a vegetarian dish that is both healthy and delicious? Look no further because this Chipotle Pumpkin Black Bean Chili is a sweet and savory dish that is a must-try! The thickness of this chili mixed with numerous seasonings will make it seem like a “comfort food” when in reality it’s actually full of nutrients, making it a healthy, nutritious meal. This recipe calls for not one, but TWO tomato-based products—canned diced tomatoes and tomato paste—providing you with double the nutrition content associated with tomatoes. Once you saute the vegetables, add the tomato products, protein of choice, seasonings, and garnish with green onions, you will have yourself a heart-warming dish in no time!

What’s so special about canned tomato products? They contain lycopene, which is a plant compound (carotenoid) that gives tomatoes their vibrant red color and when it’s cooked into meals, the nutritional value is increased. In this recipe, a healthy fat (olive oil) is mixed into the pot, which increases the nutritional value of the dish because studies have shown that consuming tomato products with a healthy fat enables you to achieve maximum health benefits. When you increase the amount of tomatoes in your diet, you are also reducing your risk of certain diseases and cancers due to the positive correlation between lycopene and health benefits. In addition to its numerous health benefits, canned tomato products are easily accessible and affordable for the general public. They have a long shelf life, which enables you to stock up your pantry and reduce your grocery store runs—especially when time is of the essence. So make sure to grab some canned tomato products on your next trip to the market and create a delicious meal that your whole family is guaranteed to enjoy!

Get the full recipe for Chipotle Pumpkin Black Bean Chili by visiting our friends at Produce for Better Health.

For other delicious recipes, check out some of our favorites:

Pan Seared Pork Chops with Bourbon Peach Compote
Easy Chicken Curry
Chipotle Tomato Rice Power Bowl