Chili Remix – How to “spice it up” with Lentils

Sometimes, an old classic, needs just a little bit of a redo. How can you make Chili new? Is it the beans or the meat or even the spices? In this case, this recipe was refreshed with a simple ingredient that helped to give it not only protein, but depth of flavor and a delicious density to an otherwise sometimes soupy recipe. Keep reading how you can add Green Lentil to refresh the simplest of Chili recipes.

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Published November 7, 2022
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Cost breakdown for this recipe

Soup season is better than salad season. Just when it starts to get cold out, frosty in the morning, I love to start making soups. The cost to make this Lentil Chili is not high, especially with the amount of soup you get from it. Keep reading for the cost breakdown on how to make this Lentil Chili.

Can great northern, kidney, dark red kidney, cannellini $0.79 each
Tomato sauce $0.49 X2
1 onion $0.20
Fire roasted tomato can $1.09
1 tsp Cumin $0.09
1 Tbsp Chili Powder OR 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper $0.21
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes $0.06
Onion Powder 1 tsp $0.06
1 tsp Garlic Powder $0.05
2 pounds ground beef $9.34
*These prices are all from our local ALDI.

The total cost to make 6-Quarts of Lentil Chili was only $15.24.
Ground beef has been varying in prices in the last year to two years. In 2019, a 2-pound package was $7-$8. That same 2-pound package in summer of 2022 was $11, and this past week it was $9.34. I cannot begin to express frustrations as prices of foods fluctuate SO much, and not being able to fully get a grip on what our food prices will be on a weekly basis.

Getting our dinner costs below $20 a day helps keep our budget under control. To do this, Tyler and I took Financial Peace University back in 2018. This class not only helped us to get out of debt, but also to learn how to budget.

As of spring 2021, we were officially debt free (except the mortgage).
For example, we have no credit cards, student loans, car payments, medical bills or other debt.
One day, I will go back through our finances, and find out exactly how much debt we actually paid off. However, looking back to our workbook, we had $29,447.99 in total non-mortgage debt.
But in or marriage? Oy, that will be a number that will be truly staggering to find.

It was truly the most life-altering thing for us, to finally be out from underneath that crushing pressure.
If you want to learn about how, you too, can gain financial freedom, then check out Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University by clicking the link below.

Recipe

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef
16-oz can tomato sauce
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
Onion, diced
4 cans of beans: great northern, kidney, dark red kidney, cannellini
1 tsp Cumin
1 Tbsp Chili Powder OR 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large pot on the stove, place 2-pounds ground beef that has been sprayed with non-stick spray and cook until browned.

2. On a cutting board, dice an onion and then place the onions into the pot with the cooking ground beef. The onions will then cook with the beef and become tender.

3. Once the beef is fully cooked, drain the grease and then return the pot back to the stove.
Matthew came to help stir dinner! It was just hard to not have a blurry picture of him, as he HATES having his picture taken.

4. To the cooked ground beef, add the Cumin, red pepper flakes, Chili powder, garlic powder and onion powders, salt and pepper, then stir well with a spatula.

5. Open the cans and then drain and rinse the beans using a sink colander.
6. Place the beans into the pot with the cooked beef and seasonings and then mix well. Matthew was such a good helper in making this Lentil Chili tonight.

7. Open the can of tomato sauce and fire roasted tomatoes and then add them to the pot.

8. Open a bag of lentils and pour them into a sink colander and rinse well. Then place the rinsed lentils into the pot and stir well.

9. Add 8-12 cups of water and then stir, then bring the Lentil Chili to a simmer cooking for 1-2 hours.

When done, serve with Greek yogurt, shredded cheese and enjoy!
~Monica

Lentil Chili Recipe

Ingredients for Lentil Chili

2 pounds ground beef
16-oz can tomato sauce
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
1 onion, diced
4 cans of beans: great northern, kidney, dark red kidney, cannellini
1 tsp Cumin
1 Tbsp Chili Powder OR 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Lentil Chili

1. In a large pot on the stove, place 2-pounds ground beef and cook until browned.
2. On a cutting board, dice an onion and then place the onions into the pot with the cooking ground beef. The onions will then cook with the beef and become tender.
3. Once the beef is fully cooked, drain the grease and then return the pot back to the stove.
4. To the cooked ground beef, add the Cumin, red pepper flakes, Chili powder, garlic powder and onion powders, salt and pepper, then stir well with a spatula.
5. Open the cans and then drain and rinse the beans using a sink colander.
6. Place the beans into the pot with the cooked beef and seasonings and then mix well.
7. Open the can of tomato sauce and fire roasted tomatoes and then add them to the pot.
8. Open a bag of lentils, pour them into a sink colander and then rinse them well. Then place the rinsed lentils into the pot and stir well.
9. Add 8-12 cups of water and then stir, then bring the Lentil Chili to a simmer cooking for 1-2 hours.
When done, serve with Greek yogurt, shredded cheese and enjoy!
~Monica

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