Description

This Easy Crockpot Freezer Meal Chili is a hearty and flavorful slow-cooked dish perfect for a comforting meal. Packed with pinto beans, vegetables, and a blend of spices, it offers a balanced and satisfying vegetarian chili option. Designed to be prepped quickly and cooked over several hours in a crockpot, it’s an ideal freezer-friendly meal for busy days.

Ingredients

Vegetables and Beans

1 cup frozen corn (preferably Birds Eye)
1 bell pepper (any color, diced into 1/2-inch pieces)
2 celery stalks (diced)
1 medium onion (diced into 1/2-inch pieces)
30 oz pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
14 oz diced tomatoes
10 oz Rotel tomatoes and chili peppers

Liquids and Sauces

14 oz tomato sauce
2 cups vegetable stock
2 tbsp lime juice (fresh squeezed for best flavor)

Spices and Seasonings

1 tsp salt
1.5 tbsp chili powder (freshly ground preferred for more flavor)
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste for heat level)
1 tsp cumin

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Instructions

Prepare ingredients: Dice the bell pepper, celery stalks, and onion into uniform 1/2-inch pieces to ensure even cooking and texture throughout the chili.
Combine ingredients in crockpot: Add the drained and rinsed pinto beans, frozen corn, diced bell pepper, celery, onion, diced tomatoes, Rotel tomatoes and chili peppers, tomato sauce, and vegetable stock into the crockpot.
Add spices and seasoning: Sprinkle in salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and cumin over the mixture. Stir gently to evenly distribute the spices.
Cook low and slow: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 6 hours (360 minutes), allowing all the flavors to meld and develop into a rich, hearty chili.
Finish with lime juice: Once cooking is complete, stir in fresh-squeezed lime juice to brighten and enhance the overall flavor before serving.
Serve and enjoy: Ladle the chili into bowls and pair with your choice of toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or fresh cilantro if desired.

Notes

This recipe is vegetarian and freezer-friendly; freeze after combining raw ingredients before cooking for convenient meal prep.
Adjust cayenne pepper to your preferred heat level or omit if sensitive to spice.
Using freshly ground chili powder will enhance the chili’s flavor profile significantly.
You can substitute vegetable stock with water if needed, but stock adds more depth of flavor.
Make sure beans are thoroughly drained and rinsed to reduce excess sodium and prevent bitterness.
Leftover chili tastes even better the next day as flavors continue to blend.