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Easy Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

Easy Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chili

A hearty crockpot chili made with lean ground turkey or lean ground beef, two kinds of beans, tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, and warm chili spices. It makes about six servings and develops deeper flavor as it cooks on LOW.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 4 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chili
  • 1 lb Extra-lean ground turkey or 93%–96% lean ground beef
  • 1 medium Medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 medium Green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 15 oz can Kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 oz can Black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 oz can Diced tomatoes, preferably no-salt-added
  • 1 8 oz can Tomato sauce
Seasoning
  • 1 packet, about 1 oz Chili-seasoning mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon, or to taste Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
Seasoning Alternative
  • 2 tablespoons Chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dried oregano
Optional Heat
  • 1/4–1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper or red-pepper flakes

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Brown the ground turkey or lean ground beef in a skillet over medium heat for 8–10 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles. If using beef, drain excess fat before continuing.
  2. Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
  3. Transfer the browned meat and softened vegetables to a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add the drained kidney beans, drained black beans, diced tomatoes with their juices, and tomato sauce.
  4. Add the chili-seasoning packet, or stir in the chili powder, cumin, paprika, and oregano. Season with salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne or red-pepper flakes.
  5. Stir thoroughly so the meat, beans, vegetables, tomatoes, and spices are evenly distributed. Cover the slow cooker and cook for 4–6 hours on LOW or 2–3 hours on HIGH.
  6. Check that the chili is hot and fully blended, then taste before serving. Adjust the salt or chili seasoning as needed, and spoon into bowls with optional toppings.

Notes

Choose no-salt-added tomatoes and beans when possible, especially when using packaged chili seasoning. For thicker chili, drain the tomatoes slightly or leave the slow-cooker lid ajar for the final 20–30 minutes. Do not add water unless the chili appears unusually thick.