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A close-up of a bowl filled with hearty lentil chili. The chili consists of kidney beans, black beans, tomatoes, and lentils, mixed in a rich, red sauce.
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5 from 3 votes

Lentil Chili Recipe

This lentil chili is hearty and loaded with flavor, packed with protein-rich lentils, a blend of beans and vibrant spices, and robust roasted red peppers.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: black beans, fire roasted tomatoes, lentils, roasted peppers, roasted red peppers,
Servings: 8
Calories: 240kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2-3 jalapeno peppers diced (use bell pepper for milder heat)
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder or more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for extra spicy
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3-4 cups vegetable broth use 4 for thinner chili
  • 2 15 ounce cans fire roasted tomatoes
  • 16 ounces roasted red peppers - use jarred or 3-4 roasted red bell peppers (double the amount for even more flavor!)
  • 15 ounce can red kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup dried red lentils
  • hot sauce to taste
  • Toppings. Choose your favorites!

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot to medium heat.
  • Add the onion and jalapenos (or bell pepper) and cook 2-3 minutes to soften.
  • Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until the garlic becomes fragrant.
  • Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper to taste, and tomato paste. Cook 1-2 minutes to let the spices bloom.
  • Stir in the vegetable broth, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, beans, lentils, and hot sauce to taste.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors mingle and develop, and for the lentils to soften. You can simmer longer if you’d like.
  • Serve with your favorite chili toppings.

Notes

For Slow Cooker Lentil Chili: Follow the recipe through Step #4, then dump everything into your crock pot or slow cooker, then cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 3-4 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1646mg | Potassium: 755mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1837IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 5mg