Some days you just need to stand over a heavy pot, stir away the noise of the world, and let a comforting meal put you back together. If you’re looking for a delicious way to reset, this hearty chili is the ultimate kitchen therapy. I tend to be feeling rather moody when I make this cauldron of deliciousness for my family and I even make it on most Halloween nights to warm up after roaming the neighborhood trick or treating.
We are tossing out the strict rules and loading up a rich tomato sauce base with a satisfying combination of savory ground beef or turkey, earthy lentils, and creamy black beans. To top it all off, a load of briny olives joins the party, adding a brilliant pop of flavor that wakes up the whole dish and adds delightful texture. Grab the nearest spoon—it’s time to leave the day's stress behind and dig into a bowl of classic comfort.
Ingredients
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium yellow onion, diced small
2 lbs ground beef or turkey
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon cumin
2 (15oz) cans of drained lentils
1 (15oz) can drained black beans
4 (15oz) cans of tomato sauce
2 green bell peppers, diced
2 cans of olives, diced
2 Tablespoons Honey
2 Tablespoons White Balsamic Vinegar
Optional Toppings: Cheese, greek yogurt or sour cream, squeeze of lime, cilantro, chives or sliced green onions.
Instructions
-Sauté garlic and onion. (You only need a small amount of oil or butter for this. Avocado oil is the best for heating in this way.)
-Add ground beef. As this is browning add salt, chili powder and cumin.
-Add lentils, black beans and tomato sauce. Bring to a low simmer.
-Add diced green bell peppers. Simmer for 10-15 minutes then add diced olives.
-Simmer again for 10-15 minutes then add in the honey and balsamic vinegar. Stir and give it another 5-10 minutes then adjust salt and seasoning to taste.
Corn bread muffins always go great with this and sometimes I opt to bake some up especially for the kids though I often opt out of that part depending on my health goals at the time. We really enjoy chili so when I make it I make this double batch size which provides multiple meals for the week or I can put it into the freezer for on of those “leftover nights”. I simply fill a gallon zip lock and lay it flat in the freezer so I can stack it.
My favorite way of using this though is for the “cook once eat twice” in the same week method. On a Sunday I will make this up then have it again on Tuesday only served over baked potatoes. It’s packed full of protein and simple ingredients but if you are running a little low using it for that second dinner it can be stretched with something like cottage cheese added to your bowl.
Macro Breakdown
If you are looking for a hearty, muscle-building meal prep, this high-fiber chili is an absolute powerhouse. A single, generous 2-cup serving made with 93% lean ground turkey delivers approximately:
Calories: 312 calories
Protein: 26.6 grams
Carbohydrates: 32.6 grams
Fat: 9.1 grams
It is an incredibly balanced, clean option fueled by lean protein and slow-digesting complex carbs from the lentils and black beans.
If you prefer a richer flavor and want to swap in standard 85% lean ground beef, a 2-cup serving comes out to about :
Calories: 366
Protein: 25.2 grams
Carbohydrates: 32.6 grams
Fat: 15.3 grams
Opting for beef adds an extra 54 calories and about 6 more grams of fat per bowl, while the carbohydrates and fiber remain exactly the same. Whichever protein you choose, this massive batch makes ten satisfying servings that will keep you fueled and full all week long.