Recipe Three Bean Chili

Crockpot Three Bean Chili: A Delicious Adventure in our Kitchen Chronicles

Weeknight dinner blues? This recipe 3-bean chili crockpot is your hero! Packed with protein, veggies, and customizable spice, it's easy, flavorful, and perfect for chilly nights. Explore the magic of slow cooker chili and discover your own culinary adventure!

Sunday night cravings can be powerful motivators, especially when they come from your better half! This week, my husband requested a batch of his favorite chili. Now, I'm no stranger to a good chili recipe, but I tend to stick to a familiar version that's guaranteed to disappear quickly at dinner. However, this time, inspiration struck, and I decided to venture outside my chili comfort zone.  

Traditionally, my chili features kidney beans as the star legume. But with my husband's love for all things bean-related lately, I figured "why not go all in?" That's how this hearty, three-bean chili came to be!

Three Bean Magic:

Here's the breakdown of our delicious bean trio:

• Kidney Beans: These classic chili companions bring their robust flavor and meaty texture to the party.
• Butter Beans: Adding a touch of creamy richness, butter beans balance the bolder flavors of the kidney beans and chili powder.
• Black Beans: Black beans contribute a subtle sweetness and a slight textural contrast to the chili, making each bite even more interesting.

Beyond the Chili Basics:

While these beans take center stage, the supporting cast plays a crucial role in creating a yummy bowl of deliciousness:

• Chicken: Shredded chicken adds a satisfying protein element to the chili. Cooking it directly in the crockpot ensures it becomes beautifully tender and infused with all the delicious chili goodness.
• Fresh Vegetables: Chopped red onion, celery hearts, and green pepper add a welcome layer of freshness and subtle sweetness.
• Spicy Kick: Classic chili spices like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and a touch of Rotel provide the perfect amount of heat.

The Grand Crockpot Finale:

This chili is a balance of simplicity when it comes to preparation. Simply toss all the ingredients into your crockpot, set it to high for 7 hours, and let the magic happen. By the time that alluring aroma fills your kitchen, you'll know you're in for a treat.

Crockpot Dinners at their best:

The beauty of this 3-bean chili recipe lies not just in its deliciousness but also in its effortless preparation. The slow cooker, often hailed as a kitchen hero, is the star player here. Simply toss all the ingredients in the pot, set it to high, and let the magic happen. While you go about your day, the slow cooker works its magic, slowly simmering the chili, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully, resulting in a perfectly tender and flavorful dish. No constant monitoring is required, freeing you to tackle other tasks or simply relax. By the time that enticing aroma fills your kitchen, you'll know a delightful meal awaits.

Few Notes and Experimentation Ideas:

• Celery Savvy: This time around, I decided to test out some celery hearts that were nearing their expiration date. They added a subtle flavor and brightness to the chili that I really enjoyed. Feel free to omit them if you're not a celery fan, but I will say, hubby didn't even notice celery was a part of this chili dinner. 1- Cara, 0- Hubby I do what I need to get those veggies in him!
• Spinach Surprise: While I opted for a more traditional approach this time, a handful of fresh spinach added towards the end of cooking would undoubtedly be delicious. Next time, I might just give it a try for a slightly different flavor profile.

Three Bean Chili

Ingredients:

1.  4 chicken thighs, shredded once it has cooked through in the crockpot
2. 1 64 oz tomato juice
3. 1 40.5 oz can Hanover Kidney Beans
4. 1 15.5 oz can Joan of Arc Butter Beans
5. 1 15 oz can Black Beans
6. 1 can Rotel
7. 1 small Red Onion, chopped
8. 3 Stalks Celery Hearts, sliced 
9. I Green Pepper, Chopped
10. 2 T Chili Powder
11. 1 t Garlic Powder
12. Salt & Pepper to taste 
13. 1 t Onion Powder 
14. 4 T sugar (I typically use brown sugar for chili, you can use what you have on hand or prefer)
15. 2 Bay Leaves

Instructions:

• Place chicken into crockpot
• Add tomato juice, red onion, celery hearts, green pepper, beans, sugar, Rotel, and spices
• Cook on High for 7 hours
• Remove bay leaves before serving
• Serve and enjoy!

I have never added celery hearts to my chili, but I think it will become a consistent ingredient in our chili soup now. There is something about cooked celery in soup, I just love it. Like I said, I considered adding spinach, but I thought hubby would think that was walking too much on the wild side for him. I am betting it would be delicious though! You just may find another version of our chili recipe with spinach in the future.

This crockpot 3-bean chili is not just a delicious and easy weeknight meal; it's a blank canvas for culinary exploration. Feel free to customize it with your favorite protein, vegetables, and spices to create a chili that reflects your unique taste preferences. So, grab your slow cooker, gather your ingredients, and create your own delicious chili adventure!

Have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy this three bean chili recipe while we are still experiencing chilly (I couldn't resist) weather outdoors. Here in Ohio, we are experiencing cooler weather once again. It is supposed to get down into the 30's this weekend, and that leaves me spinning our thermostat between air conditioning and heat all in one day. Weird Ohio weather, that's all I have to say about that. Enjoy! 😉

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Ciao,

Cara