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Cozy Crockpot Chili with Black Beans and Corn: Easy Weeknight Meal

crockpot chili with black beans and corn - featured image
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This hearty, comforting chili is a happy accident turned staple. It’s incredibly easy to make, uses simple pantry ingredients, and delivers a perfectly balanced, mildly sweet and smoky flavor that feels like a warm hug on a cold day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn, drained
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder (optional)
  • 1 bay leaf (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Add the chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir constantly for 30-60 seconds until the spices are fragrant and toasted.
  3. Transfer the onion-spice mixture to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes (with their juices), vegetable broth, and tomato paste. Stir until the tomato paste is mostly dissolved.
  4. Gently fold in the drained and rinsed black beans and the drained sweet corn. Stir to distribute evenly.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. (LOW setting recommended for best flavor.)
  6. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, cumin, lime juice, or Worcestershire sauce as desired.
  7. Ladle into bowls and serve hot with desired toppings.

Notes

For a richer chili, add 1 ounce dark chocolate or 1 teaspoon cocoa powder with the spices. This chili tastes even better the next day. If too thin after cooking, remove lid and cook on HIGH for 30-45 minutes, or mash some beans against the pot to thicken.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot chili, black bean chili, corn chili, easy chili, weeknight chili, vegetarian chili, vegan chili, slow cooker chili

Find it online: https://lenatable.com/cozy-crockpot-chili-with-black-beans-and-corn-easy-weeknight-meal/