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Easy Healthy Crockpot Chili with Black Beans & Corn

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This healthy crockpot chili with black beans and corn is packed with fiber and plant-based protein, delivering deep, slow-cooked flavor with minimal effort. It’s the perfect comfort food for busy weeks that actually supports your health goals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 1 large red bell pepper, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey (93/7)
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, with juices
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo, minced, plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional toppings: Greek yogurt or sour cream, shredded cheddar, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, lime wedges

Instructions

  1. Brown the meat and aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink (5-6 minutes). Add diced onion and bell pepper; cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Bloom the spices: Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano over the meat mixture. Stir constantly for about 1 minute to toast the spices.
  3. Transfer to slow cooker: Dump the meat and vegetable mixture into a 6-quart slow cooker.
  4. Add remaining ingredients: Pour in diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, drained black beans, frozen corn, minced chipotle pepper with adobo sauce, and chicken broth. Stir until well combined.
  5. Season and set: Add salt and black pepper. Stir, cover, and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  6. Check and adjust: About 30 minutes before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. If chili is too thin, leave lid off for last 30 minutes to thicken.
  7. Serve and garnish: Ladle into bowls and add desired toppings.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the meat for best texture. The chipotle pepper adds smoky flavor without excessive heat. For best results, make a day ahead as flavors deepen overnight. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: healthy chili, crockpot chili, black bean chili, corn chili, slow cooker chili, easy chili recipe, lean chili, turkey chili

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