Chili is the ultimate cold-weather comfort food. More than simply delicious, healthy chili is an easy one-pot meal that's often made with ingredients you already have on hand, and it can easily be stretched to feed a crowd on football Sundays or after a long day of raking or shoveling. What's more, chili is an easy freezer meal you can make on a slow weekend to have on hand for busy nights. Use these simple tricks to make your favorite chili recipe healthier but still hearty and satisfying.
Using generous amounts of spice in your chili is an easy way to add great flavor without any added fat or calories. Classic chili spices include chili powder and cumin (and cayenne or ground red pepper for those who like it really hot). Instead of buying premixed chili seasoning packets, have fun experimenting with different seasonings; cinnamon and allspice can add wonderful depth of flavor.
To make a classic beef chili that's still healthy, choose beef that is at least 90 percent lean, which fits into the USDA guidelines for lean meats. You can also opt for lean and flavorful ground turkey or chicken breast instead.
Everything might be bigger in Texas, but we don't recommend following their lead with a meat-only chili. Instead, use beans in your healthy chili to add fiber and stretch your dish healthfully and inexpensively. You can use one type of beans, such as kidney beans or black beans, or mix several types for a variety. What's more, a bean-based vegetarian chili has considerably fewer calories and less saturated fat than chili made with meat.
Make chili into a one-pot meal or stretch a small batch of chili by adding whole grains, such as brown or wild rice, farro, barley, bulgur or wheat berries. Whole grains add fiber which keeps you fuller, longer. Grains also freeze well in the chili, or you can stir in a fresh batch of cooked grains after reheating your chili.
Beyond the traditional tomato base, it's so easy to sneak extra vitamins into your chili with vegetables. Shredded or cubed sweet potatoes, zucchini, peppers and carrots add nutritional value without overpowering the other flavors.
Choose no-salt-added canned tomatoes and reduced-sodium broths to control salt levels in your chili. Be sure to rinse canned beans before stirring them into the chili to significantly reduce sodium levels, too. Premade chili spice mixtures are also sodium heavy, so make your own to better control the salt total.
Adding a splash of lime juice or cider vinegar to your chili at the end of cooking helps to brighten the dish and add another layer of complexity to the flavor. If you're reheating chili that's been frozen for several weeks or months, a bit of citrus juice or vinegar stirred into the bowl just before eating can also help reinvigorate the flavors.
Add extra flavor and let your dinner guests or family members customize their bowls of chili with fun toppings. Fresh flavors like chopped avocado, cilantro, diced red onion and shredded Monterey Jack cheese make a great presentation and round out the meal. Add a boost of protein and creaminess with Greek yogurt, and don't forget a bottle of hot sauce in case anyone likes their chili to leave them sweating.
"By adding extra veggies you'll increase nutrients, fiber, and satisfaction," the twins say. "Bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, crushed tomatoes, onions, and carrots are all great choices." We mentioned adding pumpkin and sweet potatoes to a pot of chili, but you could also make chili inside a sweet potato.
You should never overpower the chili with something, but don't be afraid to experiment! Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight.
Ground beef is an immensely versatile, excellent addition to any chili and happens to be one of the quickest to cook and least expensive options of them all. That means you could cook a large amount of chili to feed your entire family for less.
Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.
Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.
If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.
Mmm! Now for the piece de resistance: 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar. The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy.
Although canned chili will already have some seasonings, fresh herbs and spices will add bolder flavor. You can upgrade your chili using ingredients you likely already have on your spice rack, such as chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
For quicker-cooking chili like this recipe, don't cover the pot. You want the liquid in the chili to reduce, and leaving the lid off is crucial. If you're simmering the chili for a longer time, partially cover the pot to prevent the liquid from evaporating too quickly.
Ideally, chili should simmer low and slow. This allows some of the liquid to evaporate and results in a thicker consistency and deeper, more complex flavor as the aromatics and spices release their superpowers.
Though it may be an unusual choice, coffee adds an earthy richness to the existing flavors and plays well with spices like cumin and cayenne pepper. Plus, it's a flexible ingredient – while we typically reach for instant espresso powder, you can also add in brewed coffee, making this dish the perfect use for leftovers.
"Adding fresh ingredients — like diced onions, cilantro, and jalapenos — will take any canned chili to another level," Dunleavy said. "The fresh burst of flavor will brighten and elevate the chili while also adding great texture and crunch."
Ingredients like tomato paste, cinnamon, coffee and liquid smoke can all add flavor hints that will make your chili cook-off entry unique. Roast your vegetables and use broth or beer instead of water for even more flavor in your pot.
Acids enhance the salty, umami-rich flavors already present in chili, and round out the sweetness, adding intricacy to the dish. Apple cider vinegar is versatile with a light, fruity flavor, but red wine and balsamic vinegar are both good choices for heavier chilis that need something bolder.
Mix in a scoop of cornstarch, all-purpose flour, or oats.
For 1 tablespoon of flour, use 2 tablespoons of water. No slurry is required for the absorbent oats; simply stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons. In all cases, allow the chili to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more, and you should notice it thicken up.
Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/kickin-chili-a137a5c36d734bd6abb4d839eed20646.jpg "8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili (1)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/40031431-8718be920464430fa434c767a40528de.jpg "8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili (2)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/42935351-9bd525da81a742099b064f40d752b814.jpg "8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili (3)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/zesty-chili-f78ea59fe1eb4dacbaec586492840688.jpg "8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili (4)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/38454541-dea733779ae94b8fbf2f51a8b8d3939e.jpg "8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili (5)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/42934991-61bab21935574416a037da72e517f4b3.jpg "8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili (6)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/moms20chili_0-f5d79c0175a845f5bc5eb8dfd80fb325.jpg "8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili (7)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/38793881-7020009a41a940ce808ee01361b367c7.jpg "8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili (8)")
