Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Lentil Cincinnati Chili
A meatless Cincinnati chili with brown lentils, vegetable broth and the same warm spices as the classic. The lentils hold their shape and thicken the sauce on their own.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Lentil Cincinnati Chili
Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes8
hoursA meatless Cincinnati chili with brown lentils, vegetable broth and the same warm spices as the classic. The lentils hold their shape and thicken the sauce on their own.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups brown lentils, rinsed and picked over
4 cups cold vegetable broth
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
1 medium carrot, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp kosher salt
1 lb spaghetti, cooked separately
3 cups finely shredded mild cheddar
Directions
- Rinse the lentils in a fine-mesh sieve under cold water and pick out any small stones or shriveled lentils.
- Pour the cold vegetable broth into the slow cooker and whisk in the tomato sauce and tomato paste until smooth.
- Add the onion, carrot, garlic, cocoa, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Whisk for a minute so the cocoa disperses.
- Stir in the rinsed lentils. No browning is needed, but make sure all of them are submerged in the liquid.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Stir once at 30 minutes.
- Check the lentils at 7 hours: they should be tender all the way through with no hard center, and the chili should be thick and stew-like.
- If the chili is too thin, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for 20 minutes. If too thick, stir in 1/4 cup of hot broth.
- Stir in the soy sauce and vinegar, then taste and add salt as needed. Mash a few lentils against the side with a spoon for a thicker sauce.
- Cook the spaghetti separately until just tender, drain it, and top with the lentil chili and a heap of cheddar.
Notes
- Use brown or green lentils; red lentils turn to mush. For a vegan plate, skip the cheddar and top with nutritional yeast or a vegan shred. Do not add salt at the start, since salt can toughen lentil skins. The chili keeps 5 days in the fridge and freezes for 3 months. Add a spoonful of cooked rice if you want it heartier.
Why lentils work in Cincinnati chili
Brown lentils keep a bit of bite as they cook and release starch that thickens the sauce without any flour. Cocoa, cinnamon and allspice give the chili the warm, slightly sweet Cincinnati flavor even with no meat. The soy sauce adds the savory note beef would have.
Cook the lentils with cold broth, so they heat up evenly.
Swaps and one to skip
Green lentils behave like brown ones. Diced mushrooms add a meatier feel. Do not use red lentils, which fall apart, and keep the salt for later so the skins stay tender.
Serve it Cincinnati style
Ladle it over spaghetti and bury it under shredded cheddar. Oyster crackers, hot sauce and diced onion are the usual add-ons. For a vegan plate, use nutritional yeast.
Storage notes
This chili tastes better the next day and thickens as it sits. Add broth when you reheat, and cook fresh spaghetti each time.
Rinse the lentils and pick through them for small stones before cooking. The chili thickens a lot as it sits, so thin it with a splash of hot vegetable broth when serving.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Lentil Cincinnati Chili at a glance
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 8 hours
- Servings: 6 servings
- Ingredients: 17, led by brown lentils, cold vegetable broth, (8 oz) tomato sauce, tomato paste
Tips for Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Lentil Cincinnati Chili
Use brown or green lentils; red lentils turn to mush. For a vegan plate, skip the cheddar and top with nutritional yeast or a vegan shred. Do not add salt at the start, since salt can toughen lentil skins. The chili keeps 5 days in the fridge and freezes for 3 months. Add a spoonful of cooked rice if you want it heartier.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Lentil Cincinnati Chili FAQ
How long does Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Lentil Cincinnati Chili take?
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Lentil Cincinnati Chili takes 8 hours of cooking after 15 minutes of prep.
How many people does Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Lentil Cincinnati Chili serve?
This recipe makes 6 servings.
What do I need to make Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Lentil Cincinnati Chili?
17 ingredients, led by brown lentils, cold vegetable broth, (8 oz) tomato sauce, tomato paste. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
Part of: 10 Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili Recipes for Spaghetti Night
