CROCKPOT CHALLENGE ROUND 2 - Day 4: Crockpot sweet potato chili

I was challenged to make at least one vegetarian meal this week, which is a stretch for my carnivorous self. This one is a bit of a cheat though since I made it with ground turkey but it could easily be made without. 

This was my snow day sanity saving device - I got to "ignore" the kids and all of the yelling for a while and the end result was a belly filling meal so win-win!

The Nerf war I was trying my best to
ignore in the adjacent room.

Crockpot sweet potato chili: 

Ingredients:

1 Tbls olive oil

1 lb lean ground turkey (OPTIONAL)
1 med. onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ Tbls chili powder
¾ tsp ground cumin
1 Tbls dried oregano

1 tsp mustard powder
salt & pepper, to taste
1 sweet potato, peeled, and cut into ¼” cubes
2 15 oz. cans diced tomatoes
2 14 oz. cans beans, drained and rinsed (I used black and pink)

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce

1 c. low sodium chicken/vegetable broth

1 c. water
¼ c. chia seeds

OPTIONAL ADDITIONS: diced peppers, mushrooms, zucchini

Directions:

1. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large pan. If using, add the turkey and cook, breaking up chunks with the side of a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.

2. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion and garlic (and any other veggies you would like) and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes.

3. Add the chili, cumin, oregano and mustard powder and stir about 30 seconds. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beans, water, broth, chia seeds and season with salt and pepper & stir well.  Scrape the bottom of the pan to release any stuck bits.

4. If cooking stovetop, bring to a simmer, adjust the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the chili has thickened and the squash is tender, 35 to 40 minutes. If using a crockpot, pour the entire thing into the crockpot, cover and cook on low for 1-1 ½ hours.

5. Serve as is, garnish with chopped cilantro and/or shredded cheese, or add some brown rice.

6. Find someone else to do the dishes because YIKES! (Full disclosure though, this was the end result of chili, pancakes and muffins so don't be afraid!)