WEEKNIGHT BLACK BEAN CHILI

I'm so over the cold and dreary weather. How about you? With the arrival of this latest arctic blast, I felt myself craving a warm, rich bowl of chili, but I didn’t want to spend all day in the icy cold kitchen making it. So, I made this super fast and simple Weeknight Black Bean Chili and crawled back under the cozy blankets as fast as possible (with a warm bowl of chili, of course!).

What makes it a “weeknight” black bean chili? The fact that it comes together in about 30 minutes and with very little prep. It’s also super filling and comforting, but still healthy enough to leave you light and energized for the next day. There’s nothing worse than feeling sluggish mid-week from stress eating a heavy dinner the night before (hi, takeout pizza, I’m looking at YOU). This Weeknight Black Bean Chili is healthy and nourishing for both your body and soul, which will help you make it to Friday in one piece. But hey, if you still need a little indulgence, you can top it off with a little shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, or even scoop it up with some tortilla chips. You don’t have to be 100% good 100% of the time. ;)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Tbsp olive oil $0.16
• 1 yellow onion $0.32
• 4 cloves garlic $0.32
• 1/2 lb. ground turkey $2.50
• 3 15 oz. cans black beans $2.37
• 1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles* $0.79
• 3 oz. tomato paste (1/2 of a 6oz. can or about 1/4 cup) $0.26
• 1 Tbsp chili powder** $0.30
• 1/2 tsp cumin $0.05
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika $0.05
• 1/2 tsp oregano $0.05
• 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste) $0.02

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion and garlic to a large pot with 1 Tbsp olive oil and cook over medium-low heat just until softened (2-3 minutes).
2. Add the ground turkey to the pot and continue to sauté until the turkey is cooked through (5-7 minutes). Break the turkey up into small crumbles with your spoon as it cooks.
3. Add the three cans of beans (undrained), the diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano. Stir everything to combine.
4. Let the chili simmer for about 10 minutes to let the flavors blend and help the liquid thicken slightly. Taste the chili and add salt as needed (this will depend on the salt content of your canned goods. I added about 1/4 tsp). Serve with your favorite chili toppings.

Recipe Adapted From budgetbytes.com