Chunky No Beans Chili Recipe

 Chili is a perfect cold-weather meal full of hearty flavors and is a perfect slow-cooker recipe.

You can also eat chili as part of a healthy diet. If you would like a healthier version of chili with all the flavor you love from traditional chili, you'll love this healthy chili recipe, especially with my secret ingredient.

Healthy Slow-Cooker Chili

This healthy chili recipe makes a thick, chunky, low-carb, and keto-friendly chili that will help you meet your health goals while eating food you'll love.

Reasons to Love This Chunky Chili Recipe

This chili is made with chunks of stew beef rather than ground beef for substance and hearty flavor. I like to use chuck stew beef in this recipe.

With approximately 11 net carbs per serving, this recipe will fit into your healthy eating plan.

Chunks of tender zucchini replace the beans you might usually find in chili. This secret ingredient adds a nice twist to traditional chili. Add the zucchini near the end of your cook time to maintain its texture.

The chili is cooked in your slow cooker, allowing you to focus on other things. Chili is an ideal dish to make using your slow cooker.

This healthy chili is full of the chili flavors you love. No flavor has been sacrificed with this recipe.  

This is a flexible recipe, easily adapted to the flavor profile you love.  Feel free to change the ratio of spices to make this recipe your own.

This recipe makes nine servings.  That's enough to share with friends or to freeze for another day. I keep quart containers like this on hand for easy freezing.  They also make good to-go containers if you are sharing with friends.

The Steps to Make Chunky Healthy Chili

• Start by heating the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat or using the stovetop function of your slow cooker. Add the stew beef to brown. You don't want to crowd the beef. You may need to complete this browning step in stages.
• Season with half the salt and pepper, and cook until browned and some yummy brown bits are sticking to your pan. Remove the browned meat from the pan, draining all but 2 tablespoons of fat.
• Add the onion, carrots, and celery to your pan. Season with the remaining salt and black pepper. Cook until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer (if necessary) the vegetables and the browned stew beef to your slow cooker. Pour in the beer and stir to deglaze the yummy bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the crushed tomatoes and the remaining seasonings.
• Cover the slow cooker and set the slow cooker function on high for 3 hours. Alternately, add the zucchini at this point, too, and set your slow cooker for 6 hours on low.
• After three hours, taste the chili and adjust the seasonings as necessary. Add the chunks of zucchini. Cover and set the slow cooker function on high for another two hours.

Ingredients and Substitutions to Consider

You can use part stew beef and part ground beef if you prefer.  You might also try part stew beef and part ground turkey. Use two pounds of stew beef with one pound of ground beef or turkey.

Use a low-carb beer to reduce the total carb count. If you prefer to leave out the beer, substitute 12 ounces of beef broth.

Many chili recipes add sugar.  There is no added sugar in this recipe. This recipe adds chopped onion and carrots to add a little sweetness to balance the tomatoes. 

Add some chopped jalapeno with the vegetables for another hint of heat.  This recipe uses crushed red pepper for heat.  Chopped jalapeno will add another layer of heat. I know many of you love your chili hot and spicy.  It's important to taste to get the right level of spicy heat for your taste.

Be aware that any add-on toppings will affect the nutritional results of this recipe. It is a good idea to taste before adding toppings.

The Chunky Chili Recipe

Yield: 9 Servings

Author: Donna Urso

Healthy Chunky Slow Cooker Chili

Prep time: 30 MinCook time: 5 HourTotal time: 5 H & 30 M

A chunky, slow cooker chili made with stew beef and no beans.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 pounds stew beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3/4 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 3 medium zucchini squash, diced
• 1 12 ounce bottle beer, your favorite low-carb option (or use beef broth)
• 1 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• shredded cheese, optional for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat or using the stovetop function of your slow cooker. Add the stew beef to brown. Don't crowd the beef. You may need to complete this browning step in stages.
2. Season with half the salt and pepper, and cook until browned and some yummy brown bits are sticking to your pan. Remove the browned meat from the pan, draining all but 2 tablespoons of fat.
3. Add the onion, carrots, and celery to your pan. Season with the remaining salt and black pepper. Cook until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Transfer (if necessary) the vegetables and the browned stew beef to your slow cooker. Pour in the beer and stir to deglaze the yummy bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the crushed tomatoes and the remaining seasonings.
5. Cover the slow cooker and set the slow cooker function on high for 3 hours.
6. After three hours, taste the chili and adjust the seasonings if necessary. Add the chunks of zucchini. Cover and set the slow cooker function on high for another two hours.

Notes

You can use part stew beef and part ground beef if you prefer. You might also try part stew beef and part ground turkey. Use two pounds of stew beef with one pound of ground beef. or turkey.

Use a low-carb beer to reduce the total carb count. If you prefer to leave out the beer, substitute 12 ounces of beef broth.

Add some chopped jalapeno with the vegetables for another hint of heat. I know many of you love your chili hot and spicy. It's important to taste to get the right level of spicy heat for your taste.

 

Nutrition Facts

Calories

317.54

Fat (grams)

10.9

Sat. Fat (grams)

3.36

Carbs (grams)

15.32

Fiber (grams)

4.26

Net carbs

11.07

Sugar (grams)

7.11

Protein (grams)

37.73

Sodium (milligrams)

665.67

Cholesterol (grams)

96.2

Nutritional information is approximate. Be aware that any add-on toppings will affect the nutritional results of this recipe.

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©Just One Donna