Easy, Healthy Slow Cooker Chili Soup

Easy, Healthy Slow Cooker Chili Soup

This slow cooker chili soup is easy, delicious, healthy, and very easy to customize based on your preferences or what you have on hand in the fridge and pantry!  I made it in September (not exactly seasonally appropriate!) but I can't wait to make it again once it gets a little bit colder out. 

PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 3-4 hours (on high in the slow cooker--cook until potatoes and quinoa are done or until meat is done if adding meat!)

I'm including the ingredients I used, but you could easily substitute or add other ingredients (sweet potatoes, corn, zucchini/squash, carrots, green beans, rice, lentils, peas, noodles, etc.)!  I made this batch without meat because I was running low and this already has plenty of protein from the beans and quinoa, but it would be great with chicken or ground turkey! 

A note about ingredients:  While I would love to buy all organic, all fresh ingredients, that just isn't realistic for us right now.  When I buy canned food I do try to buy organic and items that do not have any sodium added.  I bought my chicken stock, black beans, and canned tomatoes from Costco, and all are organic and don't have added sodium or weird preservatives! 

INGREDIENTS TO ADD TO SLOW COOKER:
-5 cups of chicken stock (could also use veggie or beef stock)
-1/2 an onion, chopped
-2 cloves of garlic, chopped
-1/2 cup quinoa (could add rice or lentils or skip this step!)
-3 cups chopped baby potatoes (I used a variety of colors--you can use red, white, purple, sweet, etc.)
-1 15oz can black beans (great northern or kidney would be great too!)
-1 15oz can diced tomatoes
-1tbsp cumin
-1/2 tbsp chili powder
-1/2 tbsp paparika
-1/2 tbsp chipotle tobasco (or any hot sauce that you have on hand)
-2 tbsp brown sugar (or regular sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc.)

INGREDIENTS TO ADD WHEN FINISHED COOKING: all optional!
- lime juice
-cilantro
-sour cream (or plain greek yogurt!)
-cheddar cheese
-tortilla chips
-fresh avocado

This is delicious eaten on it's own, served as a side with chicken or fish, or with cheese quesadillas!  It would also make a delicious topping for nachos.  ENJOY and let me know if you try it!