By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 1, 2026
Serves 6
171 cal · 75 min
Lentil Chili
Recipe GLPRd6f10151522cf0
A hearty and warming lentil chili made with seasoned ground beef, tender lentils, and diced tomatoes. This comforting bowl is perfect for meal prep and tastes even better as flavors meld together over time. Serve with your favorite toppings like sour cream, cheese, or fresh cilantro.
Save recipes you love
Create a free Grocery List Plus account to save recipes, rate them, and add every ingredient to your grocery list in one tap.
Ingredients
1/2 pound ground beef (15% fat)
1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 cups cooked lentils, drained
2 cans (29 ounces total) low-sodium diced or crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Directions
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before beginning preparation.
Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it into small bite-sized pieces as it browns, until no pink remains and the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Carefully drain off the excess fat from the cooked beef using a spoon or by tilting the pan into a heat-safe container.
Add the chopped onion and crushed garlic to the browned beef. Stir well and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the onion becomes soft and translucent and the garlic becomes fragrant.
Pour in the cooked lentils, diced tomatoes with their liquid, chili powder, and ground cumin. Stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to develop and blend together beautifully. The chili should be thick and aromatic when done.
Serve the hot chili in bowls and top with your favorite garnishes such as shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, or fresh cilantro.
Comments
All ingredients are standard stockings at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, and Walmart in Charlotte with no special stops required. The cost per serving runs around $1.50–$2.00 depending on ground beef sales, making it genuinely budget-friendly for a family dinner. The 75-minute time is honest for browning meat, sautéing aromatics, and a full simmer, though hands-on work is under 15 minutes. This reheats perfectly for weeknight leftovers and suits a family table well, though lentil chili demands attention to avoid scorching on the stovetop.
Sign in or create a free account to add your review.
