The last time I shared our family meals, we were just five weeks into quarantine and I was FEELING it. We are now going on pandemic month six and while we ventured out a few times this summer to socially distant staycations and a few outside get togethers with friends, we've largely continued staying home. And while we definitely bumped up ordering out this summer, I've also been largely cooking three meals a day at home. So I've got lots of dinners to share!
With back to school in full swing this week, I've been on the hunt for new dinners that are delicious but not time consuming. And while the concept of chili is nothing new, this slow cooker version is super yummy and is the perfect addition to your fall dinner rotation.
Slow Cooker Chili
(slightly adapted from Gimme Some Oven)
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef + 1 lb Italian sausage (or 2 lbs ground beef)
- 1 medium red onion, peeled and diced
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce, chopped
- 2 (15 ounce) cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles
- 1 cup beer
- 2 tbsps chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions:
1. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion and garlic and cook for about 7-10 minutes or until the beef is completely browned, crumbling the beef with a spoon as it cooks. Drain and discard the excess grease. Transfer mixture into the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Taste and season with additional salt or pepper as you like.
Top with all your faves!
* * *
Day 1 (M) - Easy Grilled Chicken; grilled veggies skillet potatoes
Day 2 (T) - Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Veggies; Salmon; sourdough skillet bread with herbs
Day 3 (W) - grilled filet mignon; roasted cauliflower; leftover potatoes
Day 4 (Th) - the Mr.'s burgers; salad; hash browns
Day 5 (F) - dinner out -- Moreland's Tavern
Day 6 (Sat) - grilled salmon; jasmine rice; roasted green beans
Day 7 (Sun) - dinner out -- Mintwood Place
Day 8 (M) - Grilled Flash-Marinated Hanger Steak; roasted sweet potatoes; salad
Day 9 (T) - sourdough pizza; Broccoli Caesear Salad
Day 10 (W) - Lamb Meatballs with Feta and Lemon; polenta; grilled veggies
Day 11 (Th) - All American Chili
Day 12 (F) - charcuterie board
Day 13 (Sat) - dinner out -- Muchas Gracias
Day 14 (Sun) - burgers; Brioche Buns; salad; curly fries
Day 15 (M) - One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet
Day 16 (T) - Cam B-Day Dinner! Smoked Salmon Pizza; epic homemade Llamacorn Cake
Day 17 (W) - Pork Chops and Couscous with Tomato-Caper Sauce
Day 18 (Th) - Grilled Balsamic-and-Garlic Flank Steak; salad; potatoes
Day 19 (F) - Seared Salmon with Balsamic-Blistered Tomatoes; rice; green beans
Day 20 (Sat) - dinner out -- Little Coco's (we order from here A LOT)
Day 21 (Sun) - California Chicken, Veggie, Avocado and Rice Bowls
Day 22 (M) - grilled sausages; sweet potatoes; corn
Day 23 (T) - Foolproof Cacio e Pepe; Basil-Parmesean Focacia
Day 24 (W) - Loaded Turkey Taco Bowls
Day 25 (Th) - Grilled Flash-Marinated Hanger Steak; cauliflower gnocchi; salad
Day 26 (F) - sourdough pizza
Day 27 (Sat) - dinner out -- Kaz Sushi
Day 28 (Sun) - dinner out
Day 29 (M) - Sheet-Pan Chicken Meatballs and Charred Broccoli
Day 30 (T) - Best Chicken Enchiladas; brown rice
Day 31 (W) - grilled steaks; baked potatoes; brussels sprouts
Day 32 (Th) - Lamb Meatballs with Feta and Lemon; brown rice; green beans
Day 33 (F) - dinner out -- DCity Smokehouse
Day 34 (Sat) - Quick Pork Ramen with Carrots, Zucchini, and Bok Choy
Day 35 (Sun) - dinner out -- Perry's
Day 36 (M) - Skillet Chicken Parmesean; mixed green salad; veggie spirals
Day 37 (T) - grilled strip steak; roasted veggies
Day 38 (W) - Sushi Rice with Miso-Caramel Glazed Salmon
Day 39 (Th) - dinner out -- Lebanese Taverna
Day 40 (F) - All American Chili
Day 41 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 42 (Sun) - Healthy Beef and Broccoli
Day 43 (M) - burgers; sweet potato fries; salad
Day 44 (T) - Easy Pork Carnitas
Day 45 (W) - Mustard Marinated Flank Steak
Day 46 (Th) - Piri Piri Meatballs
Day 47 (F) - dinner out -- Little Coco's
Day 48 (Sat) - dinner out -- Meiwah
Day 49 (Sun) - Gochujang-Ranch Crispy Chicken Bowl
Day 50 (M) - Harissa Lamb Pizza; Proscuitto Pizza
Day 51 (T) - One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet
Day 52 (W) - Easy Homemade Philly Cheesesteaks
Day 53 (Th) - Cam's grad dinner! Skillet Chicken Parmesean; Classic Caesar Salad; Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake
Day 54 (F) - Matzo Ball Soup; Honey Challah
Day 55 (Sat) - dinner out -- Sababa
Day 56 (Sun) - The Mr.'s burgers; Summer Veggie Pasta Salad (mash up of Easy Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing)
Day 57 (M) - dinner out -- Moreland's Tavern
Day 58 (T) - Instant Pot Balsamic Pork Tenderloin; sweet potato; green beans
Day 59 (W) - Lemon Garlic Greek Chicken; cauliflower gnocchi; roasted squash
Day 60 (Th) - Salmon with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Carrot Salad
Day 61 (F) - sourdough pizza; salad
Day 62 (Sat) - My B-Day! dinner out -- The Dabney
Day 63 (Sun) - dinner out -- Little Coco's
Day 65 (T) - Slow Cooker Barbacoa
Day 66 (W) - pan seared salmon; sushi rice; broccoli
Day 67 (Th) - Grilled Flash-Marinated Hanger Steak; brown rice; green beans
Day 68 (F) - dinner out
Day 69 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 70 (Sun) - dinner out -- DCity Smokehouse
Day 71 (M) - pesto pasta; chicken sausage; salad
Day 72 (T) - Lemon-Garlic Roasted Chicken; couscous; green beans
Day 74 (Th) - Rosemary Dijon Turkey Kabobs; Farro Salad with Feta
Day 75 (F) - sourdough pizza; salad
Day 76 (Sat) - dinner out -- Q by Peter Chang
Day 77 (Sun) - dinner out -- Five Guys
Day 78 (M) - Chicken Teriyaki; sushi rice; steamed broccoli
Day 79 (T) - Mojo Meatballs; grilled veggies; tostones
Day 80 (W) - pan seared salmon; orzo with veggies and feta; green beans
Day 81 (Th) - Lamb Bolognese; caesar salad
Day 82 (F) - dinner out
Day 83 (Sat) - grilled burgers
Day 84 (Sun) - dinner out -- Lebanese Taverna
Day 85 (M) - pesto pasta; grilled sausages; caesar salad
Day 86 (T) - sourdough pizza; salad
Day 87 (W) - Korean Beef Bowl
Day 88 (Th) - dinner out -- Perry's
Day 89 (F) - Grilled Balsamic Chicken; roasted broccoli; sweet potatoes with pesto
Day 90 (Sat) - dinner out -- Zenebach
Day 91 (Sun) - dinner out -- Joe's Stone Crab
Day 92 (M) - pasta with leftover grilled chicken; grilled vegetables
Day 93 (T) - burgers; salad; sweet potato fries
Day 94 (W) - sourdough pizza; salad
Day 95 (Th) - dinner out -- Nando's
Day 96 (F) - dinner out
(we went to my in laws in New Jersey for a few weeks, so there were a bunch of dinners there that I didn't cook)
Day 97 (Sat) - shrimp scampi
Day 98 (Sun) - Grilled Flash-Marinated Hanger Steak
Day 99 (M) - sourdough pizza
Day 100 (T) - grilled burgers
Day 101 (W) - grilled salmon and sushi rice
Day 102 (Th) - blue crabs + oysters -- Barbera Seafood Market
Day 103 (F) - grilled chicken; caesar salad
Day 104 (Sat) - Lamb Bolognese
Day 105 (Sun) - grilled chicken; tuna; sushi rice
Day 106 (M) - Easy Pork Carnitas
Day 107 (T) - grilled steak; twice baked potatoes
Day 108 (W) - rotisserie chicken; couscous; salad
Day 109 (Th) - burgers; fries; salad
Day 110 (F) - dinner out
Day 111 (Sat) - Pesto Meatballs
Day 112 (Sun) - chicken soup and grilled cheese
Day 113 (M) - One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet
Day 114 (T) - dinner out -- Tony's Baltimore Grill
(Back home!)
Day 115 (W) - pesto pasta; grilled Italian chicken; green beans
Day 116 (Th) - Grilled Halibut with Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette; couscous; roasted broccoli and tomatoes
Day 117 (F) - burgers; salad
Day 118 (Sat) - dinner out -- Old Ebbitt Grill
Day 119 (Sun) - dinner out -- Blackwall Hitch
Day 120 (M) - Grilled Flash-Marinated Hanger Steak
Day 121 (T) - Quick Pork Ramen with Carrots, Zucchini, and Bok Choy
Day 122 (W) - dinner out -- Little Coco's
Day 123 (Th) - grilled Italian chicken; salad
Day 124 (F) - Weeknight Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken Meatballs
Day 125 (Sat) - dinner out -- Duke's Counter
Day 126 (Sun) - dinner out -- Moreland's Tavern
Day 127 (M) - grilled filet mignon
Day 128 (T) - Matzo Ball Soup
Day 129 (W) - dinner out - Pi Pizza
Day 130 (Th) - Easy Peri Peri Chicken Breasts
Day 131 (F) - Vegetarian Lasagna Rolls with Pesto
Day 132 (Sat) - dinner out -- Little Coco's
Day 133 (Sun) - dinner out -- Le Diplomate
Day 134 (M) - Slow Cooker Chili
Day 135 (T) - Grilled King Salmon with Meyer Lemon Relish; cauliflower gnocchi; green beans
Day 136 (W) - Sunbasket Greek Meatballs with Tomato-Cucumber Salad
Day 137 (Th) - Sunbasket Catalan Chicken with Green Romesco and Spanish Green Beans
Day 138 (F) - Maryland crab dinner on the Eastern Shore
Day 139 (Sat) - steak dinner on the Eastern Shore
Day 140 (Sun) - Slow Cooker Crispy Chicken Carnitas
Day 141 (M) - dinner out -- Meiwah
Day 142 (T) - Back Pocket Bolognese
Day 143 (W) - grilled sausages; baked potato
Day 144 (Th) - dinner out -- Little Coco's
Day 145 (F) - dinner out in NJ -- Angelo's
Day 146 (Sat) - grilled BBQ chicken
Day 147 (Sun) - the Mr.'s burgers
