Slow Cooker Vegetarian Cheesy Chili Mac With Optional Ground Beef Recipes

SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN CHEESY CHILI MAC WITH OPTIONAL GROUND BEEF

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, beans, onion, garlic, and spices in your Crock Pot. If you're going for the full-on meat version, go ahead and brown your pound of hamburger in a separate frying pan, drain, and add that now, too. You'll add meat later if you're going half veggie/half carnie.
• Cook on low for about 7 - 9 hours. But it's pretty forgiving if you need to cook it for longer.
• Boil the macaroni according to package directions, but cut the time short by a minute or so to make sure it's just nice and al dente, or else the noodles might swell up to epic and less appetizing proportions in the finished product.
• Stir the macaroni, along with half the cheese, into the Crock Pot with the chili.
• For the half veggie/half carnie adaptetarian version, here's where you split it. If you're going all vegetarian or all meat, ignore this step and move on to Step 6. Move half of the cheesy chili maccy goodness into a medium casserole dish. Brown your half pound of hamburger in a separate frying pan, drain it, and stir the hamburger into the mixture in the casserole dish. Sprinkle over the top with half the remaining cheese, and bake the meaty version at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle all the remaining cheese over the Crock Pot mixture, cover with the Crock Pot lid, and cook for another 20 - 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
• Now get cozy, and enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER EASY THREE-BEAN CHILI

Steps:

• Add all ingredients except the Tabasco (if using) and the ground beef to the slow-cooker/Crock Pot. Stir. Cook on low for 8 - 10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. Taste and add Tabasco if desired. If serving an all-vegan chili, skip to "Serve with toppings."
• In a medium or large saucepan, brown the ground beef over medium heat with a little salt and pepper for flavor, if you wish. Drain off any fat. Add five cups of the chili to the browned ground beef. Stir, continuing the medium heat, and heat until boiling. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes.
• In a medium or large saucepan, brown the ground beef over medium heat with a little salt and pepper for flavor, if you wish. Drain off any fat. Add to the chili in the Crock Pot either at the beginning of the cooking process or near the end.
• Serve with assorted toppings such as diced avocado, fresh cilantro, chopped onions, sour cream (or vegan sour cream), grated cheddar or jack cheese (or vegan cheese), and some Tabasco or Tapatio sauce.