Kid-friendly Chili

This kid-friendly chili recipe is loaded with healthy vegetables, which are pureed and added to the meat so that your family (especially picky eaters) won’t even know that they’re there! It can be made in a slow cooker or on the stovetop, and it’s also easy to make gluten-free and dairy-free. 

A lot of chili recipes and small kids don’t mix. They’re just too spicy. 

Heck, a lot of chili recipes and I don’t mix. If something’s too spicy, I just can’t enjoy it.

So today’s recipe is light on the spice. If you like the extra veggies in this recipe but still want it spicy, just add more heat.

You can add more chili powder or hot sauce. You could also add jalapenos or hot peppers to the recipe.

If you want spicy chili without the added vegetables, check out my Big Batch Three Bean Chili with Beef.

The vegetables in this recipe add delicious flavor, but they don’t taste anything like raw vegetables.

Today’s recipe has a savory and slightly sweet taste. The sweetness cuts the spicy flavors a little, bringing out savory flavors more.

Due to the veggies and beans, this is a higher fiber version of chili, and it’s very hearty. It’s very thick and filling and will keep you (and the little ones) full for a long time.

Do I have to cook the meat first?

Yes! Cooking your meat first will impart a rich, savory taste that will infuse your chili with depth. It can’t be duplicated through stovetop simmering or slow cooker methods.

Searing the meat also greatly enhances its texture.

I know it’s tempting to just dump everything into the slow cooker and be done with it, but the results won’t be nearly as good. And the cooked meat has to absorb that lovely green liquid you see below in step 2.

Putting raw meat into the slow cooker and just pouring the green veggie liquid over the top will most definitely not work. Please don’t try. 🙂 

For another kid-friendly recipe with ground beef, check out this Gluten Free Tamale Pie Recipe!

Can I cook this crockpot chili recipe on the stove?

Yes, you can cook this in a large Dutch oven or stockpot on the stove, but it will need to be watched a little more closely than if you use a slow cooker.

Is this a spicy chili?

No, this is a very mild chili with a savory flavor.

Can I make this chili spicier?

Yes, you can add cayenne, jalapenos, or other hot peppers of your choice. You could also add more hot sauce or chili powder.

What would you serve with this chili?

This chili is delicious served with cornbread! This Dairy-free Cornbread is my favorite. 

It can be made with regular all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour. This Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Cornbread also looks fantastic.

You can also serve this chili for kids over rice, as a baked potato topping on these Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, or with a grilled cheese sandwich.

How do I store this chili?

You can refrigerate this in an airtight container for up to five days and reheat in single servings. Or you can freeze it in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to three months.

I love keeping them in single-serving-sized containers so that I can defrost a quick lunch. Even better is remembering to defrost a container in the fridge the night before. 🙂

How do I make this chili gluten-free and dairy-free?

Make sure all your ingredients are gluten-free and dairy-free. Worcestershire normally isn’t but the most common brand, Lea and Perrins, is gluten-free and dairy-free.

But only in the US! In other countries, and sometimes online, you’ll find a version that uses barley-based malt vinegar in place of distilled vinegar, meaning it contains gluten. No matter where you live, check the label before you buy it.

French’s is also easy to find and gluten- and dairy-free.

For the hot sauce, Tobasco and Frank’s are both gluten- and dairy-free, but if you use another brand, check the label.

It’s the same with barbeque sauces. Some are gluten- and dairy-free, some aren’t.

For this recipe, I can recommend using Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ sauce. They have another 8 products that are GF. 

Here’s a list of gluten-free barbeque sauces. It should be easy to find at least a few of those in any grocery store.

If you try this kid-friendly chili out, I’d love to hear what you think! Also check out these Gluten-free Uncrustables for another fun kid-friendly treat. Enjoy!