Being a busy mom, I barely have time to juggle it all. Because of that, crockpots are one of my most favorite things. A woman clearly invented them because they save SO much time. Any mama knows that time is precious and laundry piles grow like mountains, dog hair turns into bunnies, and soap scum builds up like a slip-n-slide. So any extra time is like finding a four leafed clover. Crockpots are a kitchen’s hidden gem 🙂

When Frisky Fall started and we outlined our goals, besides starting a blog, another was attempting new TIU approved recipes. Since it still feels like summer outside, we pretend it’s fall inside, so I wanted to whip up something hearty yet healthy. My mom’s chili has always been a favorite of mine (it’s Mom Monday with her two favorite recipes being featured today!), so I wanted to clean it up a bit (it was already super healthy). Rather than solely serving it as chili, I turned it into a veggie packed meat sauce, and served it with zoodles. Have you heard of zoodles? They’re my latest obsession…zucchini noodles. You can buy a spiralizer via Amazon and it makes them so quick and easy!! And it’s an inexpensive kitchen gadget that works wonders for being under $30.

If you’re in the mood for a family fall favorite, try this yummy, protein packed meat sauce the next time you want to dust off your crockpot 🙂

Mama JuneBug’s Chili turned Veggie Packed Meat Sauce –

Ingredients:

2 pounds organic, all-natural lean ground turkey or chicken
Three organic carrots or one cup baby carrots (sliced)
1 yellow onion (chopped)
4-6 garlic cloves (depending on how much of a garlic fan you are), peeled and chopped or 1 1/2 TBP pre-minced garlic
1/2 tsp Hot sauce
1 orange or red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
2 minced or chopped Jalapeños
1 cup Fresh or frozen green beans
1 can organic, no salt added garbanzo beans
1 can organic, no salt added kidney beans (drain & rinse)
1 can organic, no salt added chili or pinto beans beans (drain & rinse)
3 tbsp organic tomato paste
1 medium-sized can (15oz I think?) organic, diced tomatoes (don’t drain or rinse)
1 large can chopped tomatoes (28oz I think; don’t drain or rinse
2 medium, organic celery stalks, chopped

Spices/seasoning ingredients:

3 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp Mexican oregano or dry basil, whichever you prefer. Can house plain oregano also
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp hot sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp cumin

Directions:

1. In large skillet, cook ground turkey until cooked all the way through.
2. Add ground turkey and all other ingredients to crock pot (drain and rinse beans).
3. Cook on high 2-4 hours or low 4-8.