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Cincinnati-Style Lentil Chili

Cincinnati-Style Lentil Chili brings a gently spiced, slightly sweet profile with cocoa notes that round out the tomato base and aromatic warm spices. Tender lentils create a hearty, velvety texture that’s comforting without being heavy, perfect for chilly evenings or casual game-day dinners. Serve it over spaghetti or with toppings like onions and cheese to echo the classic parlor style.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook1 hr 20 mins
  • Serves10
  • DifficultyMedium
Cincinnati-Style Lentil Chili

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Cincinnati-Style Lentil Chili, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

54 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
60 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
14 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
100 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
1 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

35
Heart Health
80
Metabolic
52
Digestive
32
Inflammatory
50
Performance
54
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Mix the chili powder, unsweetened chocolate, garlic powder, cinnamon, cumin, bay leaf, salt, cayenne pepper, allspice, and cloves in a bowl until evenly combined.

  2. 2

    Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and bell peppers; cook and stir until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the vegetable broth and lentils; simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, seasoning mix, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce; simmer for 1 hour, adding water if the chili becomes too thick.

  3. 3

    Remove the bay leaf. Blend the chili with an immersion blender until it reaches your desired consistency.

About This Recipe

Cincinnati Style Lentil Chili is made with 19 ingredients and serves 10. It takes about 1 hr 35 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, and Diced Green Bell Pepper. Each serving provides about 160.63 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.

Recipe Questions

What is Cincinnati-Style Lentil Chili made of?
The main ingredients are Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, Diced Green Bell Pepper, Diced Onion. The full list of 19 is above.
How long does it take to make Cincinnati-Style Lentil Chili?
About 1 hr 35 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 1 hr 20 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 160.63 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Cincinnati-Style Lentil Chili easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 19 ingredients and 3 steps.
Is Cincinnati-Style Lentil Chili healthy?
Cincinnati-Style Lentil Chili has an easyChef Pro health score of 54/100. Per serving, it provides 160.63 calories and 8.92 g of protein, or 18% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin A. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 624.18 mg (27% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 1.27 g (6% of the Daily Value). It contains Soy, Chocolate, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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