My seven-year-old daughter is a pretty healthy eater. She’s crazy about vegetables and she likes lean protein. I mean, she loves candy and chips and all of the other garbage food, too,but if she gets a “treat” at the grocery store, her choice is usually a can of green beans. She doesn’t get her admirable eating habits from either of her parents, that’s for sure.
Her current obsession is these Tasty Bite Madras Lentils. They are super convenient, and she can cook them herself in the microwave safe pouch, which she would do for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if we let her. The problem is, they aren’t cheap. These Indian lentils cost between $3 and $4 a pouch at our local grocery store, and my girl demolishes an entire pouch herself.
You guys! I’m so happy with how these turned out! This Crock Pot Madras Lentil recipe did not disappoint. It was easy to whip up, and it made a good amount of lentils. My girl happily ate three bowls of it the first night, and her brother did the same. Honestly, I’m shocked they didn’t get bellyaches from all those beans. We did such good work on the Crock Pot Madras Lentils, I didn’t get a chance to freeze any.
I guess I need to make another batch!
I used my 6 Quart Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker to make this Crock Pot Madras Lentils recipe.
Crock Pot Madras Lentils
INGREDIENTS
1/2 lb dried lentils
1 4 oz can diced green chilis
1 15 oz can small red kidney beans
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 medium onion, minced
6 cups beef or vegetable broth
1 TBSP chili powder
1 TBSP cumin
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients EXCEPT HEAVY CREAM in slow cooker and stir to combine.
Cover and cook on LOW 4 to 5 hours.
Stir in heavy cream.
Using an immersion blender (or a blender or food processor in batches), puree until to desired thickness.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Serve alone or over rice, and top with cheese and/or sour cream.
Crock Pot Madras Lentils
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb dried lentils
- 1 4 oz can diced green chilis
- 1 15 oz can small red kidney beans
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 6 cups beef or vegetable broth
- 1 TBSP chili powder
- 1 TBSP cumin
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients EXCEPT HEAVY CREAM in slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW 4 to 5 hours.
- Stir in heavy cream.
- Using an immersion blender (or a blender or food processor in batches), puree until to desired thickness.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve alone or over rice, and top with cheese or sour cream.
I love how easy this recipe sounds! it’s very similar to my chili recipe. I’m excited to try it, I think my kids will love it!
Thanks, Georgina! I hope your family loves it has much as we do!
I buy these same lentils at Costco for about $1.50/pack (2 servings). Maybe the packs you buy are bigger. Tasty Bite seems to have changed the recipe lately and the result is watery and bland. Your recipe using green chilies really appeals to me, plus it make a lot of servings I can freeze. I’m going to try it. Thanks for sharing.
We tried Tasty Bite first at Costco, but don’t get there often, so we buy it at the local grocery store. I’m not surprised Costco has a better price point! Let me know if you try my version, and I’d love to hear your feedback.
Thanks for the recipe . Yes same here I was looking to recreate or copy tasty bite but unfortunately I was not satisfied with this particular recipe it taste a little to tomatoe sauce like and the spices were a bit more over whelming.
I quess for now I will stick to the slightly over priced costco lintel chile Thanks Chris
Thanks for trying it, Chris! If you find a copy cat recipe you like better, I’d love to try it!
Chris – I added garam masala (Indian spice mix) along with the cumin, chili powder, and red pepper flakes (we like the heat!). The garam masala made this dish, I.M.O.
This worked so well! I subbed cashew cream for the heavy cream and it was delicious! My son also loves the Madras Lentils and he approved this recipe… it’s a pretty big deal!
I made these for my family who also love the packaged ones and it was a hit! Thank you so much for this recipe! I was able to freeze half for another easy dinner.
Would you mind also including how many cups of dried lentils vs. 1/2 pound of dried lentils in the recipe for those of us who don’t have a food scale or are unable to purchase and weigh from a bulk bin? Just a suggestion 🙂
Thank you again for this tasty, spot on recipe!
It was too watery for my taste. Ended up almost doubling the lentils and more than doubling the beans.
I just tried this recipe and it turned out really watery. I ended up taking a third of it and simmering it on the stove to reduce the liquid. I think this recipe would be better made in a saucepan over the stove, or cut the liquid in half.
Mine also tuned out a bit more “liquidy” than I would have liked, and that was after 8+ hours of low crock pot cooking. I added some garam masala powder, which I think made it taste EXACTLY like the Tasty Bite version. Garam masala is an Indian spice mix which you can make yourself or buy already made in most grocery store spice aisles. Thanks for the recipe!
How much garam masala do you use? I trust that is in addition to the listed spices. Thanks
Very good, though also too watery, as others have noted. I’ll reduce the liquid from 6 cups to 5 next time and see how that goes. I also added some other spices: 1.5 tsp paprika, 1 tsp coriander, 1/8 tsp ginger.
I tried and liked this version. Used chopped tomatoes instead though and put it in my hot pot. IT was good. Much less expensive than store or costco.
This didn’t turn out for me, maybe wrong type of lentils? I used French Green lentils and after 8 hours in slow cooker still hard. There wasn’t a specific type listed in directions. Tried the immersion blender but still tough bits in it. Spice pallet is wrong as well taste more Mexican than Indian to me. If you are looking for a Tasty Bite type lentils I would have to say look elsewhere.
Which type of Lentil? Red?
I just put these ingredients in the crockpot! Excited to see how it turns out. My son loves the hot & spicy Tasty Bite so instead of the green chile can we opted for 2 tiny habaneros and a poblano diced from our garden.
Thanks for the recipe! It’s great to have crockpot meals on days we have soccer practice.
Like others have stated mine was a little too watery. Also the lentils were still hard after 5 1/2hrs on low. I did like the taste though