Vegetarian Chili is hearty and delicious, loaded with flavorful veggies, beans, and the best spice mix. Make a batch, and enjoy tasty meals all week—ideal for meal prep!
Other favorite vegetarian meals: Quinoa Black Bean Salad, Bruschetta Pasta, and Vegetarian Tacos.
Flavor-Packed Vegetarian Chili
There’s plenty of evidence here on the blog that I’m obsessed with chili and it turns out some of the most popular recipes on my site are chili variations!
This Taco Chili or this Crockpot White Chicken Chili recipe are both majorly popular and today I’m adding another one to your list of “must-makes.” But instead of adding chicken, sausage, or beef, today i’m leaving out the meat. Don’t close your browser just yet– I promise you’re going to love this veggie version and it’s just as filling as the others!
You’re probably wondering, without the meat, what actually is in Vegetarian Chili. I’ll break down the ingredients below and then share how to make this recipe!
What’s In Vegetarian Chili?
- Lots of veggies: Keep it easy with onion, garlic, and bell pepper. You can add corn later, too.
- Amazing seasoning mix: This uses my favorite seasoning mix from my Crockpot Chili—simple, tasty, and medium spice. Change it up to suit your taste! I use vegetable broth for extra flavor while keeping it vegetarian.
- Plenty of beans: Black and pinto beans make it hearty and filling. You can add kidney beans if you want!
- Tons of toppings: Top with cheese, sour cream, and fresh lime. Other good options are avocado, cilantro, and tortilla strips!
Now that I’ve talked about ingredients, let’s talk process for making a meatless chili!
Storage
How Long Does This Chili Last?
Stored in a sealed container, Vegetarian Chili lasts up to 5 days in the fridge. It may separate, so stir and heat on medium heat on the stove or in the microwave.
Can You Freeze Leftover Vegetarian Chili?
To Freeze as a Meal: Mix ingredients and put in freezer-safe bags. Thaw in the fridge overnight before cooking.
To Freeze Prepared Chili: It loses some texture and flavor, but you can freeze it. Let it cool, then move to sealed bags or containers. Freeze flat for easier thawing. Thaw in the fridge and heat slowly on medium-low heat, stirring gently.
And last, but not least, here are some alternative cooking methods for this veggie chili.
Vegetarian Chili In The Slow Cooker:
- Follow steps 1-3 from the recipe card, then:
- Add undrained diced tomatoes to scrape up any bits from the pan. Transfer to a 4-quart or larger slow cooker and add drained black beans, drained pinto beans, frozen corn, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Stir, cover, and cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 2 hours.
- Remove 1.5 cups of chili, blend until smooth, then stir back into the slow cooker.
- Add fresh lime and cilantro as desired. Adjust seasoning if needed and serve in bowls with your favorite toppings!
In The Instant Pot:
- Using the sauté function, follow the recipe card to cook onion, pepper, garlic, and seasonings.
- Add undrained diced tomatoes to scrape up any bits from the pot.
- Stir in drained black beans, drained pinto beans, frozen corn, vegetable broth, and bay leaf.
- Close the lid, seal the steam vent, and set to HIGH pressure for 7 minutes. It will take about 10-15 minutes to build pressure.
- Once done, wait 5 minutes, then quickly release the steam. Stir.
- Remove 1.5 cups of chili, blend until smooth, then stir back in.
- Add fresh lime and cilantro as desired. Adjust seasoning if needed and serve in bowls with your favorite toppings!
Serving Ideas For Vegetarian Chili:
- Baked potatoes: Add a few spoonfuls of this chili plus some cheese, green onions, and sour cream.
- Navajo tacos: Make or buy some fry bread, top with a few spoonfuls of this chili, and add some cheese and sour cream.
- Taco salad: Use a salad base and dressing and add in a few spoonfuls of leftover chili.
- Bread bowl: For some more carbs (because yum) add this chili to a bread bowl!
- Sides that pair well with this chili: cornbread, biscuits, or grilled cheese.
- Salad side dishes: this Winter Fruit Salad or this Italian Salad.
Vegetarian Chili
Equipment
- Large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven
- Blender
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion diced, 1 cup
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic reduce depending on garlic sensitivity
- 1 red bell pepper diced, 1 heaping cup
- 2 tablespoons ground chili powder
- 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano not ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (4-ounce) can fire-roasted diced green chiles optional
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup vegetable stock or vegetable broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 lime
- Toppings as desired see note 1
Instructions
- Place a large heavy-bottomed pot (or Dutch oven) over medium heat. Pour in olive oil and wait until shimmering, about 20 seconds. Add in diced onion and stir 3–4 minutes. Add diced pepper and cook these veggies, stirring occasionally, until they are all very tender, about 6–9 minutes.
- While veggies are getting soft, mince garlic and measure out all the spices, combining them in a small bowl: chili powder, oregano, cumin, dried basil, salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, pepper, and sugar (see note 2). Stir together and set aside until onion/pepper are tender.
- Add in garlic and all seasonings. Cook, stirring constantly, until seasonings and garlic are fragrant, about 45 seconds to 1 minute. Be careful to not burn.
- Carefully add undrained diced tomatoes (they might sizzle splatter up a bit) and stir. Add in drained and rinsed black beans, drained and rinsed pinto beans, chiles (if desired), frozen corn, and vegetable stock. Add bay leaf.
- Stir to combine everything. Reduce heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer and stir occasionally, 25–30 minutes.
- Remove 1 and 1/2 cups of the chili and transfer to a blender. To avoid a mess, remove your blender lid’s center insert and hold a kitchen towel firmly over the top. Ensure the lid is securely fastened and blend while holding the towel. Once smooth, pour this mixture back into your chili. Stir to combine.
- Add fresh lime and fresh cilantro as desired. Season to taste (I add in a little bit more salt and pepper). Garnish individual bowls with everyone’s favorite toppings. For me, sour cream and Cheddar cheese are must-haves!
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wow! Even my toddler loved this chili, it’s delicious! I didn’t blend halfway through and I also added jalapeño along with extra spices to make it hotter. Will be making again soon!
YAY! Thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Liz! 🙂
I made this soup with all kidney beans because that’s what I had on hand. I served this with feta, red onion, Greek yogurt and cilantro. It was delicious. The seasoning was spot on and I didn’t need to add any other spices or sauces. Great recipe!
Delish! So thrilled you were able to make it work! Thanks Ava! 🙂
This is the chili recipe that got my husband to not miss meat chili! (Although i will still make it at times) Fantastic, definitely recommend. In addition I substitute one can of beans with chili beans and i add a can of tomato paste.
I am so thrilled to hear this! And those subs sound delish! So glad you guys are enjoying this Vegetarian Chili! 🙂
This is my go to vegetarian chili. I’ve made this chili 5 or 6 times. Every time I make it I get rave reviews and I send them to your page. I just made a triple batch tonight for a party tomorrow! The only thing I change is I leave out the sugar- trying to cut out sugar where I can- and I think it still holds up. I love blending 1/2, it creates a fantastic depth. Thank you for a great recipe!
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Shannon! 🙂
I never make chili but the neighborhood was having a chili cook-off so I used your recipe
plus a little sugar and I won second place!
I am so thrilled to hear this! Wahoo! Thanks so much Arline! 🙂
This was AMAZING! The spices were perfect and by far the best chili I’ve ever had! Every recipe I have made of yours has been delicious and loved by my family and friends! Thanks to you, they think I’m an excellent cook!
I am SO thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Tina! 🙂
Delicious and lots of healthy attributes!
So happy you’re enjoying! Thanks Sarah! 🙂
try maple syrup instead of sugar
I’d like to make this in the instant pot. How long would the cooking time be?
Sorry Brenda, I’ve never tested this recipe in the Instant Pot. I’m not entirely sure if it would work or if it would end up being to thick that it wouldn’t come to pressure.
Made this with vegan ground “turkey” that I cooked along with the onions, added cornbread biscuits on top and baked at 425 until the biscuits were done (rather than simmering for 30 min), and didn’t bother with the blending; and honestly, this was the BEST chili I’ve ever had. The flavor is incredible, the spice level was perfect for me but would be very easy to adjust for other palettes, and it was just really quick and easy to make. I’ll never use another chili recipe after finding this one.
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Erica! 🙂
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