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+ servings
Vegan chili.

Best Ever Vegan Chili

Justine Drosdovech
This vegan chili recipe is hearty, satisfying, and full of complex flavors. Serve it with vegan cornbread and sour cream for the ultimate feast!
5 from 38 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Servings 6 servings
Calories 348 kcal

Equipment

  • Large stockpot
  • Chef knife
  • Cutting board

Ingredients
 

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 medium yellow or red onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium red or green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, cubed into ½-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons ancho chilli powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin powder
  • ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
  • 1 28 fluid-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 ½ cups cooked red chili beans
  • 1 ½ cups cooked black beans
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 recipe vegan ground beef

For serving optional

Instructions
 

  • First, prepare a recipe of vegan ground beef, or use store-bought veggie ground.
  • In the meantime, heat the avocado oil in a large stockpot over medium. Add in the chopped onion and garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until the onions are translucent.
  • Add the chopped bell peppers, carrots, celery, and sweet potatoes. Stir to combine.
  • Mix in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cocoa powder, and coconut sugar. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Pour in the canned tomatoes and their juices, black beans, red beans, corn, and vegetable broth. Stir everything until well combined, then bring the mixture to a low boil.
  • Lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.
  • Once the vegetables are softened, mash them slightly by hand in the pot, or remove 2 cups of chili and blend it in a food processor or blender. Once blended, add it back into the pot and stir.
  • Lastly, mix in the cooked vegan ground beef and lime juice. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, taste, and add salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the other seasonings as needed.
  • Serve your vegan chili with any of the following: quinoa, green onions, cilantro, cashew cream, coconut yogurt, plant-based cheese shreds, or lime wedges. Happy eating!

Notes

  • Fresh beans: Making chili with fresh beans makes a huge difference in texture and flavor. We recommend cooking beans from dry before adding them to the chili.
  • Fresh spices: Spices are what impart the majority of flavor in this recipe, so make sure they’re fresh or have been stored correctly. Better yet, toast and grind whole chile peppers yourself!
  • Simmer low and slow: Give the flavors time to meld together by gently simmering the chili low and slow. As a bonus, it tastes even better the next day!
  • Taste and adjust: Making chili is an art, so you really need to taste and adjust the seasonings to suit your taste.
  • Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 8.1g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 350mg | Potassium: 570mg | Fiber: 10g | Vitamin A: 3090IU | Vitamin C: 82mg | Calcium: 240mg | Iron: 2.16mg
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