• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • meet the team
  • blogger resources
  • Contact Me
My Account
Member Dashboard
40 Aprons Premium (Ad Free!)

40 Aprons

Delicious, Healthy-ish Meals for the Whole Family

  • All Recipes
  • Most Popular
    • Cheryl’s Favorite Recipes
    • 30-Minute Recipes
    • Creamy Soups
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Casseroles
    • One-Dish Wonders
  • Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Baking
    • Crockpot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Sous Vide
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Cooking Basics
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Dips & Salsas
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Meal Prep
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Cuisine
    • American
    • Asian
    • Indian
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican & Latin
    • Southern
Home Blog Course Main Course

Vegan Chili

Cheryl Malik
Cheryl Malik Posted: 09/10/19 Updated: 04/11/23
4.86
/5
22 Comments
Jump to Recipe
DF Dairy Free GF Gluten Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Vegan chili Pinterest graphic
Vegan chili Pinterest graphic
Vegan chili Pinterest graphic
Vegan chili Pinterest graphic

This vegan chili is the best! It’s rich, delicious, and filling, and it doesn’t taste vegan. Made with beans, dark beer, tomatoes, chipotle peppers, and quinoa, it’s a perfect healthy, meatless dinner during tailgating season, fall, or winter. Super easy to make and perfect with cornbread. Soy free.

Chili served in a bowl with a spoon and piece of cornbread

Why This Recipe is so Good

  • This is a healthy weeknight meal, it’s low in fat and each serving is under 400 calories.
  • This chili is a well balanced meal, with fiber, protein and lots of vitamins and minerals from the veggies.
  • This vegan chili recipe is naturally soy and gluten-free.
  • It comes together quickly and it is so full of flavor!
  • It’s perfect for meal prep and make ahead meals.

Why You’ll Love It

This is a great chili recipe for a weeknight meal. Often, chili recipes require a long cooking time, but this meal only takes 45 minutes to make. It’s high in fiber and protein, so it keeps you feeling full and I promise you won’t even miss the meat! This is a great dish for those trying to cut down on their meat intake and it’s full of rich and smokey flavors.

Perfect for Meal Prep and Make-Ahead Meals

Chili is a great option if you are looking to cook in bulk for easy to grab meals throughout the week, and my vegan version is no exception. This recipe makes eight hearty servings and leftovers will keep in the fridge for around five days. It also freezes really well. I love to cook a big batch, freeze some, and keep some in the fridge for an easy heat up meal later in the week.

Vagan chili in a pot with a wooden spoon

A Well-Balanced Meatless Meal

This vegan chili recipe has a ton of healthy and tasty ingredients in it:

  • Beans – there is a good helping of beans in this meal, which are an amazing source of protein and fiber. They are nutrient dense and a great source of folate, zinc and iron.
  • Quinoa – Naturally gluten-free, this grain is high in B vitamins, iron, antioxidants and protein.
  • Veggies – the mushrooms, onions and peppers all contain a great variety of vitamins and minerals.
  • Tomatoes – the canned tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C and K, antioxidants and potassium.

Chef’s Tips

  • You can use any canned beans you like in this recipe, kidney, pinto and black beans all work well.
  • You can swap the beer for a vegetable broth if you prefer.
  • To serve, top the chili with all your favorites like avocado, dairy free sour cream, fresh coriander and jalapeños.
Vegan chili served in a white bowl with toppings

Be sure to check out these other tasty vegan recipes!

  • Vegan and Paleo Cereal
  • The Best Vegan Queso Blanco
  • Vegan Enchiladas
  • Seitan Grilled Chicken with Vegan BBQ Sauce
  • Vegan Chocolate Truffles
  • Quick and Creamy Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry
  • Vegan Seitan “Chicken”

Hey – you’ve made it this far, so now we’re basically best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook, too!

A bowl of vegan chili with a piece of cornbread
4.86 from 7 votes

Vegan Chili

Prep:15 minutes minutes
Cook:45 minutes minutes
A delicious chili that doesn't taste vegan. Rich and filling, with beans, dark beer, tomatoes, chipotle peppers, and a bit of quinoa. Perfect with cornbread! Made without soy or faux-meat products.
Print Save Saved! Click Here to Remove Ads
8 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil or other neutral oil, divided
  • 2 medium onions chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 ounces mushrooms chopped
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 6- oz can tomato paste
  • 1 cup dark beer like stout. See Note
  • 1 14.5- ounce can roasted diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 2 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • salt and black pepper
  • 3 15- ounce cans beans like kidney, pinto, or black beans, drained. See Note
  • 1-2 cups bean liquid to desired consistency

Toppings

  • chopped yellow onion
  • dairy-free sour cream or yogurt
  • jalapenos fresh or pickled
  • fresh cilantro chopped

Equipment

  • heavy bottomed pot

Instructions 

  • Add 1 1/2 tablespoons oil to a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; sauté until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add remaining oil then mushrooms. Sauté until softened, about another 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the spices (oregano, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and cumiand stir until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Stir in the tomato paste and cook about 4-5 minutes or until a darker red color and scorching on the bottom.
  • Pour in remaining ingredients, starting with 1 cup bean liquid, and stir. Add in an extra cup of bean liquid if you prefer a soupier chili. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and simmer 30 minutes.
  • Top with diced avocado, chopped yellow onion, fresh cilantro, dairy-free sour cream, etc., and serve with cornbread.

Notes

I like to use 2 cans dark kidney beans and 1 can light kidney beans.
Instead of canned beans, you can also use 4 1/2 cups cooked dried beans.
If you prefer not to use beer in this chili, swap the beer out for 1 cup veggie broth or more bean liquid.
Keeps in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 388kcal, Protein: 20g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 400mg, Potassium: 1225mg, Total Carbs: 62g, Fiber: 18g, Sugar: 8g, Net Carbs: 44g, Vitamin A: 2215IU, Vitamin C: 11.4mg, Calcium: 121mg, Iron: 8.1mg

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

 

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

 

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

© Author: Cheryl Malik

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @40aprons on social and be sure to leave a review on the blog post!

Rate Recipe Tag Me on Instagram
Cheryl Malik

Meet Cheryl Malik

In addition to being a certified health coach, certified yoga instructor, and mom of 3, Cheryl is also the recipe developer, editor-in-chief, food photographer, and passionate foodie behind 40 Aprons. Having spent the last 10+ years as a food blogger, she's become known for her flavorful recipes, detailed instructions, gorgeous photography, and down-to-earth approach to food and cooking in general.

Read more...

You may also like...

  • Blueberry Oatmeal Pancakes (Vegan, Gluten Free)
  • These paleo & vegan peppermint frosted brownies are so rich and delicious, a perfect healthy holiday recipe! Gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free, these paleo & vegan peppermint frosted brownies will surprise everyone with just how indulgent they are! Bound to become a new favorite paleo holiday recipe or vegan holiday recipe!
    Paleo & Vegan Peppermint Frosted Brownies (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Front view of Nutella gluten free brownies.
    Nutella Brownies (Gluten Free)

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. AvatarBen says

    Posted on 6/5/21 at 4:21 pm

    I’ve seen other recipes use cacao instead of beer would that be ok?

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 6/22/21 at 5:08 pm

      Sure!

      Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

meet cheryl

 

Passionate foodie, certified health coach, serial entrepreneur, and mom of 3, I've been developing and sharing delicious, approachable recipes on 40 Aprons for more than a decade. My goal is simple: take the chore out of mealtime by creating recipes that anyone can cook and that never skimp on flavor.

 

Learn More

what sounds good?

popular now

Green steamed artichokes stuffed with a baked cheese and breadcrumb mixture between each petal.

Stuffed Artichokes

overhead image of baked turkey wings in a baking dish with beer on the side

Baked Turkey Wings

Paleo stuffing recipe in a white baking dish

Best Paleo Stuffing (Healthy, Gluten-Free, Grain Free)

Roasted turkey on a platter with Thanksgiving trimmings

How to Cook a Turkey Perfectly (with Gravy)

More Goodies + NO Ads!

Become a 40 Aprons Premium Member!

Get the Details

seasonal faves

Bright red cranberry margaritas shown in stemless glasses rimmed with salt. Drinks are garnished with cranberries, rosemary, and lime wedges.

Cranberry Margarita

Overhead view of a white oval Crockpot containing a green bean casserole topped with crispy fried onions on a neutral tabletop.

Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

Overhead view of a rectangular container, sitting at an angle, filled with a brine, aromatics, and an uncooked turkey.

Quick Turkey Brine

Butternut squash cooked 3 different ways.

How To Cook Butternut Squash (in the Oven, Instant Pot, or Microwave)

As seen on:

More Goodies + NO Ads!

Become a 40 Aprons Premium Member!

All the 40 Aprons content you love - now even better.

  • Member-Exclusive Recipes
  • Meal Plans & Grocery Lists
  • eBooks
  • NO ADS!
Join now

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimers

Contact

© 2023 40 Aprons
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
7893 shares