• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Cheeky Chickpea
  • Home
  • Instant Pot
  • Sign up
  • About Vera
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • All Recipes
  • Sign up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Instant Pot
  • 30 Minute Vegan Recipes
  • Breakfast & Baking
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Gluten free
  • Mains
  • Salads
  • Sauces & Dressings
  • Snacks & Sides
  • Soups
  • Vegan Holiday Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • All Recipes
    • Sign up
    • About
    • Contact
    • Instant Pot
    • 30 Minute Vegan Recipes
    • Breakfast & Baking
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Gluten free
    • Mains
    • Salads
    • Sauces & Dressings
    • Snacks & Sides
    • Soups
    • Vegan Holiday Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Mains

    Ultimate Vegan Chili Recipe

    Updated: Jan 26, 2021 by Vera Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links · 93 Comments

    41644 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe
    best vegan Chili recipe in two white bowls

    My Ultimate Vegan Chili Recipe is quick and easy, healthy and has the best flavour. It ticks all the boxes, savoury, spicy, sweet and tangy. It's the ultimate comfort food and it's gluten free!

    vegan chili in a white bowl with salsa and avocado

    I love Chili!! And any dish remotely resembling Mexican food, haha. This is my go to Vegan Chili recipe, and husband approved, woot woot! - he loves this dish. Another Win for me!

    I used to make my Chili with beef and pork. So I wanted to recreate this Chili without having to add meat (obviously, lol) and I definitely pulled it off! It's Protein packed and super satisfying and really is the Ultimate Vegan Chili Recipe!

    two bowls of vegan Chili with salsa and avocado on top

    You can easily add your favourite meat crumbles to this Chili for a meatier texture and if you add TVP I suggest pre soaking it first. Once in awhile I'll fry up a block of crumbled tofu in a non stick skillet set to medium. I add a few seasonings and cook for about 20 minutes. It works perfectly for that meaty chew! ( no I did not use tofu in these photos, this is my straight up Awesome Chili).

    vegan Chili in two bowls with salsa and avocado on top

    I like to serve this Vegan Chili with a side of basmati rice, garlic bread and a green salad. My daughters enjoy eating it with Pico de gallo, avocados, or Guacamole and sour cream and tortilla chips.

    My absolute favourite way to eat this Chili is on a Vegan Hotdog with mustard and finely diced white onion- OMG THE BEST!! It's also perfectly delicious on its own?

    vegan Chili in a pot with a wooden spoon

    Ok let's get to my Ultimate Vegan Chili Recipe and how to make it:

    Start by sautéing all the veggies till softened. Then add in the rest of ingredients to the pot and cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Remove a ladle full or so of Chili, blend it up in your Nutria Bullet or Blender and return it to the pot. Give the Chili a stir then taste for seasonings and serve. Yum! Vegan Chili in a jiffy. Check out full recipe in the recipe card below?

    six picture collage how to make vegan chili

    This recipe will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, and freezes well.

    vegan Chili on a wooden spoon

    Ok let's make some Vegan Chili! You'll love this recipe it’s:

    Protein packed
    Healthy
    Easy
    gluten free
    Savoury
    Satisfying
    A great main dish

    Other comforting Vegan Mains you'd like:
    Vegan Mac and Cheese
    Best Vegan Alfredo Sauce with Fettuccine

    Enjoy! ? Happy day to you! Feel free to leave a comment and rate this recipe I'd love to hear from you!

    FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST AND INSTAGRAM❤️

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    vegan chili in a white bowl with salsa and avocado

    Ultimate Vegan Chili Recipe


    ★★★★★

    5 from 28 reviews

    • Author: Verna
    • Total Time: 50 minutes
    • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    My Ultimate Vegan Chili Recipe is quick and easy, healthy and has the best flavour. It ticks all the boxes, savoury, spicy, sweet and tangy. It's the ultimate comfort food and it's gluten free!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF INGREDIENTS BUT IT IS MOSTLY SPICES

    • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
    • 1 tablespoon of oil (optional), I use grape seed oil
    • 1 green pepper, diced
    • 1 red , or orange, or yellow pepper, diced
    • 4-6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
    • 2 stalks of celery, diced
    • 1 (398 ml) (14 fl oz) can of Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes or Regular Canned diced Tomatoes (see notes*)
    • 1 and 3/4 cups of water
    • 1 tablespoon of Better Than Bouillon Vegetarian No Beef Soup Base, ( there is an organic version as well but I have not tried it)
    • 3 tablespoons of Chili Powder
    • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
    • 1 tsp Ancho Chili Powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon of granulated garlic
    • 1 tablespoon of sugar or substitute maple syrup
    • 1 tsp of yellow mustard
    • 2 (540 ml) (19 fl oz) cans of pinto beans, rinsed and drained
    • 1 (540 ml) (19 fl 0z) can of red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

    OPTIONAL TOPPINGS FOR CHILI:

    • cilantro
    • Pico De Gallo or Salsa
    • sliced avocado or Guacamole
    • sour cream
    • green onions
    • finely diced white onion ( my favourite)

    Instructions

    1. Heat a 5-6 quart Dutch Oven or heavy bottomed pot on medium heat, then add the oil ( or water or veggie stock), diced onion and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    2. Next add in the garlic, peppers and celery and cook for 5-7 minutes, until veggies are softening, stirring a few times.
    3. Now add the rest of ingredients to the pot and stir. Bring the Chili to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover for 25 minutes. Stir once or twice.
    4. After 25 minutes uncover the Chili and add one soup ladle full of Chili to your Nutra Bullet or Blender and blend until smooth (optional). Add the puree back to the Chili. Stir and Serve.
    5. Enjoy the Chili by itself or serve with your favourite toppings!

    Notes

    • this Chili will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days
    • It's totally freezer friendly
    • if you'd like the Chili saucier (or if you're adding vegan meat crumbles) add another small can of roasted or regular diced tomatoes.
    • feel free to add your favourite vegan crumbles. If you use TVP I recommend pre soaking it.
    • I quite often will add 1 and 1/2 to 2 cups of Gardein Meatless ground crumbles (and yes I definitely add the another small can of tomatoes!)? It's delicious! (add after, or if) you've pureed a ladle of chili and cook for 5 more minutes)
    • this Chili is SO good on a Vegan Hotdog with mustard and a little finely diced white onion!
    • I have made my Chili with Fire Roasted Tomatoes and regular Diced Tomatoes, they're equally delicious.
    • If you use Seasoned Fire Roasted Tomatoes omit the onion powder and granulated garlic.
    • Once in awhile I will add cooked, crumbled tofu to my Chili. I crumble the tofu into a good quality non stick skillet with a few spices and cook on medium heat for 20 minutes. It's a great 'Meaty' addition.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 35 minutes
    • Category: Mains, gluten free
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: best vegan chili recipe, vegan chili, spicy, best, easy, recipe,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cheeky_chickpea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #cheeky_chickpea_

    More Mains

    • Sweet and Sour Tofu
    • Hearty Vegan Vegetable Soup
    • Easy Vegan Pad Thai
    • Mexican Tater Tot Casserole (Vegan)
    41644 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deborah Lewis

      October 30, 2022 at 9:51 am

      My husband loved this recipe! This will be my go to for long cold nights! Thank you for sharing! We adding the gardein crumble and some roasted tomatoes with the 3 beans kidney black beans and pinto amazing. We were a little hesitant about the mustard and maple syrup but it definitely helped with the heat and was a great addition to the chili.

      Reply
      • Verna Rindler

        October 30, 2022 at 11:32 am

        So glad you both enjoyed the Chili Deborah, feel free to leave a star rating - really helpful:)

        Reply
    2. Jane Curtis

      October 17, 2022 at 11:19 am

      Hello Verna,
      I am new to using Instant Pot & wondered if you could give me timings to make this in it? It sounds so delicious.

      Reply
      • Verna

        October 17, 2022 at 3:24 pm

        Hi Jane this particular recipe has not been tested in the instant pot so I cannot say. 🙂

        Reply
        • Jane Curtis

          October 18, 2022 at 1:32 am

          Thank you Verna.

          Reply
          • Verna

            October 18, 2022 at 6:37 am

            You're welcome! I will be adding a instant pot vegan chili recipe in the near future 🙂

            Reply
            • Jane Curtis

              October 18, 2022 at 7:00 am

              👍 Look forward to seeing it.

    3. Carole

      August 15, 2022 at 4:32 pm

      The best thing about this recipe is that you can follow it exactly, or tweak it to fit what veggies you have on hand, and it's always delicious! I add a couple of diced jalapenos and I mix up the types of beans that I use. Thank you for an excellent recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        August 16, 2022 at 6:41 am

        I am so happy you're enjoying the chili recipe Carole. Thanks so much for the wonderful review! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Jeff

      May 12, 2022 at 9:47 am

      Wat to go this was amazing chili. It didn't even need any vegan meat!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        May 12, 2022 at 9:47 am

        thank you so much!

        Reply
    5. Linda

      February 07, 2022 at 5:17 pm

      Made this for the first time tonight…will definitely make it again! There’s so much flavor, even eliminating the onion and garlic (made it for a guest on a FODMAP diet). We all loved it! Added Beyond crumbles for added texture!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        February 08, 2022 at 11:53 am

        Thanks for your feedback Linda. I am so happy you all enjoyed the chili!

        Reply
    6. Isabella

      January 30, 2022 at 6:21 am

      I’ve been making this recipe for the last 2 years! Obsessed

      Reply
      • Verna

        January 30, 2022 at 7:31 am

        You made my day Isabella! Delighted you're enjoying it. Please feel free to leave a star rating, really helpful 🙂

        Reply
    7. Liz

      January 20, 2022 at 6:33 pm

      AMAZING !!!! Family Friendly and easy peasy !!! We added Beef-less ground beef from Trader Joe’s and it was amazing. My kids and family loved it. Definitely keep this recipe handy. Perfect for crowds, potluck, football season!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        January 21, 2022 at 8:02 am

        Thank you for your review Liz, very helpful, and so kind. So happy your family enjoyed it! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Jackson

      January 07, 2022 at 5:16 am

      Finally! Look at vegan recipes through the eyes of someone who is not vegan. That's some weird ingredients and very confusing. So I was looking for a vegan chili recipe for company and I found yours!!! It's totally normal!! Thank you!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        January 07, 2022 at 8:55 am

        You're very welcome enjoy Jackson!

        Reply
    9. KM

      December 31, 2021 at 3:32 pm

      Best. Chili. Ever. Thanks for the recipe!

      Happy New Year!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        December 31, 2021 at 6:17 pm

        Thank you so much! Really appreciate your feedback and Happy New Year to you too!! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Lisa

      October 25, 2021 at 8:33 am

      I love this recipe!! I used only 1 TBS chili powder and 2 tsp cumin, and I didn't have ancho chili powder. It has such a great flavor! I love the sweetness of the maple syrup. This is one of my favorite recipes on Pinterest.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        October 25, 2021 at 2:47 pm

        Thank you so much Lisa! What a nice compliment! I recommend grabbing some ancho chili powder for next time, it is a really nice addition.

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Vera Morgan profile pic - Vegan recipes

    Hi, I’m Vera! Major foodie of all things vegan! Welcome to The Cheeky Chickpea; here, you’ll find hundreds of restaurant-worthy easy vegan recipes. Some oil-free and gluten-free, from veggie-powered plant-based comfort foods to decadent desserts. Lots of tricks and tips up my chef sleeve…Grab your apron let’s get cooking!

    More about me →

    • Mail
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Categories

    Popular Posts

    • The Best Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake
    • Best Vegan Meatballs! (Impossible Burger)
    • 5 Minute Vegan Ramen (Instant Noodles)
    • Ultimate Vegan Chili Recipe
    • Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe! (Impossible Burger)
    • Sweet and Spicy Chili Garlic Noodles

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Nutritional Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About
    • Contact
    • Affiliate and Photo Policy

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 The Cheeky Chickpea