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    Hummusapien » Recipes » Soups » Vegetarian Chili

    Vegetarian Chili

    Published Dec 1, 2016 · Modified Nov 8, 2021 · by Alexis Joseph · 51 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This delicious vegetarian chili is packed with hearty beans, warming spices, and a couple secret ingredients for a super flavorful and healthy meatless meal. Serve with cornbread!

    Raise your hand if you're doing somersaults over the earth-shattering name of this recipe.

    This delicious vegetarian chili is packed with hearty beans, warming spices, and a couple secret ingredients for a super flavorful and healthy meatless meal. Serve with cornbread!

    Same.

    VEGE. TARIAN. CHIL. EEEEE!

    I couldn't call it "classic" because it has hummusapien-esque ingredients like cinnamon and cacao and you're probably all like "who the heck puts chocolate in chili" and I'm like "this girl!"

    I couldn't call it "healthy" because...well isn't that implied?

    I couldn't call it "hearty" because...see above.

    So I called it "Vegetarian Chili" and hoped that you'd not judge a book by its boring cover. Anywho, I have a love love relationship with chili because it's so darn simple. You dump everything in the pot, let it cook away (the longer the better, my loves), and thank the heavens for a stick-to-yo'-bones meatless meal in a bowl that'll keep you full for all the hours.

    This delicious vegetarian chili is packed with hearty beans, warming spices, and a couple secret ingredients for a super flavorful and healthy meatless meal. Serve with cornbread!

    No, it doesn't taste like chocolate. Do you want it to? I can't lie...I've been known to double the cacao powder. Don't I always? Along with the cinnamon, chocolate really deepens the flavor. Life's too short for lame chili. Put some pep in your dinner step!

    I made a batch of Skillet Jalapeño Cornbread to accompany this lovely vegetarian chili and I must say, crumbling a muff on top was by far my favorite serving method. Cornbread in every single bite was what I wanted and cornbread in every single bite was what I got.

    The first time I made this I added a quarter teaspoon of cayenne and it was like HELLO. If you like things really spicy, go for it. If not, de-seed the jalapeño and find spice in your life outside of this chili.

    This delicious vegetarian chili is packed with hearty beans, warming spices, and a couple secret ingredients for a super flavorful and healthy meatless meal. Serve with cornbread!

    I love Thursdays because they're almost Friday which is almost the weekend. Also, Rent Pandora is on right now and I'm feeling like super giddy and weird.

    Yeah, I like plays.

    But not as much as I like you and this chili!!

    Print
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    Vegetarian Chili

    ★★★★★ 5 from 13 reviews
    • Prep Time: 15 mins
    • Cook Time: 2 hours 15 mins
    • Total Time: 2 hours 30 mins
    • Yield: 4
    • Category: Main Meal
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This delicious vegetarian chili is packed with hearty beans, warming spices, and a couple secret ingredients for a super flavorful and healthy meatless meal. Serve with cornbread!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 medium onion, diced
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 bell pepper, diced
    • 1 large carrot, finely diced
    • 1 large stalk celery, finely diced
    • 1 jalapeño, diced (remove seeds if you don't like spice)
    • 2 ½ tbsp chili powder
    • ½ tbsp cocoa powder
    • 2 tsp cumin
    • 1 tsp smoked paprika
    • 1 tsp oregano
    • ½ tsp salt + black pepper, to taste
    • 1-28oz can diced tomatoes, with juices
    • ¼ cup tomato paste
    • 2-15oz cans beans (I used pinto and black beans) drained and rinsed

    Instructions

    1. Add olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Once hot, add onion and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for about five minutes.
    2. Add pepper, carrot, celery, and jalapeño and cook for another five minutes. Add chili powder, cocoa powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for about a minute.
    3. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and beans, stirring to combine. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat to medium low and simmer (there should be tiny bubbles), uncovered for at least 30 minutes or ideally two hours for the most flavor. Serve with crunchy corn chips or cornbread and sliced jalapeños if desired.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @hummusapien on Instagram. I love sharing what you make!

    This delicious vegetarian chili is packed with hearty beans, warming spices, and a couple secret ingredients for a super flavorful and healthy meatless meal. Serve with cornbread!

    DID YOU MAKE IT?!

    I love seeing your creations! Let me know how you liked this recipe in the comments below or snap a pic on Instagram with the hashtag #hummusapien! You can also upload a pic to the Hummusapien Facebook page.  I love to re-post my favorites!

    About Alexis Joseph


    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food.

    Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Abby says

      April 21, 2021 at 9:46 pm

      Easily the best chili I’ve ever made! We paired it with baked potatoes made in the air fryer and it was sooooo good.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        April 22, 2021 at 10:16 am

        Yessss, so glad Abby!

        Reply
    2. Allie Dunn says

      October 19, 2020 at 12:04 am

      the BEST chili recipe ever!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        October 19, 2020 at 11:41 am

        Thank you so much!!

        Reply
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    Well HELLO there, pal! I'm Alexis. Welcome to Hummusapien, a fantastical food blog brimming with nourishing (always delish!) recipes from a Registered Dietitian plus life tidbits to inspire you to live your most joyful, balanced life. Grab a super hot cup o' joe and let's get cookin'.

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