For years and years, my healthy turkey chili has been one of the most popular recipes on Ambitious Kitchen and for good reason. It’s cozy, hearty, flavorful and perfect for game day.
This year, I wanted to bring you both a vegan and vegetarian chili recipe that was just as delicious, full of feel-good veggies, plant based protein, and of course, as crave-worthy without the meat. In an effort to eat more (and bring you more) plant based meals, I’ve already made it a few times this year and Tony loves it.
We had the leftovers over tortilla chips with some cheese for a game day chili nachos and it was fabulous. Another way to enjoy it? Over roasted sweet potatoes, then top it with cheese, avocado and hot sauce. SO GOOD and an awesome way to reinvent leftovers.
Ingredients in homemade vegetarian chili
This incredible vegetarian chili recipe is made with super simple ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen and pantry. There’s no meat or dairy, making it vegan too! All you need are a few cans of beans (I love kidney beans in my chili), veggies, spices and crushed tomatoes. To make this plant based chili you’ll need:
- Veggies: we’re adding onion, carrot, bell pepper, sweet potato and corn for the perfect mix of hearty veggies.
- Garlic: always want to add garlic for delicious flavor.
- Green chiles: you’ll need a can of mild green chiles for a mild kick of spice.
- The perfect chili spice blend: chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, garlic powder, paprika & cayenne pepper
- Crushed tomatoes: the base of the vegetarian chili is made with crushed tomatoes.
- Vegetarian broth: feel free to use vegetarian broth or water to perfectly thin out the chili a bit.
- Beans: we’re using both black beans & kidney beans for a delicious boost of plant-based protein in this chili recipe.
I love topping this easy vegetarian chili with tortilla chips, a squeeze of lime juice, shredded cheese, avocado, cilantro and a dollop of sour cream or greek yogurt. If you like a little more heat (like I do) I recommend a few jalapeño slices, too! Feel free to customize your toppings to your heart’s content and use a vegan cheese + yogurt or sour cream to keep this recipe vegan.
How to make vegetarian chili from scratch
- Place oil in a large pot and place over medium high heat. Add in garlic, onion, diced carrot, red bell pepper, cubed sweet potatoes and green chiles; saute for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Next add in chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper; stir for about 30 seconds.
- Finally add in crushed tomatoes, broth/water, black beans, kidney beans and corn. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until chili thickens and flavors come together. Taste and adjust seasonings and salt as necessary.
- Garnish with anything you’d like and serve!
How to make the best vegetarian chili in the slow cooker
This easy vegetarian chili recipe can easily be made on the stovetop or in your slow cooker, which makes it perfect for entertaining.
If you’re using your slow cooker, simply add all of your ingredients to your slow cooker, but reduce the broth/water and use only ¼ cup of broth total instead of 3/4 cup. Then cook the vegetarian chili on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until it’s nice and thick.
How to store and reheat vegetarian chili
- In the refrigerator: this plant based chili will stay good in your fridge for about 1 week. Once your chili is completely cooled, just place it in an airtight container (or multiple, if you’d like to meal prep it) without the additional toppings and place it in the fridge. To reheat it, simply do so in the microwave with a microwave safe bowl, or feel free to reheat it on the stovetop. Add your toppings once you’re ready to serve!
- In the freezer: can you freeze vegetarian chili? YES! Follow the instructions above, but instead of placing the chili in the refrigerator just put it in your freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply thaw the vegetarian chili overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave when you’re ready to eat.
What to serve with this vegetarian chili recipe
Feel free to serve this chili with tortilla chips and homemade pumpkin cornbread or my gluten free cornbread muffins. They’re both delicious for dipping! If you’re making this for game day here are a few more recipes that will pair perfectly with this recipe:
Tortilla Chip-Crusted Baked Jalapeño Poppers
Easy + Cheesy Southwest Bean Dip
The Best Guacamole You’ll Ever Eat
Vegetarian Plantain & Black Bean Taco Cups
I hope you enjoy our best ever vegetarian chili recipe. If you make it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe — I really appreciate it! xo.
The Best Vegetarian Chili Ever
This is actually THE BEST vegetarian chili recipe you'll ever make! You won't believe there isn't any meat in this delicious vegetarian chili made with two kinds of beans, veggies, tender sweet potato and sweet corn. Perfectly spiced, thick and hearty, and easy to make on the stovetop or in your slow cooker!
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 (4 ounce) can mild green chiles
- 1 medium to large sweet potato, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes
- 2 1/2 tablespoons mild chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes (fire-roasted is great)
- 3/4 cup vegetarian broth (or water)
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 heaping cup frozen sweet corn
- To garnish:
- Tortilla chips
- Lime wedge
- Cheese
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Sour cream/greek yogurt
Instructions
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Place oil in a large pot and place over medium high heat. Add in garlic, onion, diced carrot, red bell pepper, cubed sweet potatoes and green chiles; saute for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.
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Next add in chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper; stir for about 30 seconds.
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Finally add in crushed tomatoes, broth/water, black beans, kidney beans and corn. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until chili thickens and flavors come together. Taste and adjust seasonings and salt as necessary.
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Garnish with anything you'd like. Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each.
Recipe Notes
Feel free to make this in your slow cooker. If you do, I suggest reducing the broth/water and using only ¼ cup of broth total (instead of 3/4 cup)
To keep this recipe vegan, top with your favorite vegan cheese and/or vegan greek yogurt.
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
61 comments
Delicious! I just made this and it is great. Thank you for sharing so many great vegan/plant based recipes. Thanks for including information to let us know when a recipe is freezer friendly.
So happy you’re loving it! And absolutely – these recipes are great for prepping ahead of time!
Lives up to its name!!! Seriously one of the best veggie chilis I’ve ever made. I was too lazy to check my spice cabinet before grocery shopping, so I wound up substituting quite a bit in the spice blend, but I’m sure it’s equally (if not more) delicious as written! I topped mine with a TON of Greek yogurt for extra protein, and a sprinkle of Tajín.
PS. Congrats again on your most impressive baking achievement to date (the new baby)!! Sidney is probably smelling all the chili and hoping he can eat solid food soon 🤣
So glad you loved this one! Perfect for customizing with your fav spices, too. And thanks so much!! Excited for him to eat solid food, too 🙂
Hi! Excited to make as try this this weekend. I too am looking to eat kore plant based but am far away from a vegetarian. With that I was wondering if you could use chicken broth or would it change the flavor profile.
Hi Robin! Feel free to use chicken broth 🙂
This was fantastic! And I’m a meat lover but I didn’t even miss the meat! Another amazing recipe from
Monique!
Love that! I’m so glad you enjoyed 🙂
This is so delicious! Just doubled the recipe omitting the corn and green chile. Still yummy! Will make again. Thanks so much Monique!
Perfect! Such a great dinner. Glad you loved it!
I’ve been a vegetarian for 30+ (😱) years. I have made lots of veg chili and this is the very best! My fam of meat eaters agree—best whether or not you’re a vegetarian! We garnished with vegan cream cheese, and had chips+ guac on the side. 10 thumbs up over here:-)
(Not cream cheese… sour cream 🤪)
Amazing! So glad you found this recipe – truly my favorite vegetarian chili 🙂
Made this yesterday for the Super Bowl and it was delicious. I used more veggie broth, didn’t add corn, and topped with Greek yogurt and a dollop of dairy free queso – yum! Thanks for all your great recipes.
Perfect! So happy you liked this one 🙂
Hi! This recipe sounds amazing. Is it possible to leave out the sweet potato?
Sure! It will still be delicious 🙂
This chili is so easy to make, That’s the hardest part is sending it to everybody who asked for The recipe afterwards!!! Cooks really well on the stove top or in the crockpot. This freezes really well so be sure to double the recipe and keeps some in the freezer. It is absolutely delicious and a very satisfying meal. We didn’t even sprinkle cheese on the top as it has plenty of flavor by itself! We served over brown rice and it was outstanding.
Absolutely! So happy you loved it!
Title is accurate. I’ve made this a few times. I use a jalapeno instead of canned chilies because I can’t seem to find them around here. I’ve started skipping the carrots as I find they detract a bit. Otherwise I pretty much follow it.
Thanks for the great recipe!
Perfect! So happy you loved this one!
I absolutely loved this chili. It was so tasty. I even shared some with my dad who said it is some of the best chili he has ever eaten even without meat. I will definitely be making this again. I accidentally left out the green chiles but will include them next time. And the chili went perfectly with the Mexican cornbread I made.
Amazing! So happy to hear that. Sounds delicious with Mexican cornbread 🙂
I used this recipe but added minced beef! Really delicious and flavorful! Thank you, Ambitious Kitchen!
Perfect! So glad you liked it!
Delicious! Didn’t have any broth and it’s still great with water. Love the mix of spices and added some cheddar cheese on top!
Perfect! Glad you loved it!
For real, this is actually the BEST chili-vegetarian or otherwise- that I’ve ever had. Absolutely legit!!!
Thanks for the recipe 👌🏻
So happy you love it!
So good! My boyfriend was shocked when he realized a vegetarian chili could be so filling and delicious.
Right?? So good!
This was delish!! Super easy and so flavorful! This will definitely be in constant rotation!
I had a veggie chili recipe that I loved but this is even better!! It is so easy and healthy and quite spicy! All four of my daughters loved it! It will be replacing my other recipe in my once weekly rotation 😀
Amazing! Glad it was a hit!
So good!! And also VERY simple to make. I did have to add extra broth & then cook down for more than the suggested 30 minutes in order to get the sweet potatoes to optimal softness. But I think this just helped all of the flavors to blend and simmer together. I topped with avocado and husband topped his with cheese and a little Chiluba. Delicious both ways! Thanks for another great recipe.
Cholula*** gah auto correct!
Absolutely! I might suggest cubing the sweet potato a bit smaller next time if you’d like 🙂 glad you both enjoyed!
So flavorful. Such variety, love all the veggies, combo of the beans. Delicious !! Will be making it often during the MN winters.
Absolutely! Perfect for that Minnesota weather 🙂
So often, I think veggie chilis lack flavor. Not this one! It’s smoky, spicy, and delicious. You won’t miss the usual meat-based chili. Warm, filling, and easy! Probably just became our go to chili.
So glad you loved it! It’s my go-to veggie chili 🙂
Truly the best chili I’ve EVER made!! Thank you Monique!
So happy to hear that!
Hi, thanks for sharing this recipe. I made this today, although it’s good, it wasn’t our favorite. It was a tad on the sweet side for my taste and I didn’t care for the addition of a sweet potato. But I loved the corn, which I will be adding to my current chili recipe. Thank you.
Hi! Hmmm this one doesn’t have many sweet flavors in it, but feel free to customize and leave out the sweet potato 🙂
So tasty and came together in 30 minutes (including cleanup). It’s really good with some pickled jalapenos on top for a little extra spice. Thank you for sharing!
Easy and delicious! Love the idea of pickled jalapeños 🙂
Hi there! Do you have any suggestions for making this in an instant pot by any chance?
Hi! Unfortunately I don’t cook with an Instant Pot so I’m not 100% sure. Sorry!
Just made this recipe and it is so good! I am pregnant and can’t stand the thought of eating meat so I was looking for some good (and nutritious) vegetarian recipes. My husband doesn’t think a meal is a ‘meal’ if it doesn’t have meat in it and EVEN HE approved! I made the gluten free cornbread muffins to go with the chili and would recommend. The only change I made was adding less chili powder since I can’t handle spice too well right now. I also made it in my slow cooker which meant after chopping my veggies I threw it all in there and could forget about it the rest of the day. Thanks Monique!
Love it! Such a great go-to that’s meatless but still super filling 🙂 Glad you both enjoyed!
Everyone loved this recipe. The sweet potatoes were a wonderful addition to chili that I would not have thought of. I made the recipe exactly as written but as a matter of personal taste I will leave the cayanne out the next time. It was a bit too peppery for me. I am not a vegetarian but I was looking for a way to add more vegetables to the family meals. No one missed the meat
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed 🙂 and yes feel free to leave out the cayenne!
Can you do without the diced tomatos? Husband is allergic. Let me know please!
Sorry this is a chili so it must have tomatoes in it!
Do you recommend sauteeing the veggies before putting in the crock pot?
No need!
Fantastic! Very grateful
for healthy and tasty vegetarian recipes!
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed!
The taste if this chili is delicious!!! Loved all the flavors and spices; however, my sweet potatoes and carrots were undercooked/still crunchy, almost ruining the chili for us. Are they suppose to be? I sautéed everything and followed recipe exact. Any suggestions on how to prevent this are welcomed! Again, it was still so delicious but we don’t like crunchiness in our chili.
Try chopping them into smaller pieces next time – that will help! Glad everything else was delicious 🙂