Our 15 Best Vegetarian Chili Recipes

NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes
Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chili with Black Beans

Whether you’re a devoted plant-based eater or looking to spice up your meatless meals, you're going to want to make our selection of four- and five-star rated vegetarian chili recipes forever. They’re packed with flavor and nutrition from rich and smoky recipes like our Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chili with Black Beans to zesty and vibrant choices like our Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes. These reader-favorite chili recipes prove that you don’t need meat to create a satisfying and soul-warming bowl of goodness.

01 of 15

Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes

Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes
Jennifer Causey

This hearty vegetarian quinoa chili with sweet potatoes has mild spice from poblanos and green chiles. Chili powder, cumin and garlic provide classic chili flavor.

02 of 15

Vegan White Bean Chili

Vegan White Bean Chili

Fresh Anaheim (or poblano) chiles add mild heat to this classic white bean chili and contribute lots of smoky flavor. Quinoa adds body to the chili, while diced zucchini provides pretty flecks of green and increases the veggie content.

03 of 15

Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chili with Black Beans

Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chili with Black Beans

This butternut squash and black bean chili is a satisfying vegetarian meal. Load up bowls of the butternut squash chili and top with Greek yogurt, cilantro and minced red onion. Or skip the yogurt and keep this healthy dinner vegan.

04 of 15

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili

slow-cooker-vegetarian-chili

Grab your crock pot for this delicious and easy slow-cooker vegetarian chili with beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, bell peppers and sweet potatoes. The recipe requires just 20 minutes of active time: after a bit of chopping, you just dump the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it do the work. Adding a squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of cilantro just before serving brightens up the flavors. Top it with some shredded cheese, if you'd like, or serve it as-is to keep it vegan. Either way, this healthy chili is sure to become a go-to when you want a satisfying and healthy dinner.

05 of 15

Four-Bean & Pumpkin Chili

Four-Bean & Pumpkin Chili

This healthy vegetarian chili has a fragrant touch of cinnamon for added flavor. Let diners top it with whatever suits their taste.

06 of 15

Slow-Cooker Black Bean-Mushroom Chili

3755553.jpg

Black beans, earthy mushrooms and tangy tomatillos combine with a variety of spices and smoky chipotles to create a fantastic full-flavored chili. It can simmer in the slow cooker all day, which makes it perfect for a healthy supper when the end of your day is rushed.

07 of 15

Instant Pot Vegetarian White Chili

Instant Pot Vegetarian White Chili

Parsnips lend a wonderful sweet and nutty flavor to this healthy white bean chili. Using an Instant Pot (or any other pressure cooker) means this hearty chili can be ready in under an hour, but it still tastes like it's simmered away for hours. Pureeing some of the chili gives the stew a nice creaminess, but feel free to skip that step to save time. Garnish the chili with cheese and sour cream for a richer meal, or serve it as-is to keep it vegan.

08 of 15

Slow-Cooker Vegan Chili

Slow-Cooker Vegan Chili

Grab your crock pot for this hearty and easy vegan chili, which is chock-full of great-tasting and good-for-you ingredients, including pinto and black beans, red pepper, tomatoes and butternut squash. Once a little chopping is done, all you have to do is dump the ingredients in the slow cooker, making this colorful veggie chili the perfect weeknight dinner. A garnish of fresh avocado and chopped cilantro is a nice touch.

09 of 15

Zesty Wheat Berry-Black Bean Chili

3756484.jpg

This rib-sticking chili offers a hearty mix of wheat berries, beans, peppers and onion. Feel free to add an additional chipotle pepper to crank up the heat in this one-pot meal. Cooked wheat berries will keep for up to 1 month in your freezer and there's no need to thaw them; just stir them directly into the chili.

10 of 15

Vegan Quinoa Chili

Vegan Quinoa Chili
Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Christine Kelly, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin

This light but filling vegan quinoa chili is packed with fresh veggies, with quinoa and black beans adding protein and fiber. Complete this easy one-pot dinner with vegan cheese, dairy-free yogurt or your favorite chili toppings.

11 of 15

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili for Two

sweet potato and black bean chili

This satisfying vegetarian chili for two is studded with black beans and sweet potatoes. Serve with some warmed corn tortillas and tossed salad with orange segments and avocado. This recipe was adapted from our popular Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili to serve two instead of four.

12 of 15

Lentil Chili

Lentil Chili
Caitlin Bensel

This vegan lentil chili is easy and satisfying, with earthy flavors balanced by spices. Use this basic chili recipe to customize with your favorite add-ins.

13 of 15

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili
Photographer/Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist/Kay Clarke, Food Stylist/Emily Nabors Hall

Make a double batch of this quick vegetarian chili, full of black beans and sweet potatoes, and eat it for lunch the next day or freeze the extras for another night.

14 of 15

Easy Vegetarian Chili

4293499.jpg

Canned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit--sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices.

15 of 15

Creamy Queso Chili

Creamy Queso Chili
Jacob Fox

This mashup of the classic cheesy dip chile con queso with the beans and vegetables of a chili is the best of both worlds.

Was this page helpful?