Vegetarian Chili is a rich, creamy, and moderately spiced Mexican American dish loaded with fresh flavor and taste. It is usually made with veggies, beans, aromatics, cream cheese, veg broth, and a perfect chili seasoning.
This homemade veggie chili is one of the easy and best chili recipes that has unique flavors similar to classic beef chili and white chicken chili. It is usually served with simple and delicious toppings like avocado, tortilla chips, cheese blend, coriander leaves, and sour cream for lunch and dinner. The best part is it can be easily customized to vegan friendly.
The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make Vegetarian Chili with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try and enjoy at home. I have also shared a detailed video below to make the process simple and clear.
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What is Vegetarian Chili?
Vegetarian Chili is a rich, creamy, and comforting Mexican American dish loaded with fresh veggie flavors. It is usually made with veggies, beans, aromatics, cream cheese, veg broth, and a perfect chili seasoning.
Vegetarian chili is one of the perfect one-pot meals and comforting meatless chili recipes for veggie lovers, especially to enjoy on cold winter days. It also makes the best game night dinner meal with fresh toppings that one could not resist.
Not only that, but it is also a healthy meal loaded with fiber and protein-rich veggies, beans, and fresh toppings. And the best part is it tastes great and even better the next day. You can also make a big batch if you are planning for meal prep.
Looking for more hearty and comforting Mexican dishes, then feel free to try our Mexican drinks recipes such as atole, Mexican hot Chocolate, and cafe de olla as an after-meal drink.
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make this Vegetarian Chili are basic pantry elements and fresh produces. You could easily find all these ingredients in most grocery stores and supermarkets around. So let's see what are they below.
- Beans - I have used kidney beans, and pinto beans but you can also use white beans, black beans, or a combination of everything
- Tomato - crushed tomatoes that deliver the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavor
- Chili Seasoning - It is important for making the best chili recipe. A perfect combination of chili powder or paprika, coriander powder, ground black pepper, and cumin powder delivers the best chili. You can also use smoked paprika for an earthy and smoky flavor profile
- Cream Cheese - Delivers the rich, creamy, and thick texture to your veggie chili soup
- Bay Leaves - Seasoning the dish with bay leaves enhance the flavor profile of the chili with a mild peppery mint flavor notes
- Aromatics - Onion, and garlic gives sweet and warm flavor notes to the dish
- Veggies - I have used carrots and red bell pepper here, but you can also use celery ribs, mushrooms, shredded soy, and tempeh for additional flavor and taste
- Broth - Adds so much flavor to your dish, so I suggest not compromising on it
- Green Chili - I have used jalapeno peppers here, it delivers a unique flavor along with some heat. But if you feel the heat level is high, you can always reduce quantity according to your preference
- Toppings - Avocado, sour cream, tortilla chips, coriander leaves, lime wedges and juice, and cheese blends make a perfect topping for this dish. I have also shared some best toppings for chili in the below section
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below
How to make Vegetarian Chili?
The recipe I have shared here is simple homemade Vegetarian Chili loaded with the best flavors and taste. It is easy to make and a quick vegetarian version of classic beef chili which is also known as meatless chili. And the best part is, you can also easily customize it to be vegan-friendly.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this recipe but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- Saute - In a pan with medium heat, pour oil and add bay leaves, garlic, jalapeno, and onion. Saute until onion turns soft
- Add - Add the red bell pepper, carrots, and salt. Saute until they turn soft
- Stir - Now add the chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and black pepper. Stir everything until it turns fragrant
- Combine - Add the crushed tomato, kidney beans, and pinto beans, and mix well to combine
- Mix - Now add the vegetable broth and give everything a good mix
- Cook - Allow everything to cook for 15 to 20 minutes
- Stir - Now add the cream cheese and stir gently until it melts down
- Garnish and Enjoy - Finally add the coriander leaves, and juice from half of the lime and give it a good mix. And now the delicious Vegetarian Chili is ready for you to taste and enjoy
Tips
- For best flavor and taste - Using vegetable broth for cooking the chili gives the best taste and flavor to your dish. So I recommend not compromising on it
- Beans and veggies - you could use black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, white beans, and veggies like carrots, mushrooms, and celery ribs are the best options to enhance the flavor and healthy bowl of chili
- Vegan Friendly - To make a vegan-friendly version, feel free to skip the cream cheese and cheese blends from the recipe
- To thicken the Chili - Though adding cream cheese alone is good enough for a creamy Vegetarian Chili, you can also add some bean puree to make the chili extra creamier (for that you have to reserve ¼ cup of any of the beans before adding to the pan)
- For more flavor - To enhance the chili with more flavor, you can also use dark chocolate, sherry
- Watch on the heat - Even though the recipe shared here delivers a perfectly balanced heat, you can always feel free to decrease the quantity of the heat-delivering ingredients according to your preferences
Best Beans for Chili
The best beans for making Chilis are pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, and northern white beans. You can use any one or combination of all beans based on the recipe requirement.
Toppings for Chili
Following are some of the great toppings for Chili that you can use.
- Avocado, corn and
- Onions - red onions, fried onions, spring onions
- Chips - Tortilla Chips, crackers like a ritz,
- Creams - Sour Cream or ranch
- Cheese blend - Cheddar and monetary jack
- Guacamole
- Salsa
Storage Suggestions
Chilis usually taste even better the next day. You can store the leftover chili for up to 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator in a closed airtight container. When you are ready to enjoy, reheat the required portion in a bowl in the microwave.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Vegetarian Chili with avocado, cheese blend, sour cream, tortilla chips, sour cream, and coriander leaves as toppings. Also, chili goes perfectly well with cornbread, baked potatoes, nachos, tacos, Mexican rice, roasted potatoes, guacamole, and similar sides of your choice.
Related Recipes
You can also find different chili recipes below and more at veg recipes and soup recipes.
- Chili Seasoning
- White Chicken Chili
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Hot and Sour Soup
- Chilli Chicken
- Chilli Paneer
Vegetarian Chili Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Vegetarian Chili Recipe below that I hope will help you to make a comforting meal at home. You could also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Vegetarian Chili
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 2 tbsp Garlic, chopped
- 2 Jalapeno, chopped
- ¼ cup Onion, chopped
- ¼ cup Red Bell Pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup Carrot, chopped
- 1 tsp Chili Powder , or paprika (for less heat)
- 2 tbsp Coriander Powder
- ½ tsp Cumin Powder, could increase upto ¾ tsp
- ½ tsp Black Pepper Powder
- 15 oz Crushed Tomato
- 15 oz Kidney Beans
- 15 oz Pinto Beans
- 2 cup Vegetable Broth
- 4 oz Cream Cheese
- 3 tbsp Coriander Leaves, + for topping
- ½ Lime, juice from ½ lime
- Avocado, for topping
- Sour Cream, for topping
- Tortilla Chips, for topping
- Cheese Blend, for topping
- Salt, as needed
Instructions
To make Vegetarian Chili
- In a pan with medium heat, pour oil and add bay leaves, garlic, jalapeno, and onion. Saute until onion turns soft
- Add the red bell pepper, carrots, and salt. Saute until they turn soft
- Now add the chili powder or paprika, coriander powder, cumin powder, and black pepper. Stir everything until it turns fragrant
- Add the crushed tomato, kidney beans, and pinto beans, and mix well to combine
- Now add the vegetable broth and give everything a good mix. Allow everything to cook for 15 to 20 minutes
- Now add the cream cheese and stir gently until it melts down
- Finally add the coriander leaves, and juice from half of the lime and give it a good mix. And now the delicious Vegetarian Chili is ready for you to taste and enjoy
To Serve
- Serve this Vegetarian Chili with avocado, cheese blend, sour cream, tortilla chips, sour cream, and coriander leaves as toppings. You can also serve chili with cornbread, baked potatoes, nachos, tacos, Mexican rice, roasted potatoes, guacamole, and similar sides of your choice
Video
Notes
- For best flavor and taste - Using vegetable broth for cooking the chili gives the best taste and flavor to your dish. So I recommend not compromising on it
- Beans and veggies - you could use black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, white beans, and veggies like carrots, mushrooms, and celery ribs are the best options to enhance the flavor and healthy bowl of chili
- Vegan Friendly - To make a vegan-friendly version, feel free to skip the cream cheese and cheese blends from the recipe
- To thicken the Chili - Though adding cream cheese alone is good enough for a creamy Vegetarian Chili, you can also add some bean puree to make the chili extra creamier (for that you have to reserve ¼ cup of any of the beans before adding to the pan)
- Watch on the heat - Even though the recipe shared here delivers a perfectly balanced heat, you can always feel free to decrease the quantity of the heat-delivering ingredients according to your preferences
Nutrition
FAQ
Vegetarian Chili is a rich, creamy, and moderately spiced Mexican American dish loaded with fresh veggie flavors. It is usually made with veggies, beans, aromatics, cream cheese, and a perfect chili seasoning. This homemade veggie version is usually served with delicious toppings like avocado, tortilla chips, cheese blend, coriander leaves, and sour cream.
Different varieties of beans alone are a good substitute for meat in chili. But additionally, you can also add minced soy, tempeh, or mushrooms for similar results.
Though adding cream cheese alone is good enough for a creamy and thick Vegetarian Chili, you can also add some bean puree to make the chili extra creamier (for that you have to reserve ¼ cup of any of the beans before adding to the pan).
Yes, you can make this dish vegan friendly. To do that, skip the cream cheese and cheese blends from the recipe card and you are good to go.
Serve this Vegetarian Chili with avocado, cheese blend, sour cream, tortilla chips, sour cream, and coriander leaves as toppings. Also, chili goes perfectly well with cornbread, baked potatoes, nachos, tacos, Mexican rice, roasted potatoes, guacamole, and similar sides of your choice.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe I shared here and I would love to hear from you about how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Cooking!
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