The most delicious vegan 3-bean chili you'll ever have! Made with three types of beans, green bell pepper, red onion, quinoa, tomato, green chilies, corn, and the absolute best spice blend.
I actually first tasted a version of this vegan chili during a food science lab when I was in college to become a registered dietitian.
After the first bite, I was sold on this vegan chili forever. Seriously! This stuff is so good and full of flavor. Over the years, I have made it countless times, adjusting it slightly along the way. I consider this vegan 3-bean chili a staple go-to recipe in my house. Even my meat-eating man loves it!
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Ingredients Needed for Vegan 3-Bean Chili
Here's what you'll need to make it.
- Olive Oil
- Red Onion
- Green Bell Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Quinoa (you could use rice instead, which makes it more hearty)
- Tomato Sauce
- Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies
- Corn
- Black Beans
- Red Kidney Beans
- Pinto Beans
- Cocoa Powder (optional, but makes the vegan chili more balanced)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions for Vegan 3-Bean Chili
Not only is this vegan 3-bean chili incredibly delicious, but it is also one of the easiest recipes to make. There is very little prep work involved -- the prep itself only takes 5 minutes. No joke.
This recipe is so easy that we've made it over a fire while camping!
Saute the onion and bell pepper in olive oil until onions are translucent.
Add in the spices and can of diced tomatoes and green chilies. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add tomato sauce, quinoa, and water. Stir, reduce heat, and cover for 30 minutes.
Once quinoa is cooked, add the corn and beans and cook another 5-10 minutes. Enjoy!
Substitutions
This vegan chili is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, meat-free, soy-free, and egg-free. Yay!
- Quinoa - you can use rice in this chili instead to make it more hearty (any kind you like)
- Beans - this is a 3-bean chili, so beans are kinda the most important part! But if you wanted to reduce the amount of beans due to gut tolerance issues, you could half the beans and add in another protein source in their place like vegan ground beef or TVP.
Variations You Could Try
Wanting to alter the recipe a little? Here are my recommendations!
- Spicy - add jalapeños, red pepper flakes, or other peppers to increase the heat. You could also opt for the spicy version of diced tomatoes and green chilies as well.
- Veggie-Packed - add a pack of frozen mixed veggies or any veggies of your choice!
- Kid friendly - opt out of the spicy options and serve the recipe as-is.
Equipment Needed
All you need for this recipe is one big pot on the stove! You could also make this chili in the crockpot or Instapot, but I have not done this myself.
Storing the Vegan 3-Bean Chili
Store the chili in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for a couple of months.
If I am freezing this vegan 3-bean chili, I usually freeze in individual glass containers to use for single meals. Simply thaw the container under running water to defrost and pop in the microwave for 3 minutes, stir, and cook another 2 or so minutes until fully rewarmed. Top with avocado and Fritos and enjoy!
Recipe
The Best Vegan 3-Bean Chili
Equipment
- 1 large pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ red onion finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chilies
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup quinoa
- 1 (29 oz.) can tomato sauce
- 2 cups water
- 1 (15 oz.) can red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz.) can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz.) can corn
- 2 avocados (optional, for topping)
- 1 bag Fritos or other corn chips (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium high heat. Add olive oil, red onion, and green bell pepper and saute until onions are translucent, stirring often.
- Add spices and can of diced tomatoes and green chilies. Let cook 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
- Add can of tomato sauce, quinoa, and water. Stir, then reduce heat to low and cover. Let simmer for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so.
- Once the quinoa is cooked, uncover and add in the corn and 3 types of beans. Stir and recover. Cook another 5 minutes to heat through.
- Top with avocado and Fritos and enjoy!
Looking for another delicious vegan recipe? Try my vegan buddha bowl!
Nutrition Facts
(Nutrition per serving; Calculated without optional toppings)
Calories: 430
Total Fat: 4g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Sodium: 1680mg
Total Carbohydrates: 73g
Dietary Fiber: 17g
Sugar: 16g
Added Sugars: 0g
Protein: 18g
Vitamin D: 0%
Calcium: 15%
Iron: 38%
Potassium: 490mg
Vitamin A: 49%
Vitamin C: 56%
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