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Vegetarian Lentil Chili

30 Minute Meals· Budget Cooking· Gluten-Free· Kid Friendly· Main Courses· Real Food· Vegan· Vegetarian

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Vegetarian Lentil Chili: A hearty meatless chili made with lentils. This chili is high in protein, fiber and taste!

White bowl with lentil chili topped with diced avocado

Once the outside temperature begins to drop, I begin to crave warm and hearty chili recipes.

Variations of chili recipes are endless, and it happens to be an extremely versatile and budget-friendly.

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This Lentil Chili recipe may be a bit different than your traditional beef and bean chili, but even my mid-western, meat loving husband enjoys this Vegetarian Chili.

Vegetarian Lentil Chili

Lentil Chili is hearty, filling, easy to make, inexpensive, and bottom line: IT IS GOOD!!!

Beans and lentils are simmered in a thick and richly flavored tomato sauce. It is a thick chili that sticks to your ribs and fills you up–all while being low in fat and calories.

How to make Lentil Chili

  • Saute onions, garlic and spices.
  • Deglaze pan with wine for a rich depth to chili.
  • Add remaining ingredients.
  • Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low.
  • Serve Lentil Chili:
    • With diced avocado, sour cream, cheese, corn chips, chopped cilantro, diced onion
    • Over cornbread, noodles, or rice
    • Topped on baked potato or sweet potato

Slow Cooker Lentil Chili

  • To make this as Crock-Pot Lentil Chili, place all ingredients into your slow cooker.
  • Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

What are lentils?

They are a high protein part (called a pulse) of a plant that has been dried.

Lentil Benefits:

  • Extremely high in fiber and protein
  • Vegetarian
  • Great substitute for meat
  • Extremely inexpensive
  • High in iron and Vitamin B
  • Quick cooking

Bowl of vegan lentil chili topped with avocados and cilantro

A Few Notes on Easy 30 Minute Lentil Chili:

  • Lentil Chili is good plain, with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream, maybe some cheese, even scooped up with chips. I personally enjoyed it with some Greek yogurt and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
  • The red wine is optional in this Gluten-Free Chili, but it adds a rich depth of flavor. If you omit, replace vegetable stock.
  • Any variety of lentils work in Lentil Chili.
  • Any beans–pinto beans, red beans, black beans, all work in this Chili.
  • I blended one can of tomatoes to give the soup more liquid and for texture preference. This step is not necessary. Or you can blend both cans of tomatoes.
  • I like my chili stick to the spoon thick, feel free to thin out with more broth–just be sure to adjust seasonings.
  • Sneak in some veggies by adding 1-2 cups of pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling) to the chili.

More Chili Recipes

5 from 4 votes
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Vegetarain Lentil Chili

An easy vegan chili recipe made with lentils and beans. 

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Lentil Chili, Vegan Chili
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 202 kcal
Author A Mind Full Mom

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine optional
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 16 oz can diced tomatoes blended
  • 1 16 oz can diced tomatoes not blended
  • 2 cups water or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup yellow lentils or any variety you prefer
  • 2 cups beans canned or dried and cooked

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and spices. Saute until onion is softened.
  2. Deglaze pan with wine and allow to boil for 1 minute.
  3. Add tomatoes and broth (or water). Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low.
  4. At this point you can allow the broth to simmer for 1 hour to intensify in flavor, or you can add the lentils and beans and cook until lentils are tender--about 15 minutes.
  5. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Alternatively--you can place all ingredients into the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
Nutrition Facts
Vegetarain Lentil Chili
Amount Per Serving
Calories 202 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 5%
Sodium 278mg 12%
Potassium 738mg 21%
Total Carbohydrates 31g 10%
Dietary Fiber 13g 52%
Sugars 6g
Protein 11g 22%
Vitamin A 19.8%
Vitamin C 27%
Calcium 8.5%
Iron 26.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

 

 

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Comments

  4. Your chili sounds delicious! I love using lentils in vegetable soups, I love how “meaty” and hearty they make everything. What a great idea to use them in chili… why did I never think of that! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂

    Reply

  19. So simple and easy – we love to have chili around in the fall and winter – sometimes we put it over rice or I make cornbread and I love all the toppings!

    Reply

  22. Mmmmm, I like this idea for lentils. I have too many bags of them in the pantry right now, just waiting to be put to good use. This looks delish, garnished with avocado and cilantro! What a fun idea!

    Reply

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