September 7, 2018 · 44 Comments

Vegetarian Chili

Name: Vegetarian Chili
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
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)

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

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This is an easy and delicious recipe for Vegetarian Chili. This vegan chili is a hearty meatless chili made with lentils. This chili is high in protein, fiber and taste!

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

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

Vegetarian Chili

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

The base for this Vegan Chili is lentils.

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 meatless and low in fat and calories.

How to make Vegetarian 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 Vegetarian 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

A Few Notes on Vegan Lentil Chili:

This Vegan Chili is great plain, but if you are not vegan, Lentil Chili is great served with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream, maybe some cheese, even scooped up with chips.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 Vegan 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 this vegetarian chili.

More Chili Recipes

Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Vegetarian Chili

An easy vegan chili recipe made with lentils and beans.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Lentil Chili, Vegan Chili, Vegetarian Chili

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings:

Calories: 202

Author: Kristen Chidsey

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

Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and spices. Saute until onion is softened.
Deglaze pan with wine and allow to boil for 1 minute.
Add tomatoes and broth (or water). Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low.
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.
Season with salt and pepper as needed.
Alternatively--you can place all ingredients into the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

Nutrition Facts

Vegetarian Chili

Amount Per Serving

Calories 202 Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Fat 3g5%

Sodium 278mg12%

Potassium 738mg21%

Carbohydrates 31g10%

Fiber 13g54%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 990IU20%

Vitamin C 22.3mg27%

Calcium 85mg9%

Iron 4.8mg27%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram or Facebook - I would love to see!

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Kristen Chidsey

Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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