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Our top chili recipes to win a chili cookoff are unique spins that are full of veggies and big flavor. They’re contest contenders for sure!
Okay, so we know what you’re thinking: chili is about meat. But your chili cookoff this year, what about trying something a little different? Eating veggies is getting cool again. And chili without meat can be even more creative anddelicious as as its meat-filled counterpart.
Here at A Couple Cooks, Alex and I are not even vegetarian: we’re flexitarian. This meanswe eat a mostly plant based diet, but splurge on meat on occasion. And for us, we’d rather pile on the veggies in chili and save our meat quota for a big juicy burger. So here are the top unique chili recipes we’ve created that hit all the notes of the fall while being meatless. They’ve got big flavor, but are fully plant based. They’re actually all vegan chili recipes too—unless you decide to load them with sour cream and cheese. (Or just use our Vegan Sour Cream!)
What to serve with chili
Before we start: what to serve with these unique chili recipes? Our favorite is the classic standard: cornbread! We’ve got two great recipes, depending on your diet preferences: Best Homemade Cornbread or Easy Vegan Cornbread. Or, a fun spin is this Kale Caesar Salad with Cornbread Croutons, a green salad that uses cornbread for the croutons instead.
We’ve got lots more ideas where those came from. Try out all of our 10 best sides to go with chili!
And now…our top chili recipes!
Classic Vegetarian Chili
This Classic Vegetarian Chili recipe is our take on a straight up chili recipe, without the meat. If a chili doesn’t have ground beef, Alex and I like to add a texture that mimics meat. Our Classic Vegetarian Chili uses bulgur wheat to some meaty texture.
For maximum flavor, we use green chiles (or jalapeños) for some spice, a crazy amount of chili powder, and a hint of chipotle powder to add omplexity. These tricks make this a vegetarian chili that’s hearty and not just “bean soup”.
Serve with: Easy Vegan Cornbread
Quick Chili Recipe
Here’s our new favorite kitchen trick: thisQuick Chili recipe! In just 25 minutes you have a fast and easy dinner recipe. 25 minutes! And most of that time is hands off. All you have to do is cut one onion: otherwise it’s dump and stir. Even better: the flavor is fantastic! There’s nothing about it that tastes like a short cut. Thissimple recipewill be a staple in your kitchen for years to come.
Ultimate Vegan Chili
Here's theultimatevegan chili recipe! Everyone loves chili, and it's the perfect way to make vegetables taste delicious. It’s hard to find someone who will turn this one down! It’s full of savory flavor starring beans, quinoa, and a hint of adobo sauce for complexity. Top it with ourvegan sour creamand somepickled jalapenosand well: it’s out of this world good.
3-Bean Healthy Chili Recipe
Healthy chili? Yes, this savory, hearty chili is full of good-for-you ingredients! It features a trio of protein-packed beans, quinoa, and loads of spices. If you'd like, add the optional flax seed for a boost of protein.
And of course, the toppings are where it's at in chili. We like to do a dollop of sour cream (orcashew creamor vegan sour cream for dairy-free) and hot sauce. Our favorite new healthy topping? Crunchy roasted salted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)!
This mango chili recipe is something totally different: an unexpected spin on the standard! Chunks of fresh mango add a subtle sweetness, and there’s a hint of allspice for a bit of complexity. A squeeze of lime takes this vegetarian chili over the top.
One of our reader said: “This Mango Black Bean Chili got rave reviews! It’s freaking delicious, high in vitamins and protein, lower in carbs and sugar, and literally took me 30 minutes to make (plus simmering and cleanup). Getting all three kids AND the grownups to agree on a healthy and easy meal is basically a miracle!”
Quinoa Vegan Chili
This savory, hearty quinoa vegan chili is packed with protein and works for vegetarian, plant-based, and gluten-free eaters.Alex and I modeled this modeled after one of the unique chili recipes we had on a lunch date. We wanted to keep it simple and flavorful, and incorporate tons of savory veggies.
This vegan chili is light on the chili powder so the other flavors can shine; the secret ingredients are a bit of adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chili peppers in adobo (available at most groceries in the ethnic foods aisle), and a bit of white wine vinegar stirred in at the end for some brightness. If you love chili powder, the vegetarian chili above features a full ½ cup of chili powder, so try that one instead!
Best Sweet Potato Chili
This vegetarian sweet potato chili is super savory and you absolutely won’t miss the meat! Chunks of sweet potatoes add lots of nutrients, and you can use any types of beans you’d like: black beans, pinto beans, or chili beans. Our secret ingredients to add a savory flair: cocoa powder and balsamic vinegar. It a filling and satisfying vegetarian chili recipe that rounds out our list of chili recipes!
Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
Last up in our chili recipes: Instant Pot chili! Because why not make chili in a pressure cooker? This one is really thebestInstant Pot vegetarian chili recipe. It’s full of beans, veggies, and lentils to up theplant-based protein.
A pressure cooker is a quick and easy way to make chili versus Crockpot chili, which takes hours and can turn out soggy. This Instant Pot chili is full of savory, hearty flavor. In fact…we might like it the best of all! Serve with homemade cornbread.
Trick for chili: try chili seasoning!
Want a quick way to add spices to chili? Mix up a batch of Chili Seasoning! Approximate the volume of spices used in the recipe, and use the same amount of chili seasoning to taste. (It’s also great on vegetables or seafood!)
Looking for other vegetarian soups?
This website is full of vegetarian soups and vegan soups! Here are a few other vegetarian soups we’d recommend:
- Moroccan Spiced Cauliflower Soup
- Creamy Vegan Tomato Soup with Stars
- 10 Filling Plant Based Dinner Recipes
- 25 Best Vegetarian Soup Recipes
- 25 Best Vegan Soup Recipes
- 8 Italian Soup Recipes
Related: Gifts for Vegetarians
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About the authors
Sonja & Alex
Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.
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