Who says chili has to have meat? Our top 3 vegetarian chili recipes to win a chili cookoff are full of veggies and so delicious, they’re contest contenders.

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 more creative and just as delicious as as its meat-filled counterpart. Here at A Couple Cooks, we’re not even vegetarian: we’re flexitarian, meaning that we eat a mostly plant based diet but splurge on meat on occasion. To us, we’d rather pile on the veggies in chili and save our meat for a big juicy burger. So here are the top three vegetarian chili recipes that we’ve created to hit all the notes of the fall while being meatless. They’ve got big flavor, but are fully plant based. And even though we’ve called them vegetarian chili recipes, they’re actually all vegan chili recipes too: unless you decide to load them with sour cream and cheese. (Which we do.)

1. Mango Black Bean Chili

A good vegetarian or vegan chili recipe can be deceptively difficult to find. Alex and I have made many meatless chili recipes over the years, and we’ve found that vegetarian chili recipes need a lot of flavor going on. Since many people expect the heartiness of a meat chili, it’s got to be flavored to perfection. This Mango Black Bean Chili recipe is totally different, and a zesty spin on the typical chili! Chunks of fresh mango add a subtle sweetness, and there’s a hint of allspice for a bit of complexity. A squeeze of lime take this vegetarian chili over the top. Said one of our readers, “This Mango Black Bean Chili got rave reviews! It’s high in vitamins and protein, lower in carbs and sugar, freaking delicious , 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!”

2. Classic Vegetarian Chili

This Classic Vegetarian Chili recipe is our take on a straight up chili recipe, without the meat. If you’re not using ground beef, Alex and I like to add a texture that mimics meat. This Classic Vegetarian Chili uses bulgur wheat to some meaty texture. For maximum flavor, we used green chiles (or jalapeños) for some spice, used a crazy amount of chili powder, and added a bit of chipotle powder to add a bit of complexity. These tricks make this a vegetarian chili that’s hearty and not just “bean soup”.

3. Quinoa Black Bean 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 the vegetarian chili from a lunch date at a restaurant here in town. We wanted to keep it simple and flavorful, and incorporate tons of savory veggies. It’s 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 that’s stirred in at the end for some brightness. If you love chili powder taste, the vegetarian chili above features a full 1/2 cup of chili powder!

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
• Italian Vegetable & Gnocchi Soup
• Tomato Artichoke Soup

This recipe is…

These vegetarian chili recipes are vegetarian, vegan, plant based, dairy free, naturally sweet, and refined sugar free. For gluten free, use quinoa. For vegan, top with Vegan Nacho Cheese.

A Couple Cooks - Recipes for Healthy & Whole Living