Cheap & Easy Vegan Chili
Ingredients
- 1 Bell Pepper (Diced)
- 1 - 2 Jalapeños (Diced)
- 1/2 Onion (Diced)
- 8 Garlic Cloves (Minced)
- 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1/4 cup Chili Seasoning
- 2 Tbsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 28 oz Crushed Tomatoes
- 30 oz Fire Roasted Tomatoes (2 cans at 15 oz. each)
- 2 - 4 cups Veggie Broth
- 60 oz Pinto Beans (4 cans at 15 oz. each, drained and rinsed)
- 2 Cups TVP
- 1 - 2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast
- Salt & Pepper
Optional Ingredients
- 1/8 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 - 3 tsp Cocoa Powder
- 1 - 3 tsp Vegan Worcestershire
- 1 - 3 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1 - 2 Tbsp Hot Sauce
- Cayenne (to Taste)
- 1 - 2 Tbsp Diced Chipotles in Adobo (for Heat)
- 1/4 cup Masa Harina (to thicken)
- 15 oz. Refried Beans (to thicken)
Instructions
- Heat a large dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add in 1 - 2 Tbsp cooking oil, and then the bell pepper, jalapeños and onion. Stir occasionally and cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Add in a pinch of salt and continue to cook for another 5 minutes or until the veggies have softened a bit.NOTE: if you are sensitive to anything spicy, leave out the jalapeños!
- Add in the minced garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika. Stir to combine and cook for 1 - 2 minutes making sure not to burn the garlic or seasonings.
- Add in the Crushed and Fire Roasted Tomatoes, stir to combine. Next add in the veggie broth and pinto beans and stir once again. Start off with 2 cups or so of broth and add more if needed.
- Pour in the TVP, stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. The TVP will rehydrate in that time and soak up the flavors. Add more broth if chili seems too thick.
- Taste and adjust for seasoning. Add the Nutritional Yeast, it should taste pretty good at this point, but to really get it over the top, add any of the optional ingredients that appeal to you. And I recommend starting out conservative and adding more as you like.
- If the chili feels too thin to you, you can either simmer and reduce it down, or you can add some Masa Harina (like Maseca) or Refried Beans to thicken. Likewise if it's too thick, add more broth.
- Enjoy with any fixins that you like! Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months!
Notes
If you want to make a chili that uses Beyond or Impossible Meat, check out my other Vegan Chili recipe. And for a No Bean Chili, check out my All "Meat" Chili!
2026 Update - I recently updated this recipe from when I originally posted it in 2023. It's mostly the same except I halved the recipe as 30 servings was a little overboard. I also cut down on some of the stronger ingredients like cocoa powder and cinnamon as they can overpower the chili if overused.
I hope that this update makes the chili easier and more widely palatable for everyone who makes it, thank you!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!