This Veggie Chili features a colorful combination of mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini and corn. It includes two kinds of beans and bulgur, which adds a meaty texture. The ultimate vegetarian chili for every kind of eater.
If you’re a chili lover like me, you’ll also get a kick out of these Ultimate Vegan Chili (uses tofu as “meat”), Lentil Chili, and Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili recipes!
This Veggie Chili is a fuss-free, one-pot dish that’s packed with fresh veggies, canned beans, smoky seasonings, and bulgur. Just one bowl will keep you full and satisfied for hours!
While other vegetarian chili recipes are often made with vegan ground “beef”, this recipe makes tender mushrooms, a medley of sautéed vegetables, bulgur and canned beans the stars. This keeps everything under budget without sacrificing flavor.
Pair each veggie-packed bowl with a batch of my Vegan Cornbread and all the toppings you want, like avocado chunks, vegan sour cream, and tortilla chips.
Why you’ll love this vegan chili recipe
- Hearty and nourishing – Chock full of veggies and beans, this chili doesn’t skimp on the plant-based protein or fiber.
- One-pot meal – Just cook everything in a pot, let the chili simmer for 25 minutes, then enjoy!
- Make it your own – Customize it with your favorite vegetables, beans and seasonings. And the more toppings, the better!
How to make veggie chili
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Add the mushrooms to a large pot and sauté over medium-high heat until they start to soften. Add the onion, carrots, and bell pepper to the pot, sauté for 5 minutes, then add the garlic.
Stir in the rest of the chili ingredients, bring to a boil, and then lower the heat to a simmer. Let the chili simmer until it’s thickened and the bulgur is tender and cooked through.
Is the chili too thick? Thin the consistency by stirring in a splash of water or vegetable broth at a time until it’s thinned to your liking.
Serve the chili in bowls and top with a dollop of vegan sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado chunks, or any other chili toppings you like. Enjoy with vegan cornbread for dunking and enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
Yes! To make slow cooker veggie chili, add all of the chili ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on high for 6 to 8 hours or on low for 4 to 6 hours.
Yes, this chili is just as easy to make in the Instant Pot. Cook the veggies in the pot as normal using Sauté mode, then mix in the seasonings and cook until fragrant. Cancel Sauté mode and stir in the water, beans, and bulgur.
Secure the lid, place the steam release valve on sealing, and cook on high pressure for about 15 minutes. Allow the pressure to release using the venting mode, then remove the lid, taste, and adjust the flavors as needed.
This recipe isn’t inherently gluten-free because bulgur is made from durum wheat. To make it gluten-free, swap the bulgur for an equal amount of cooked quinoa, white rice, or brown rice.
You can swap the black beans or pinto beans for kidney beans or chickpeas instead. Or, if you’re not a fan of beans, feel free to use cooked green or brown lentils, vegan beef crumbles (like Impossible or Beyond ground “beef”), soy curls, or crumbled tofu instead.
Make this recipe your own by swapping any of the vegetables in the recipe card with your favorites. I love making chili with sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and jalapenos, but you can also keep things simple with a bag of frozen vegetables instead.
Once the leftover chili has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the leftovers to thaw in the fridge before reheating in the microwave or in a pot on the stove.
Veggie Chili
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms chopped small or sliced
- 1 medium onion diced small
- 4 medium carrots peeled and diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium zucchini diced
- 1 cup fresh or frozen corn
- (2) 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
- (2) 15-ounce cans black beans drained and rinsed
- (1) 15-ounce can pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 1/3 cup bulgur
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the chopped mushrooms. Sauté the mushrooms until the start to release their oils (about 5 minutes), then add the onion, carrots and bell pepper and sauté for 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute, until fragrant.
- Now add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the chili gets too thick, add a little more water to thin.
- Taste; add more salt or seasonings to taste. For a spicier chili, add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Serve with vegan sour cream, cornbread, tortilla chips and/or shredded cheese.
Notes
- Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator and the chili also freezes well. I like to freeze in individual containers for quick meals.
- Feel free to substitute any veggies or leave anything out you don’t like.
- For gluten free, leave out the bulgur or replace it with quinoa or rice.
So good and I had plenty left over to freeze! In the future I’ll probably cut this recipe in half, since I mostly only feed myself. It was wetter than I thought it would be, but then I kept it on the stove too long and burned the pot. Nothing major, but I’d appreciate notes in the recipe on how to know when the chili is done, liquid-wise.
Hello! I’m new to the vegan world and wanted to start my journey with this yummy chili! I added an extra bell pepper, two sweet potatoes and a can of chickpeas. Turned out delish! Only knocking a star because it’s more of a veggie stew than a chili. Oh and use your biggest container, I made this in my crockpot and it was FULL! This would be good if you have a lot of mouths to feed :). Looking forward to eating more of your recipes!
Great recipe, will definitely be making it again! Would comfortably feed 8 very hungry adults with cornbread on the side. Definitely use a large stock pot for this recipe – our 6qt pot was at max capacity! I I added 1/8 tsp of cayenne pepper at the end.
Hi Julie. This does make a lot of chili! I’m so excited that you love the recipe! Thanks for your awesome review and feedback!