Fiesta Three Bean Chili (Vegan!)
This healthy chili features warm, savory spices and lots of plant-based protein! It's easy to assemble, so satisfying, and nourishing.
Servings: 5 large bowls
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion
- 2 bell peppers (I use green and red)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 15 oz. can black beans
- 15 oz. can pinto beans
- 15 oz. can kidney beans
- 15 oz. can petite diced tomatoes (or regular diced or fire-roasted)
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup sweet corn (canned, frozen, or fire-roasted)
- 1 1/3 Tbsp. chili powder
- 2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
Toppings (optional):
- Avocado, cilantro, green onion, hot sauce, vegan sour cream, tortilla chip crumbles, etc.
Instructions
- Dice onion.
- In a stockpot over medium-high heat, sauté onion for 7-8 minutes. (I use 3 Tbsp. water/broth for no-oil sauté method, adding more as needed.)
- Meanwhile, dice bell peppers and mince garlic.
- When onion is translucent, add bell peppers, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add vegetable broth and diced tomatoes (with juice).
- Rinse and drain beans. Add to stockpot.
- Increase heat and bring to a light boil. Then cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 25 minutes.
- Stir in sweet corn during the last 5 minutes of cooking. (If using frozen, no need to thaw first.)
- Salt & pepper to taste and serve with any desired toppings.
Notes
Make it spicy: This recipe is mild as written (if using a mild chili powder). For a spicy version, add chipotle powder, chipotles in adobo sauce, a pinch of cayenne pepper, diced jalapeño, or top with hot sauce before serving.
Thickness: The broth is fairly thin, so thicken it up with a couple tablespoons of tomato paste if desired. (Or simply use less broth.)
Yield: Recipe makes about 10 cups chili. (Or about 5 large bowls of 2 cups each.)
Recipe originally posted October 2016. Updated January 2025.
Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)
Calories: 302 kcal | Carbohydrates: 59 g | Protein: 17 g | Fat: 2 g | Saturated Fat: 0.4 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5 g | Potassium: 1152 mg | Fiber: 18 g | Sugar: 10 g | Vitamin A: 2815 IU | Vitamin C: 77 mg | Calcium: 150 mg | Iron: 6 mg
