8 Chili Recipes to Win a Chili Cookoff

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

Here’s our new favorite kitchen trick: this Quick 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. This simple recipe will be a staple in your kitchen for years to come.

Here's the ultimate vegan 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 our vegan sour cream and some pickled jalapenos and well: it’s out of this world good.

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 (or cashew cream or 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!”

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!

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!

Last up in our chili recipes: Instant Pot chili! Because why not make chili in a pressure cooker? This one is really the best Instant Pot vegetarian chili recipe. It’s full of beans, veggies, and lentils to up the plant-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.