Vegetarian Quinoa Chili

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Vegetarian Chili with Quinoa – a hearty vegan chili even meat lovers will love! Loaded with black beans, red kidney beans, tomatoes, and lots of veggies in addition to protein-rich quinoa, this is the best vegetarian chili recipe!

vegetarian chili served with cornbread and topped with cheese and onion

 

Vegetarian Quinoa Chili is no Laughing Matter..

Or maybe it is. Caleb loves this Vegetarian Quinoa Chili! No, we didn’t give him a bowl to eat, but he loves the word quinoa. I was holding Caleb when I told Josh we were having Quinoa Chili for dinner and he started laughing. I asked Caleb if he liked Quinoa Chili and he started giggling like crazy. Every time I would say quinoa, he would crack up…so of course, I said it one too many times:) Now that I think of it, quinoa is kind of a funny word. I am glad my Vegetarian Quinoa Chili made Caleb so happy because it certainly made our bellies and taste buds happy. This is the BEST vegetarian chili recipe!

bowl of vegan chili garnished with cheese and scallions

Vegan Chili Meat Lovers will Love

This chili is hearty and very filling. It is vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, but meat lovers will enjoy it as well. This vegan chili is made with black beans, red kidney beans, tomatoes, and lots of vegetables-onion, carrots, celery, green pepper, red pepper, and zucchini. We threw in a jalapeño, chili powder, and cumin. Don’t ever skip the chili powder and cumin when making chili, they are the key spices in any chili recipe and really add great flavor in this vegan chili.

Best Vegetarian chili recipe with protein-packed quinoa in serving dish

Protein-Packed Vegetarian Chili

The beans and quinoa team up to make this chili a protein powerhouse! I love the texture the quinoa adds to the chili. You can top the chili with green onions, cheese, sour cream/Greek yogurt, avocado slices, chips, crackers, or serve cornbread on the side. The chili is good, if not better, the second day. We enjoyed leftovers for a few days and loved it every time. And if you can’t eat it all, put the chili in the freezer for a rainy day-it freezes really well.

Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe, Hands Down

This is my new favorite chili recipe.  If you are looking for a new chili recipe to try this winter, make a big pot of Vegetarian Quinoa Chili. It will warm you up and fill you up. This vegan chili is also perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or for any game day. It is easy to make and your guests will love it. It is always a hit with everyone, even the meat lovers! They never miss the meat because this healthy chili is so filling and delicious!

If you like this vegetarian chili recipe, you might also like:

Spoonful of Quinoa chili served with cornbread

Vegetarian Quinoa Chili

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This hearty chili is made with beans, vegetables, and quinoa. Meat lovers and vegetarians will love this chili!

Yield: Serves 10-12

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, diced
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 medium zucchini, chopped
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 3 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 2-3 tablespoons chili powder, depending on your taste (we used 3)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional toppings: green onions, avocado slices, cheese, sour cream, Greek yogurt, chips, crackers, etc.

Directions:

  1. In a medium sauce pan, combine the quinoa and water. Cook over medium heat until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Set aside.
  2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, jalapeño, carrot, celery, peppers, and zucchini. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
  3. Add the black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Stir in the cooked quinoa. Season with chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Simmer chili on low for about 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Note-garnish the chili with green onions, avocado slices, cheese, sour cream/Greek yogurt, chips, crackers, if desired. This chili freezes well.

All images and text ©Two Peas & Their Pod.

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