My Crock Pot Award Winning Vegetarian Chili Recipe is so good you will never miss the meat! This healthy Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili just happens to be vegan too and actually WON a chili cook-off against classic meat-filled chili and has become a tried and true family favorite.
Crock Pot Award Winning Vegetarian Chili Recipe
This Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili recipe is the VERY first recipe I ever posted on Running in a Skirt and it is hands down my most famous, most loved family recipe.
I have made my Crock Pot Award Winning Vegetarian Chili for years... ever since I WON a chili cook-off with it against some of my friends at the TV station I used to work at. And all the other competitors were meat-based chili and I've got to say that I'm still pretty proud that I won.
The Hubs even says he prefers Award Winning Vegetarian Chili to regular chili! Now if those two things aren't a vote of confidence, I don't know what is.
On a side note, this chili can also easily be vegan. The toppings shown here are dairy-based, but the entire recipe is vegan and dairy-free.
The Story Behind My Award Winning Vegetarian Chili...
So before we get to the details of the chili, let me take you back to the night I won that cook-off.
I only have a few, small and sad pictures because it was circa 2008... but hopefully, you will get the idea.
I was in my 20's working at a local tv station and my friends and I often spent our time planning over-the-top parties and food competitions like rib contests and port cook-offs.
2008 Chili Cook-off
I wasn’t planning on cooking for the contest because at that time cooking wasn't my thing. I found out there were about a half dozen chili entries, but none of them were vegetarian. I asked the organizers about representation and food for the “meat-free” crowd. Next thing you know my name is on the list to cook.
I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. My competition all had tried and true recipes that they had made for years. I was fighting an uphill battle when all the other stews had beef, pork, or chicken in them. I didn't let scare me though and I dived into creating my own chili. I then recruited my girlfriends to put together a GIANT batch for the cook-off that we made in a turkey fryer size pot.
Since I knew I was fighting an uphill battle with vegetarian chili, I decided I needed a little publicity. I launched a full-fledged campaign for my chili with stickers and flyers.
I even covered the competition, Eric, with my propaganda.
Even though I focused a bunch of time on my gimmicks, the actual chili I made turned out really, really good. I served bowl and after bowl of it. It was a crowd hit and at the end of the night, I won!
There was no prize; just bragging rights. But that was more than enough to start my cooking career.
Over the years, I recreated the chili to be cooked in a Crock-Pot in a reasonable size portion. It’s changed and adapted a little over time, but it has truly become one of the go-to recipes that I can call all mine.
We've come a long way since those days, my friends. 🙂
Why this Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili is the BEST...
- It has lots of different bean types. I included light kidney beans, dark kidney beans, black beans, AND garbanzo beans to give this variety and texture. It makes my Award Winning Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili more interesting to look at AND taste.
- It has lots of colors. The different peppers and beans make it a pretty dish.
- It does NOT have “fake meat.” I like tofu but so many people are turned off by the possibility of “fake meat” that they will not even try it. This chili is packed with so many ingredients, you will not even miss it. You also have plenty of protein from the beans.
- Chipotle Cholula is my secret ingredient. Need I say more?
Ingredients in my Award Winning Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili:
This is a bit of a longer ingredients list than most of my recipes but most of this is canned goods that are shelf-stable and easy to keep around. I actually always keep enough of these items in my pantry to make my Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili in a pinch.
- Canned Beans: I use canned dark kidney beans, light kidney beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas,) AND canned black beans for the most flavor and texture. You can use any combination of beans you like, but this is my favorite.
- Canned Tomato: I like the fire-roasted tomatoes with garlic to add even more flavor without a lot of fuss.
- Diced Green Chilis: Those little cans of diced chilis add a lot of flavor to the mixture and just a small touch of heat.
- Canned Tomato Sauce: Use your favorite kind!
- Bell Peppers: Chopped bell peppers in any color work for this.
- Onion: I prefer a sweet onion for my Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili but any type will work.
- Garlic: You can't have a good chili without garlic! Feel free to add extra if you love it.
- Spices: My spice blend is chili powder, hot chili border, cumin, and bay leaves.
- Chipotle Cholula: This is my SECRET ingredient! Chiplote Cholula has just a touch of heat and chipotle flavor that makes this dish irresistible. You can substitute canned chipotle in adobe sauce but I love the Cholula for this. Not sponsored, I just love it.
You'll notice that the recipe for the actual chili is vegan. The topping your pick can keep it vegan or make it vegetarian.
What goes with vegetarian chili?
- Sour Cream, Plain Greek Yogurt, or Dairy Free Yogurt
- Shredded Cheese
- Sliced Green Onions
- Chives
- Corn Bread
How to Make Vegetarian Chili in a Slow Cooker or Crock Pot:
- Rinse and drain the canned beans.
- Chop your peppers and onions.
- Open the rest of the cans and dump it all into a large slow cooker or crock pot. <--- Amazon Affiliate Link
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
I love to serve my chili with toppings like shredded cheese, plain greek yogurt, and green onions! I also can't resist cornbread on the side. Pick your favorite though.
Variations & FAQ
- You can use any combination of beans for this vegetarian chili.
- If you don't like any spice just use regular chili powder. This is NOT a spicy recipe though at all it just has a tiny bit of warmth.
- If you like to save time you can use pre-chopped or even frozen peppers and onions.
Can I use fresh and frozen vegetables in this recipe?
YES! You can use a bag of frozen peppers and onions although I prefer the texture of the fresh. You could also add some frozen corn at the end for a colorful twist to this recipe.
How do I serve vegetarian chili?
I love serving this Award Winning Vegetarian chili in a bowl with cheese, plain greek yogurt, and green onions on the top. I serve cornbread on the side. You could also serve it Cincinnati style over spaghetti or over a baked potato. Other great toppings are avocado, cilantro, or even chives.
How do you store the vegetarian chili?
Store the chili in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Does vegetarian chili freeze well?
YES! You can freeze this recipe in two different ways. You can mix all the ingredients in a large freezer style ziplock bag before cooking. Put the entire bag flat on a cookie sheet and put it in your freezer. Once frozen this is a fabulous freezer meal! When you are ready to enjoy the vegetarian chili you pull it out of the freezer and allow to thaw. Once thawed just put everything back into the crockpot and follow the same cooking instructions. It will last 4-6 months in your freezer.
You can also fully cook this vegetarian chili and freeze it in individual portions for later. This recipe does make a large batch!
Love Crock Pot Vegetarian Soups? Try these too!
- Crock Pot Vegetarian Lasagna Soup
- Nourishing Vegetarian Crock Pot Lentil Soup
- Vegetarian Crock Pot Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens Soup
- Vegetarian Crock Pot Taco Soup
- Crock Pot Butternut Squash Soup
- Crock Pot Southwest White Bean Soup
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!
Crock Pot Award Winning Vegetarian Chili
Ingredients
- 1 14.5 oz canned dark kidney beans , rinsed and drained
- 1 14.5 ox canned light kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 14.5 oz canned garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 14.5 oz canned black beans , rinsed and drained
- 2 - 14.5 14.5 oz canned diced fire-roasted tomato with garlic
- 1 4 oz canned diced green chilies
- 2 8 oz canned tomato sauce
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon hot chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons Chipotle Cholula
- Salt & Pepper to taste, ½ teaspoon each
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a large Crock Pot.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve with cornbread, cheese, sour cream and an additional splash of Cholula.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin for later!
Lisa says
Half of my family is Vegan and the other half is not. This chili was a mega-hit with everyone! It's hands-down the best chili I've ever had. So flavorful and filling. It was perfect for a fall party last year and now again for an RV camping trip where we don't feel like cooking a whole lot. Thanks for my new go-to chili recipe!
Susan says
I want to try this, but I am confused as to what hot chili powder is as opposed to chili powder. When I make my vegan chili, the recipe calls for both chili powder and cayenne. Is hot chili powder the same as cayenne or something different?
JulieWunder says
Hi Susan, Hot Chili Powder is just another spice that many spice companies make. If you don't have it use more chili powder and add some cayenne if you like it hot.
I hope you enjoy the chili! It's delish!
Julie
Phyllis says
Wanted to try this for this Sunday family dinner, but the photo appears there is no liquid in the bowl. It looks like a delicious bowl of beans , not chili. Please clarify.
JulieWunder says
The tomato sauce and liquid from the canned tomatoes (don't drain those!) gives the chili enough liquid. For the photos, I piled the beans a bit higher so you can see them. The finished soup looks more like the photo in the slow cooker! It is very thick with beans but there is just enough liquid too. This is a tried and true family recipe for me and I hope you love it too!
Elizabeth says
Hi! I want to try this for Super Bowl, but my crock pot is 6 quart do you think that’s too small? What size do you use?
JulieWunder says
Hi there! I have made it in a 6 quart! It's a tight fit but it works.
I hope you enjoy it!
Jennifer says
Hi, I’m planning to make this 5 vegetarian chili recipe for my daughter and her friend for Thanksgiving. I recently found out that her friend if gluten free. Is this recipe gluten free? TYIA.
JulieWunder says
Hi Jennifer! This recipe can be gluten free! Just make sure the canned beans you buy don't have any additives that could have gluten. That mainly happens in flavored beans. I checked and Bush's Beans are all gluten free.
I hope you enjoy this! It's one of my favorite recipes.
Julie
Rachel Osburn says
Wow! My company had a football chili day and bought 3 crockpots of chili from a local deli. Being vegetarian, I brought my own and tried this recipe having never made it before. Working with a bunch of meat-eating Montanan's I thought for sure I would be bringing almost all of it home, especially since I made it spicy, but my crockpot was scraped clean and there were still two pots full of the meat chili. This recipe was SO easy and absolutely delicious; I will definitely be making it again!
JulieWunder says
That makes my day! Thank you for leaving the review.
Julie Scott says
Made this for a group of teens: it was delicious. Subbed frozen corn for the garbanzo beans; used red pepper flakes instead of hot chili powder. Served over Fritos!
JulieWunder says
Sounds like some yummy substitutions! I'm so glad you liked it!
Leslie says
I can definitely see why this is award winning! I LOVE the use of so many different beans in this! That's my favorite part of chili!!
Martine Cianni says
Do you know how many calories per serving? Thanks 😛
JulieWunder says
Hi Martine! I updated the recipe to include nutritional information. I've been slowly going back through my site to do this! It's 339 calories per serving. It's a very hearty bowl of soup. I love this recipe and hope you do too. 🙂
Lisa cardello says
Hey there! Your award-winning vegetarian chili looks amazing. I am in the midst of trying to create a stash of freezer meals because baby number two is on the way. Have you ever combined the ingredients and frozen them, then threw them in the crockpot at a later time? Just wondering how this freezes. Thanks!
JulieWunder says
Hi Lisa! This freezes great!!! Get BIG bags and put it all in the bag and freeze. Cook it when you are ready. I made two big batches before my twins came and was so grateful. I also froze some cornbread to go with it. 🙂 Enjoy!
Lorie says
I just now turned on the crockpot and can't wait to eat some! But I was thinking that this is way more than 8 servings especially for a little person like me. How much is a serving?
JulieWunder says
It does make a lot with generous portions! Next time I make it I'll measure out a serving but we usually eat it twice and then I freeze some for a few weeks later.
Teri of NC says
Thank you for posting this recipe! I made it today, but I made a few additions to it (diced sweet potatoes, quinoa and honey). It turned out great! Thank you for introducing me to Chipotle Cholula, too-- yummy!!!
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week! Hope you enjoy your new Red Plate and have a great day!
Miz Helen
Becky says
I can see why you won the chili contest with this amazing recipe! Thank you for sharing!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Becky! I hope you enjoy it!
Kimmythevegan says
Oh I do love me some chili. I LOVE all of the awesome beans you put in there. And totally on board with fake meat not having to go in everything - beans give great texture, taste & protein all on their own. The seasoning sounds especially good - I can totally see how you won this competition. YAY VEGGIES! Congrats - you earned bragging rights!
Thanks for sharing at Healthy Vegan Fridays - I'm pinning & sharing. Have a great weekend.
JulieWunder says
Hi Kimmy! I hope you'll give it a try! Put some avocado on it for vegan toppings!
Miz Helen says
I love a great Veggie Chili and I can sure see why this would be an award winner! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
Miz Helen
JulieWunder says
Thanks Miz Helen! Hope you get a chance to try it.
vicki says
Love chili and this one looks great! I love all the different beans in this one. I like to put a couple different types in mine as well, I think it keeps it interesting.
JulieWunder says
Hi Vicki! Hope you get a chance to try these. SO good!
Annmarie says
Homemade chili is my FAV, especially during football season! I cannot wait for there to be a little bit of a chill in the air so I can start whipping some up!
JulieWunder says
I know! One good thing about fall. Hope you enjoy it.
Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
I love that you campaigned for your chili! And won! Guess that means I have to try it!
JulieWunder says
Haha! I rarely do things half way.... 🙂
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands says
Veggie chili is something I have been craving all week! It's been stormy on and off since Sunday and overcast and I want to make it so bad but it's been steamy and muggy too so I've been putting off making it.
JulieWunder says
Hi Sarah! You'll have to try this-- you'll love it!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free says
I love that you passed on the fake meat and I've never seen chickpeas in chili before. That's a neat way to stock up the beans!
JulieWunder says
I learned early on it's much easier to get my husband and other "meat" eaters on board if I don't force fake meat crumbles on them! haha!
Jen @ Pretty Little Grub says
This looks SOOO tasty! I think chili is all about finding that right spice blend.
JulieWunder says
So true! It's all about that flavor!
Jenn says
This chili looks so hearty and delicious! I love all the different variety of beans and veggies. So good!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Jenn! It's so good! Hope you get a chance to try it.
Kristy from Southern In Law says
This looks increeeeeedible! Jesse is becoming more and more willing to eat meat free so I think I have to try this out!
JulieWunder says
You have to try it!!!
Lindsay Cotter says
I can't wait to try this! Looks so warm and delicious! Perfect fall food!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Lindsay! It's a good one!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says
Yum! For me it isn't about having meat, it's all about the flavor!
JulieWunder says
Me too! Thanks Wendy! You'll have to try this one!
Laura says
#1) I LOVE these photos! I just shot a chicken chili recipe and I had a heck of a time getting them to look pretty (actually they really don't but oh well lol)! #2) this chili looks incredible! I LOVE all the delicious healthy veggies and beans packed in this recipe! YUM!
JulieWunder says
Hi Laura! Oh I know! It took some stacking of that bowl to make it look pretty! haha! Hope you enjoy the recipe.
Sonali- The Foodie Physician says
This is definitely a winner in my book! It's so fun revisiting recipes from the past, especially one's that are attached to such wonderful memories 🙂
JulieWunder says
Such a fun day! It's wonderful how food brings people together. Hope you are having a good weekend.
lacey@fairytalesandfitness says
I love veggie chili. Every year we have a chili cook off too. I'll have to make this recipe next time.
JulieWunder says
You should! It's so good! Thanks Lacey!
Deborah @Confessions of a mother runner says
Great story I love it!! I am so ready for cooler weather and chili too
JulieWunder says
I know! I love good soups! I'm already craving them.
heather @Lunging Through Life says
Oh my gosh how fun is this! I love that you guys had competitions there but it's hilarious the stickers and such you pulled out for your chili! I am a huge chili person. We've gone to a chili cookoff before and it's so fun to try all the chilis!
JulieWunder says
It is a lot of fun! I also put up campaign posters at my work in the weeks leading up to it. I had a lot more time back then- haha!
Blane Sherer says
Now that's a nice memory for you.
Thanks for sharing that again.
JulieWunder says
Thanks Blane! Hope you enjoy it.
Glynda says
Need the link to print this recipe, thanks
JulieWunder says
Hi Glynda, The only option right now is the print the whole post. I am working on going back through my old recipes and will hopefully have a print button soon. Thanks for stopping by and reading!
JulieWunder says
An easy print option is now available!
Madeline St Onge says
OK I already made this Chili and passed it on to my WW leader and friends, all gave it a 4 thumbs up, it is delicious
JulieWunder says
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing it!
Trina says
I saw your WW comment. Were you able to determine the WW points, or the calorie count for a 1 cup serving? I did enjoy the flavor!
Madeline St Onge says
Julie I made this yesterday and it is so good I could eat the whole thing myself. Thanks for shareing the recipe
Eric says
Julie, this is somewhat off-topic, but if you like Indian food, you might really like this vegetarian cookbook: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1444734717 IT's from a small family restaurant in northern England. They are very nice and the book is really good.
al fox says
P.S.iTS NICE THAT UR A DOG PERSON, ALSO.
JulieWunder says
Thanks Al 🙂 I do love those puppies 🙂
al fox says
U come across as such a down to earth person, I'm a big fan,etc. I watch every morning,if I miss it,I try to catch 12:00 PM show; Ms.Dunkle ain't bad either,etc.
Madeline St Onge says
This sounds yummy definetly trying this one. Thanks Julie
(((HUGS)))