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Wholesome Meatless Chili With Lentils (Vegan)

on June 26, 2020
last updated November 14, 2024
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The epitome of heartiness and warmth, this Wholesome Meatless Chili with Lentils is comfort food at its finest. Its subtle spice and meaty texture will keep you satisfied for hours!
close up of a bowl of vegan chili with fresh toppings

Looking for a delicious family-style meal, but don’t have time or energy to stand over a hot stove for hours?

This Meatless Chili with Lentils only requires one pot, a handful of ingredients, and a casual 10 minutes of hands-on time before it does all the work for you on its own.

Sometimes I want to cook a warm, cozy family meal, but I only have two minutes here and there in between other tasks, so recipes like this and my One-Pot Hearty Mushroom Stew are perfect for days when I just want to dump all the ingredients in a pot, leave it on the stove, and let it work its magic.

As a busy mom who loves bold flavor, I appreciate this lentil chili recipe more than ever because it makes meals FOR DAYS and is one of those foods that actually may even taste better as leftovers.

two bowls of vegan chili with lentils with silver spoons in each

My best friend’s mom made THE BEST turkey chili growing up, and we would just sit on the couch and eat it by the pound with our favorite blue corn tortilla chips.

And with a full-time job, three kids, and ALL their friends constantly running around her house I am now realizing how GENIUS making this dish was. Throw it in the pot and feed a small army with it.

So as soon as I became a mom I was like “okay, time to perfect a vegan chili”. This wholesome meatless chili with lentils gives me all the nostalgia, heartiness, and flavor of Helaine’s famous turkey chili, but just without the meat.

bowl of southwestern chili with sour cream , jalapeno, and avocado

Meatless Chili with Lentils Ingredient Highlights


Every good chili has a mix of beans, seasoning, and a good amount of garlic and onion, but this chili has two unique ingredients that make it stand out.

Lentils and corn!

The lentils “beef” it up (pun intended) and gives this cozy vegan dish that heartiness any true chili achieves.

Corn is a highly debated chili add-in, but I would never chili without the corn. While classic chili leaves it out, you will find it in most southwestern-style chili, and here’s why it’s an absolute YES in my book.

Between the beans, the lentils (or meat), and the warm spices, chili is a HEAVY dish.

It is begging for something slightly sweet and fresh to break up your bite. Corn can successfully stew for 2+ hours while retaining its crisp, juicy, freshness. Plus, it doesn’t interrupt the texture.

Either canned or frozen corn is easiest, but you can also cut fresh corn off the cob.

As for the seasoning, buy a packet or make your own chili seasoning.

overhead picture of ingredients for vegan chili with lentils - garlic, olive oil, corn, lentils, onion, veggie broth, onion, chili seasoning, black beans and crushed tomato

Balck Beans Vs Kidney Beans in Chili

While you will often find kidney beans in chili recipes, this meatless chili has a southwestern flare, using black beans instead of kidney beans, and adding corn and onions.

How to Make Easy Lentil Chili


Cook Down the Onions First

Dice your onions and add them to a large pot or Dutch Oven with olive oil. Crank your heat up to medium and allow the onions to sweat.

After 5 minutes over medium, the onions should be super fragrant and start to turn translucent.

close up of frying diced onions
Cook the onions in the oil first until they are soft and fragrant.

Set It and Forget It

Turn the heat down to low and add the rest of your ingredients. Give the pot a couple of stirs so everything is submerged in the vegetable broth.

Your meatless chili should be at a low simmer. Cover and cook for at least two hours.

Stir the chili with lentils every 30 minutes or so, just to ensure that nothing sticks to the bottom.

adding all vegan chili ingredients to the pot to cook
Add the rest of the ingredients and let it simmer together on the stove, stirring occasionally.

How to Serve Meatless Chili with Lentils

The short answer is with anything and everything. But I’ll share my top five faves for my wholesome meatless chili with lentils:

Smothered in cheese and served as a dip with chips. Chili makes for THE ULTIMATE dip. I like it best with cheddar cheese.

There are some really awesome vegan cheddar options that melt well, but my favorite is Violife Just Like Cheddar Shreds. Or just leave off the cheese and dive right in with the tortilla chips.

Over pasta. No, I’m not crazy. It’s awesome. We had a local chili restaurant growing up that introduced me to this unlikely combo and it’s A+. I like it best with penne. But I can make an argument for spaghetti, too.

On a bun. It’s basically a sloppy Joe. Enough said.

Over quinoa or rice. Add some cheese and guacamole and you have the perfect Tex-Mex bowl. You can also add some veggies and red onion to bulk it up and hit every flavor note.

In a tortilla with lime. Like a taco. Or in a burrito-sized tortilla and add some rice and other fixings, too.

overhead shot of two bowls of vegan chili with lentils on a round wooden board

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close up of a bowl of vegan chili with fresh toppings

Wholesome Meatless Chili With Lentils

5 from 2 votes
Marley Goldin
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The epitome of heartiness and warmth, this Wholesome Meatless Chili with Lentils is comfort food at its finest. Its subtle spice and meaty texture will keep you satisfied for hours!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Meatless Chili with Lentils

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (no salt added)
  • 15.5 ounces black beans (15.5 oz usually = 1 can)
  • 15 ounces white kennel corn (canned or frozen)
  • 1 cup lentils (uncooked)
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning

Optional Toppings

  • 1 raw scallion
  • 1 handful cilantro
  • ½ hass avocado
  • 2 slices jalapeno

Instructions
 

  • Dice onions and cook in a large pot or Dutch oven with a lid in olive oil for about 5 minutes, just to release some of their juices.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 large yellow onion
  • Add the vegetable broth, garlic, crushed tomatoes, black beans, corn, lentils, and chili seasoning. Mix well, cover, and simmer on low for about two hours, stirring occasionally.
    1 cup vegetable broth, 5 cloves garlic, 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 15.5 ounces black beans, 15 ounces white kennel corn, 1 cup lentils, 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • Serve warm with toppings of choice.
    1 raw scallion, 1 handful cilantro, ½ hass avocado, 2 slices jalapeno

Pro Tips

  • Try making your own seasoning. I even have a go-to chili and taco seasoning recipe for you. It’s simple and let’s face it—nothing is better than fresh and homemade!
  • You can leave it for more than two hours to simmer, just make sure you are stirring so it doesn’t stick to the bottom. The longer the flavors have to meld together the better.
  • However, you may need to add more veggie broth if the chili starts to get dry. Just check it and stir it every 30-45 minutes or so.
Course Dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Diet Vegan
Keyword Easy, Healthy, Lentil Chili, Meatless Chili, One-Pot
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1 thought on “Wholesome Meatless Chili With Lentils (Vegan)”

  1. Nancy Sheintal

    This Lentil Chili recipe Is AWESOME!!! You need to make a cookbook with these recipes. I am really impressed that you have recipes for EVERYONE on your blog❣️❣️