Wholesome Meatless Chili With Lentils (Vegan)

Looking for a wholesome 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 your 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 jobs, 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 new mom, I appreciate this Wholesome Meatless Chili With Lentils recipe more than ever because you just sort of dump all the ingredients in, leave it on the stove, and let it work its magic.

It makes meals FOR DAYS and is one of those foods that actually may even taste better as leftovers.

And, as a sustainability conscious cook, I am always looking for meat alternatives to reach a more sustainable lifestyle and diet.

Green tip: Industrial meat production has a huge impact on the environment, especially because of the amount of land it takes to sustain and its high amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing your meat consumption is one great way to reduce your ecological footprint.

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.

Meatless Chili with Lentils Ingredients

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

Let’s talk lentils! They are such a great plant-based protein. They have a meaty texture, absorb flavor well, and are packed with fiber and vitamin B.

They’re great in veggie burgers and as a meat alternative in tacos, and you guessed it! GREAT in meatless chili! I used to make this the exact same way without the lentils and just felt something was missing.

This “beefs” it up (pun intended) and gives it 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.

For this Meatless Chili, here’s everything you’ll need:

• Olive oil. To cook your onion in.
• Onion. Yellow or Vidali is preferred, but white or red onions work, too.
• Vegetable broth. You can buy it boxed or make your own vegetable broth.
• Garlic. Fresh garlic goes a long way in this recipe!
• Crushed tomatoes. One large can will do.
• Black beans. Canned, preferably with no salt added.
• Corn. Either canned or frozen is easiest, but you can also cut fresh corn off the cob.
• Lentils. Uncooked and rinsed.
• Chili seasoning. Buy a packet or make your own chili seasoning.

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.

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.

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.

Substituting Lentils for Beef in Chili

You can easily substitute plant-based ground beef, but my favorite substitute for beef in meatless chili is lentils. They are hearty, healthful, and have a very “meaty” texture, resembling ground beef.

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.

Why You Should Make This Meatless Chili

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• It’s hearty. Between the lentils, beans, and warm stewed tomatoes and corn, this is sure to keep you full and satisfied.
• It’s easy. Set it and forget it!
• It will feed a lot of hungry mouths! This meatless chili will yield up to 8 servings.