It doesn't get any easier than this 3-bean vegetarian slow cooker chili. Just throw in the ingredients you'll be rewarded with a healthy meal by dinnertime.
When you marry into a family, there are certain expectations placed upon you. For me, it was learning to make my mother-in-law's crockpot applesauce and coveted zucchini bread. Believe me, I'm not complaining. It could have been something like making a quilt for every first born, which would have resulted in rapid expulsion from the family. I can't knit, sew or quilt to save my life!
The thing is, I had never used a slow cooker in my life. My family didn't own one when I was growing up, and I was certain I was going to light the house on fire by leaving a cooking device plugged in and turned on when I wasn't at home. I mean - come one - that's one of the first things they teach when you're learning to cook. Don't leave hot things unattended and don't slice off your fingers with the chef's knife. But it was time to step up to the plate or find a different dugout. So, I dove into the world of slow cooking.
I started with the applesauce (you have to make it!), then eventually moved on to two of our favorites, Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry and Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken. There's something about putting everything into the crockpot in the morning, knowing that you don't have to touch it until dinnertime, when you'll serve up a meal that convinces your family that you've been slaving all day. Long live the slow cooker!
As soon as autumn hits, we become rabid fans of chili, whether it's a vegetarian 3-bean version like this one, our classic smoky turkey chili or a lightened-up white chicken chili. If it has the word "chili" in it, we're game. This version is fantastic for Meatless Monday. If you'd like to make it vegan, just skip the step of garnishing the chili with cheese.
Other healthy vegetarian dinner recipes:
Cookin' Canuck's Arugula Salad with Roasted Tomatoes & Pasta {Vegan}
Cookin' Canuck's Barley Stew with Caramelized Onions, White Beans & Spinach {Vegan}
A Spicy Perspective's Korean Bibimbap
Reluctant Entertainer's Spicy Carrot Garbanzo Tagine
Gourmandelle's Eggplant Dhal
Printable Recipe
Slow Cooker 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 chipotle pepper seeded & minced
- 2 teaspoons adobo sauce from chipotle can
- 1 28 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 2 14 ounce cans each black beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 14 ounce can red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 14 ounce can pinto beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 ¾ cups vegetable broth
- 1 ½ cup frozen corn kernels
- 2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
For Serving:
- minced cilantro
- grated cheddar cheese (omit for vegan)
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients, except the lime juice, cilantro and cheddar cheese, in a slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cook on LOW heat for 8 hours, or until the chili is thickened. Taste and stir in additional chipotle peppers and/or adobo sauce to make the chili spicier, if desired. Stir in the lime juice.
- Serve with cilantro and grated cheddar cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
Ruxandra Micu (@gourmandelle)
Great recipe! I don't have a slow cooker but I will definitely try your recipe, the classic way, on the oven. 😀 Thanks for featuring my eggplant dhal recipe! 🙂
Nancy | The Bitter Side of Sweet
My hubby craves beans in the fall and winter so this is perfect for us! I have been using my slow cooker about once or twice a week in the last month or so and I am thinking why has it taken me so long to us it!
Kim Beaulieu
My mom never used a slow cooker either. My dad always said it would burn the house down and insurance wouldn't cover it. Ha, I have no idea why he thought that. I used mine a ton when the kids were younger. They were both always so busy in sports and activities, plus we hit the barn daily, so using the slow cooker was the sure way we'd eat at night. I find myself using it less these days, but every now and then I pull one out and have some fun. I have five. I know right. I told people I needed a new one around Christmas time one year and it got out of hand. Lol. But they come in handy for potlucks and huge family get togethers. I keep potatoes and side dishes warm in them. Works brilliantly.
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
Haha. I was going to say that those weren't such bad expectations. 😉 I couldn't live up to the quilting thing, either! This looks great. I'll let you know if my husband gives it a try. 🙂
Martha @ A Family Feast
This chili sounds like the most delicious way to get my family to eat their veggies!
Joanie @ Zagleft
I didn't grow up with a crockpot in my mother's kitchen either and can relate to your feeling of worry when I began using one. They're truly a great invention. This chili looks like a meal my family would absolutely love!
Lora @cakeduchess
I think it's super with dry or canned beans. I always have canned beans around in case I come up with a quick soup idea. I absolutely love chili in the fall and winter and this one looks like a hit! Now to check out your hoisin chicken!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
Nothing says fall weather like a bowl of chili. I love this! I put a slow cooker on my b-day list since mine decided to break last winter. Hoping I get one so that I can make dishes like this! 🙂
Michelle at A Dish of Daily Life
Time to get the slow cooker out. I'm in denial, but fall is definitely here. We love chili here and yours looks fabulous. And since we are trying to eat less meat, this is perfect!
Valerie | From Valerie's Kitchen
I am so with you. As soon as fall begins chili is on our menu. I love every variety and yours looks wonderful! My slow cooker is my best friend on busy days 🙂
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
HaHa! I can't sew, crochet or knit to save my life either. I've tried but just don't have the patience. I've actually just started using the slow cooker about 5 years ago and now rely on it pretty heavily during the fall and winter months. It's nice to have dinner cook all day and be ready with hardly any additional work when dinner rolls around. Your 3 bean vegetarian chili looks so good. Nice and filling too with all those beans. I also love that you've added corn. Nice touch! Must try!
The Food Hunter
I was never a crockpot user either. this recipe sounds delicious!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
I agree the whole idea of leaving an appliance plugged in all day unattended seems counterintuitive, but it's been a lifesaver on days when I'm out of the house all day and don't have time to cook in the afternoon. I love the cocoa powder and tomato paste - bet it adds some nice depth to this vegetarian chili.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
Laughing at your phrase, "time to step up to the plate or find a different dugout." That's GREAT! Stealing it.
Susan
This sounds amazing. I've recently become a convert, giving up my slow cooker for an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker (it has a slow cook function but I don't know why you'd use it). Not only could you make this in about 30 minutes, it would taste like it had cooked all day. Whenever I read a slow cooker recipe now, I immediately start thinking about how to convert it to the pressure cooker. An added bonus is you can cook beans in from dry to done in about 20 to 30 minutes and keep a supply in the fridge or freezer. No more canned beans. There's a group on Facebook "Instant Pot Community" that is very helpful and shares recipes. And you don't have to worry about burning the house down or the cooker blowing up anymore. And don't even get me started about how great it is for soups, ribs, chicken, rice, beef stews......I know you might not want to have this comment on your site but I'd really recommend you check out electric pressure cooking.
Flo
Hello. I love this recipe and I'd like to adapt it for the Instant Pot. Would you be able to share your conversion with me? Thanks!
Flo
Nevermind; I found the Instant Pot version right here on this site. Thank you!
Ginny McMeans
Fantastic meal! Perfect for our family and I am all about the ease of the slow cooker!
Katerina @ Diethood
Putting everything in the slow cooker all at once? Those are the best meals!!
A fireman once told me that they've had several issues with slow cookers burning down the house... not to freak you out or anything. haha 😀 Basically, it's those slow cookers without the legs on the bottom, left on laminate countertops for 6+ hours. No problems with slow cookers left on granite or anything else other than laminate.
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen
It is so funny because when I used my slow cooker for the first time I also had the impression that I was going to light the house on fire by leaving a cooking device plugged in and turned on when I wasn’t at home too... hahahahahah! Now I can leave without it 😉 Love this recipe!
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer
Slow cooker recipes are something I have come to love (we did have a slow cooker growing up but we did not utilize it.) As a vegetarian, I am loving the flavours in your chili!
Rachel Cooks
This looks amazing! If you cooked it on high for 8 hours with a little more liquid, I think you could even use dry (unsoaked) beans to make it super budget-friendly. I love the chipotle in it!