The flavors in this Vegan Lentil Chili are rich, comforting and beyond delicious! You'll never miss the meat.
Whether you're following a plant based diet or are just trying to work more meatless meals into your life, this vegan lentil chili recipe is a fantastic addition to any meal plan! It has just the right amount of spice for our family, but feel free to reduce or increase the amount of chili powder to your taste. If you like things really spicy, stir in some chopped chipotle peppers or some cayenne pepper.
Lentils and black beans are packed with fiber, which makes this chili extra filling and satisfying. I usually serve it with a green salad - cornbread as well if I'm feeling particularly ambitious.
The recipe also happens to be gluten free and dairy free (provided you don't sprinkle shredded Cheddar cheese on top).
There are a couple of unusual ingredients in here that I stole from my favorite chili recipe. Unsweetened cocoa powder and ground cinnamon. I was originally inspired by a mole sauce at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. Many moles include chocolate and cinnamon. So, I thought, why not give it a go in my next batch of chili. I wasn't disappointed! They add an underlying depth of flavor to the chili - though you can't actually identify those flavors when eating the chili - and I never make chili without them again.
If you're looking for more easy dinner recipe, check out my 45+ 30-Minute Healthy Dinner Ideas.
WHAT YOU NEED FOR THIS VEGAN LENTIL CHILI RECIPE:
These are the main components need for this recipe (affiliate links included)…
- Lentils: Both brown and green lentils work in this recipe. Since the cooking time is similar, they're easily substituted for the other. Plus, they're both readily available in most grocery stores.
- Tomatoes: You'll need tomato paste and canned crushed tomatoes. If you have the option to buy tomato paste in the tube, I highly recommend it. It's so much easier to deal with than canned tomato paste, particularly if you're not using the whole can.
- Spices: This chili recipe calls for the usual suspects - chili powder, cumin and oregano - and a couple of unexpected ones - cinnamon and unsweetened cocoa powder. I rarely make chili without them anymore!
- Broth: Use either homemade or store-bought vegetable broth. If you are watching your sodium, use a low sodium version.
- Black beans: For ease, I use canned black beans. Be sure to drain and rinse well before adding them to the chili. Red kidney beans would be a good substitution.
Tips for making this vegan chili:
This chili follows the same basic steps of most chilis, stews and soups. Start by sauteing the aromatics - in this case, that's the onion and red bell pepper. Next up are the garlic, spices and tomato paste. Be sure to stir constantly while cooking these for a minute or two so they don't stick to the bottom of the saucepan or burn.
Because you are using several spices, I recommend measuring them out and combining them in a prep bowl while the onion is cooking. Once the onion and bell pepper are cooked, you can add the garlic and all of the spices in one fell swoop.
After adding the liquid, bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the temperature so that the mixture cooks at a lively simmer. Partially cover the saucepan with the lid while the lentils are cooking and stir occasionally so that nothing sticks to the bottom.
If you find that the lentils soak up the liquid more than you would like, feel free to add more vegetable broth or water.
Can you freeze lentil chili?
Yes! Once the chili is cool, divide it into freezer containers, like these ones (affiliate link), and freeze. The chili can be frozen for 4 to 6 months. To defrost, place it in the freezer, or use the defrost mode on your microwave.
What to serve on the side:
Since this chili already boasts a good amount of fiber and protein, I typically serve a big salad on the side. That being said, if you like something creamy with your chili, try a dollop of Greek yogurt or light sour cream (look for vegan alternatives if following a plant-based diet).
Some of our favorite salads to serve with chili:
Any green salad (kale, mixed greens, spinach) with tahini dressing
Jicama & Carrot Slaw with Honey-Lime Dressing
Warm Kale Salad with Caramelized Onions & Mushrooms
Apple & Brussels Sprouts Slaw
Is lentil chili healthy?
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, lentils are a good source of fiber, potassium and folate. In addition, they also contain prebiotics (hello, gut health!) Plus, they’re a great source of plant-based protein.
This vegetarian chili also contains black beans, which boast their own health benefits, including impressive levels of fiber and protein.
Other lentil recipes:
Chorizo & Butternut Squash Lentil Soup
Instant Pot Lentil Dal
Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Sweet Potato
Vegan Lentil Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ cup chili powder
- 2 teasoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 ¼ cups dry brown or green lentils
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (14 oz) can black beans drained & rinsed
- 3 tablespoons minced cilantro
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the garlic, chili powder, oregano, cumin, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Stir in the vegetable broth, lentils and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat so that the mixture is simmering. Partially cover the saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Stir in the black beans and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was first published on January 2, 2020 and updated with new text on June 15, 2021.
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Megan
How soft should the lentils be? Mine seem to be a little undercooked but keep seeing they shouldn't be cooked in tomatoes because they can't cook all the way. Do they just need to simmer longer? Can this be made with canned lentils instead?
Dara
Hi Megan, the amount of vegetable broth in this recipe helps to negate the effects of the tomato sauce. That being said, if they are not tender enough for your preference, I suggest cooking longer. You can add another 1/2 cup or so vegetable broth since the mixture will be simmering for longer. I like my lentils al dente - soft with a little bite, but certainly not mushy. I hope that helps.
Edited to add - And yes, you can definitely use canned lentils. Add them into the mixture in the last 10 minutes.
Vicki
I absolutely love this, as do my meat eating friends. A firm favourite in our house 🙂
Diane
This is an amazing chili! I can’t get enough of it!!
Dara
That's so great to hear, Diane! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Lindsay
It was delicious! However, next time I may not add a full 1/4 cup of Chile powder (perhaps just 2-TBSP instead) because I used real New Mexico ground red chile powder and it was pretty spicy! I liked it, but my Father-in-Law (from Illinois) thought it was a little too hot! I thought it was delightfully filling meatless meal and the fresh cilantro and warm tortillas complemented it nicely!
Lakiesha
Anyone else have to make alterations or add seasonings and sugar because it was too bitter or solely me…not a fan of the original recipe. Maybe it’s the cocoa powder ..it’s different but I’ll stick to my normal array of spices for chili.
Dara
Lakiesha, I haven't had this issue. Here are a few suggestions. 1) When garlic is overcooked/burned, it becomes bitter. 2) Be sure to cook the tomato paste for a solid minute before adding the liquid. 3) Be sure to rinse and drain the beans well before adding to the chili. 4) Used good-quality crushed tomatoes. 5) Check the freshness of your spices. 6) Make sure the red bell pepper you use is ripe. Underripe bell peppers tend to be bitter. If the bitterness is still there, adding a bit of sweetener, such as sugar, is a good solution.
Marta
This has been our go to chili recipe for the last year. Our family loves it!
Linda
Huge hit, will be making this again and again.
Dara
I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for commenting, Linda.
Judy
Looks wonderful! How could this be made in a slow cooker? Thanks so much for all the great recipes!
Dara
Hi Judy, I haven't made this in the slow cooker, so am not positive. However, when I've made lentil recipes in the slow cooker in the past, they typically cook in 4 hours on HIGH or 6 to 8 hours on LOW. I hope that helps!
Letha Austin
So very good. I added kidney and garbanzo beans. Very tasty!
Kim
Dara, thanks so much for sharing this. I am always looking for new Meatless Monday recipes and this looks ideal. It is fantastic to have an alternative to a traditional chili.
Rachel
Are the lentils dried or prcooked?
Dara
Hi Rachel, the lentils are dried.
Elizabeth
Are the lentils used in this recipe dry lentils?
Dara
Yes, they are.
Jen
So hearty and delicious!