This quick and easy 4 bean vegan slow cooker (affiliate link) (crockpot) chili still feels hearty and filling without any meat. Beans add plenty of fiber and plant-based protein to keep you feeling satisfied.
Hello soup season! I have been so excited to bust out my crockpot for soup recipes. I was looking back through the blog archives and realized it had been ages since I last posted a chili recipe, so I developed this one a couple weeks ago. I wanted to create a vegan chili that was packed with a bunch of different beans and chock full of chopped veggies so that it was both filling and delicious.
This four bean vegan slow cooker (affiliate link) chili really checks all the right boxes! Crockpot recipes are some of my favorite since I love coming home from a long day at work to a crockpot full of dinner that is ready to eat. Thanks to a bunch of canned goods, this pantry-friendly chili comes together rather quickly.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Meal Prep: Great for meal prep as this makes a big pot of delicious and healthy chili. Get creative with leftovers throughout the week by serving over a baked potato or on top of nachos.
Freezer Friendly: Since we are a smaller family of 3, we have plenty of leftovers whenever I make a pot of this chili. I just store leftovers in individual portions in the freezer for future meals.
Hearty and Filling: Thanks to all the beans and chopped vegetables in this chili, it is chock full of fiber and plant-based protein to help fill you up.
Vegan and Gluten Free
Ingredients You’ll Need
Canned Beans: I like to use a variety of beans in my chili, so I used 4 different beans (kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, and cannellini beans) for this recipe. However, you can use any combination of canned beans you prefer.
Onion/Garlic: These aromatics add lots of flavor to the chili.
Squash/Zucchini: You can use either squash or zucchini for this recipe. I use them interchangeably based on what I happened to pick up at the store or farmers market that week. When I was shooting the photos for this recipe, I used a yellow squash.
Bell Pepper: I love adding at least one chopped bell pepper to my chili. I used a green one for this batch, but you can use any color bell pepper.
Vegetable broth: Adds some extra liquid to the chili. Use a low sodium vegetable broth is you need to watch your sodium intake.
Canned Tomatoes: You’ll need canned, diced tomatoes for this recipe. I really like fire roasted tomatoes since they add just a bit of smoky flavor that is delicious in this chili.
Chili Powder & Cumin: The secret to the bold flavors in this chili.
How to Make this Recipe
The process for making this vegan slow cooker (affiliate link) chili could not be any easier. There’s no need to pre-cook any of the ingredients. Simply open all the canned ingredients, rinse the canned beans, and chop the onion, bell pepper, and zucchini (or squash).
Next, you’ll just dump everything into your slow cooker (affiliate link) (crockpot) and cook on high for 6 hours, stirring occasionally.
Expert Tips:
The great thing about this vegan chili recipe is that you only need to chop a few things and then the rest is is basically just opening cans and dumping everything in! I dump all my canned beans into a colander and give them a quick rinse before adding them to the crockpot.
If you need to limit your sodium intake, make sure to buy low sodium canned goods and broth for this recipe.
Chop all of your vegetables (onion, zucchini, bell pepper) into similar sized pieces so that they all cook evenly.
I used 2 tablespoons of chili powder for this recipe, but you can adjust to your heat tolerance. (We like things pretty spicy!) Also, the spiciness of each brand of chili powder tends to vary so it doesn’t hurt to taste it before adding to your chili.
Suggested Toppings for Chili
Avocado: Add some thinly sliced avocado to your chili for some creaminess and color.
Cheese: My favorite vegan shredded cheese is from VioLife.
Sour Cream: My favorite brand of vegan sour cream is from tofutti.
Cilantro: Pairs well with the flavors in this healthy chili and adds some color to the plated dish.
Chives/Green Onion: A delicious way to add a pop of flavor and some color.
Tortilla Chips: Serve your chili with some crumbled tortillas chips on top for a bit of crunch.
How to Store and Reheat
To Store: Allow chili to cool to room temperature before placing in the fridge. This chili can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
To Reheat: Add to microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 second intervals, stirring between until warmed through. On the stovetop, heat over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until hot.
To Freeze: Chili can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Place in the refrigerator overnight to thaw before reheating. Freeze in individual size portions for faster thawing.
Stovetop Directions
Don’t want to wait all day to make this in the slow cooker (affiliate link)? You can easily make this recipe in one pot on the stovetop as well in just about 30 minutes. You can also check out this chipotle vegetarian chili recipe for another stovetop option.
Add the bay leaf, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, broth (reduce to just 2 cups broth), and beans. Bring to a simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
More Healthy Recipes You’ll Love
4 Bean Vegan Slow Cooker Chili
Created by: Dietitian Debbie
Course Dinner, Entree, Main Dish
Cuisine Tex-Mex Inspired, Vegan
Total Time 6hours15minutes
This quick and easy 4 bean vegan crockpot chili still feels hearty and filling without any meat. Beans add plenty of fiber and protein to keep you feeling satisfied!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients Â
2tablespoonsolive oil
1yellow onionchopped
3clovesgarlicminced
1green bell pepperchopped
1zucchinichopped
1-2tablespoonschili powderspice level varies by brand so taste and adjust as needed
2teaspoonscumin
1teaspoondried oregano
1bay leaf
1(6 oz)can tomato paste
1quart(32 oz) vegetable broth
2(14.5 oz)cans diced fire roasted tomatoes
1(15 oz)can black beans, drained
1(15 oz)can northern white beans, drained
1(15 oz)can kidney beans, drained
1(15 oz)can pinto beans, rinsed
Instructions
Add all of your ingredients to a crockpot. Cook on high heat for 6 hours. Garnished with desired toppings like cheese, sour cream, cilantro, chopped green onions.Â
Notes
Feel free to use any combination of canned beans that you like. Just want to include 4 cans of beans in the recipe.
Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
This chili also freezes well if you want to make it in advance or store leftovers. Allow to cool to room temperature and then transfer to airtight containers for the freezer. Keeps for up to 3 months.
If you need to limit your sodium intake, make sure to buy low sodium canned goods and broth for this recipe.
Chop all of your vegetables (onion, zucchini, bell pepper) into similar sized pieces so that they all cook evenly.
