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Vegetarian Chili

 Cost $9.93 recipe / $1.65 serving
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This hearty Vegetarian Chili is cozy, budget-friendly, and full of flavor. With beans, spices, and molasses, it’s the perfect comforting meal.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
Author: Jess Rice
overhead view of vegetarian chili topped with all the fixings
Servings 6 servings (1.6 cups each)
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 40 minutes
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Ingredients

Bean Chili Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.38)
  • 1 onion (diced, $0.99)
  • 3 garlic cloves (minced, $0.18)
  • 1 green bell pepper (diced small, $0.78)
  • 6 oz. tomato paste ($0.86)
  • 28 oz. can diced tomatoes (in juices, $1.48)
  • 4 oz. can fire roasted green chiles (with juices, $0.88)
  • 2 Tbsp molasses ($0.32*)
  • 1 cup water ($0.00)
  • 15 oz. can dark kidney beans (drained and rinsed, $0.92)
  • 15 oz. can black beans (drained and rinsed, $0.92)
  • 15 oz. can pinto beans (drained and rinsed, $0.92)
  • 15 oz. can whole kernel corn (strained, $0.76)

Seasonings

  • 1 Tbsp chili powder ($0.20)
  • 2 tsp ground cumin ($0.18)
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper ($0.04)
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
  • ½ tsp onion powder ($0.04)
  • ½ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.04)
  • 1 tsp salt ($0.02)

Instructions 

  • Dice the onion and bell pepper. Mince the garlic.
  • Toast chili powder, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in your chili pot over medium-low heat until fragrant, about 2-4 minutes.
  • Add the olive oil, onion, garlic, bell pepper, and salt to your pot.
  • Stir together and cook until peppers and onions have softened, about 4-6 minutes.
  • Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes with juices, diced green chiles with juices, molasses, and water. Stir and simmer for about 5 minutes.
  • Add kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, and strained can of corn. Stir together and simmer the chili for about 20-25 minutes, covered. Your chili is done when all of the vegetables are tender.

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Equipment

  • Sauce Pot

Notes

*I use the brand Grandma's Original Molasses. It's light in color and adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the chili. Don't use blackstrap molasses, which is darker in color and more bitter in flavor.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 426kcalCarbohydrates: 74gProtein: 20gFat: 8gSodium: 1212mgFiber: 19g
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