• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nutrition to Fit

  • ABOUT
    • Press
    • FREE eBook
  • SERVICES
  • RECIPES
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • SERVICES
  • RECIPES
  • THE BLOG
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • SERVICES
    • RECIPES
    • THE BLOG
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Blog » Recipes

    Hearty Vegetable Chili

    Published: Oct 24, 2017 · Updated: Dec 3, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links. · 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Hearty Vegetable Chili is loaded with vegetables and packed with plant protein, like three kinds of beans and quinoa, for a delicious plant-based chili. 

    Hearty Vegetable Chili in small blue pots

    Who doesn't love a good chili this time of year? We may not have many cooler days in Florida, but the first day of cooler temperatures always has me reaching to my pantry for chili supplies!

    The beautiful thing about chili, too, is that it is just so darn versatile. Plus, on top of being versatile, it's typically a pretty forgiving recipe if you want to try adding a little of this and a little of that.

    Hearty Vegetable Chili in a blue dutch oven with cornbread.

    This Hearty Vegetable Chili is perfect for that. In the recipe below I've listed everything I used to prepare this chili, but you can totally get flexible and creative. Use what you have and what you love! Some ideas:

    • Use any type of dark leafy green instead of kale (kale works beautifully here, but you can also try Swiss chard, bok choy, spinach, etc.)
    • Use any type or combination of beans you love. You could even use lentils instead of beans!
    • Don't have any quinoa but have brown rice? Use that instead.
    • Have an extra zucchini in your veggie drawer? Chop that up and add that too!

    Or you can make it exactly as listed below. 😉 I do have to say, while I totally advocate for y'all doing what fits for you, I strongly recommend the spice combination. I've never added cinnamon to chili before, but it combination with the other spices it. just. works. Ugh, it's SO dang good, it doesn't taste weird or sweet or anything, it just really complements the warming palate of the other spices so well.

    If you try it, let me know! Were you a fan of the cinnamon added to the spices or are you more traditional with your spice preferences? Or is that old news, no biggie to ya? 😉 Share your thoughts in the comments below, and please share a pic with me of your finished product on the NTF Facebook page or by tagging me (@nutritiotofit) on Instagram with #nutritiontofit!

    Hearty Vegetable Chili in individual blue cups with cornbread

    Want to try some of my other favorite nourishing fall recipes?

    • Butternut Sage Carbonara
    • Pumpkin Falafel
    • Slow Cooker Applesauce
    • Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
    • Apple Cranberry Sauce
    • Pumpkin Spice Buckwheat Granola
    Hearty Vegetable Chili
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Hearty Vegetable Chili

    Hearty Vegetable Chili is loaded with vegetables and packed with plant protein, like three kinds of beans and quinoa, for a delicious plant-based chili.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr 15 mins
    Course: Main Course, Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 341kcal
    Author: Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, CLT

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 stalks celery diced
    • 2 carrots diced
    • 1 small yellow onion diced
    • 1 bell pepper chopped
    • 8 oz mushrooms chopped
    • 1 medium sweet potato chopped
    • 2 cups chopped kale
    • 3 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
    • 1 can black beans rinsed and drained
    • 1 can kidney beans rinsed and drained
    • 1 can garbanzo beans rinsed and drained
    • 1 ½ cup water
    • ½ cup quinoa
    • 1 ½ tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoon cumin
    • 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.
    • Add celery, carrots, and onion and saute stirring occasionally for 4-5 minutes, or until onions are turning translucent.
    • Add bell pepper, mushrooms, and sweet potato and continue saute stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes. Stir in kale and cook another 2-3 minutes.
    • Add tomatoes and beans, then stir.
    • Add water, quinoa, and spices, then stir.
    • Cover and allow chili to cook for 30-45 minutes, or until quinoa has absorbed liquid and the chili is thick and vegetables tender.
    • Any leftovers can be stored in a refrigerator in an airtight sealed container up to 4 days or frozen up to 3-4 months (tip: I like to freeze in individual portions for fast and easy "freezer meals"!).

    Notes

    Nutrition information will vary based on exact ingredients used.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 598mg | Potassium: 935mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 8115IU | Vitamin C: 46.4mg | Calcium: 161mg | Iron: 6.4mg

    Pinterest Graphic for Hearty Vegetable Chili in small blue soup tureens

    « Chocolate Banana Kefir Chia Pudding
    Fertility Foods Cookbook: Shakshuka »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy Gill says

      October 29, 2017 at 8:28 am

      This looks amazing! Do you think I could cook this in a slow-cooker?

      Reply
      • Lindsey Janeiro says

        October 29, 2017 at 1:48 pm

        Thanks, Amy! I haven't tested this recipe in a slow cooker yet. I think you could but the flavor may be a little different (when sauteing the vegetables they can get a little caramelized/ deeper flavor), and adding raw veggies to the slow cooker may result in a little more water being released into the chili, but I don't think that would be a huge difference. If you try it in the slow cooker, please let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    2. Amy Gill says

      October 29, 2017 at 11:30 pm

      I wondered about that, but thought I might try sauteeing the veggies before I put them in the slow cooker to get that flavor. Will definitely let you know how it goes!

      Reply
      • Lindsey Janeiro says

        October 30, 2017 at 10:47 am

        I thought about the same thing! Let me know how it goes if you try it! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Tawnie Kroll says

      October 10, 2018 at 11:15 am

      My stomach is growing just looking at these pictures! Pinning this to make ASAP!

      Reply
      • Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, CLT says

        October 16, 2018 at 10:40 pm

        Yum, enjoy it!

        Reply
    4. Nutrition à la Natalie says

      October 16, 2018 at 2:40 pm

      This was so good. Loved that it had so many veggies!

      Reply
      • Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, CLT says

        October 16, 2018 at 10:35 pm

        Thanks so much Natalie, glad you enjoyed all the veggies!

        Reply
    5. Meme says

      October 17, 2018 at 11:15 am

      This chili is loaded with flavor ( and vegetables!) and makes a great dinner or lunch for busy people on the go!

      Reply
      • Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, CLT says

        October 17, 2018 at 11:34 am

        Yay, thanks Meme!

        Reply
    6. Liz Shaw says

      October 18, 2018 at 6:51 pm

      Never thought of throwing quinoa in! I always have it in the house

      Reply
    7. Lorie says

      October 20, 2018 at 9:17 pm

      I literally make chili EVERY Sunday starting in fall so this is now in the rotation! Yum!

      Reply
      • Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, CLT says

        October 23, 2018 at 7:00 pm

        Oh perfect, it's one of my favorites!

        Reply
    8. Emily Kyle says

      October 27, 2018 at 1:31 pm

      This was so hearty and delicious, my husband didn't even mention anything about meat! (Yay!)

      Reply
      • Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, CLT says

        October 30, 2018 at 10:03 pm

        haha I love it, a true testament to the heartiness!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome, friend!

    Welcome to Nutrition to Fit! I'm Lindsey, a balanced nutritionist and Registered Dietitian obsessed with helping you find your healthy balance with food and health! I'm not going to tell you what I think you should do, but instead my goal is to empower you to create your own balance (which, PSA, absolutely includes delicious foods!). Learn More

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    As Featured In:

    Featured Recipes

    overhead shot of 6 glasses of brightly and different colored agua frescas

    How to Make Agua Frescas

    Maple dijon brussels sprouts are your answer to add flavor to easy roasted brussels sprouts. Try this easy, healthy side dish recipe today!

    Maple Dijon Brussel Sprouts

    a bite from a decadently fudgy, ganache frosted avocado brownie on a white plate

    The Best Avocado Brownies

    green spinach banana muffins on a metal tray - some with almonds, some plain, some with blueberries

    Spinach Banana Muffins

    • ABOUT
    • SERVICES
    • RECIPES

    Footer

    Leave a ❤️ if you needed to see this. Leave a ❤️ if you needed to see this.
    Sacrificing your life for your "health" is a red f Sacrificing your life for your "health" is a red flag that diet or those methods may not be the healthiest for you.

Create a healthy balance that helps you feel at home in your body and lets you live your life!
    Feeling a little off-balance in your eating and he Feeling a little off-balance in your eating and health habits after the weekend? Or just in general lately?

It happens!

But if this has typically triggered restrictive or extreme habits or eating patterns, let's try something different:

Can you try to gently step back into caring for yourself?

Check in with your baseline habits.
+How are you sleeping?
+Managing stress?
+Has your water intake turned to mostly coffee intake? 
+Are you moving your body in a way that feels good right now?
+How are your eating habits?

Then, when the opportunity next presents itself to do something a little different, like adding vegetables to your lunch or skipping Netflix to actually go to bed at a decent time😘, act on it!

What's one thing you're going to do today to support nourishing and caring yourself and getting back to any of your health goals?
    Don't shoot the messenger!!🙈 I have nothing aga Don't shoot the messenger!!🙈 I have nothing against coffee or protein coffee, but neither👏are👏a👏meal👏

Per usual, remember to add - swipe for some ideas of protein coffee pairings that make a better balanced breakfast.

Are you a protein coffee fan?
    Friendly reminder for the first Monday of the new Friendly reminder for the first Monday of the new year: unless you're allergic or the food's gone bad, you don't have to cut any foods from your diet!

Instead, shift your focus to what you can add - like more fiber, more fruits and veg, more water, more joyful movement. It's going to be more enjoyable, sustainable, and may be the shift that helps you find your healthy balance!

#healthybalance #balanceddiet #foodfreedom #dietitian #nutritiontips #newyearnewme

    back to top | privacy policy | affiliate disclaimer | contact | © 2022 all rights reserved

    as an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Privacy Policy
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT