Three Bean Vegetarian Chili (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Three Bean Vegetarian Chili is a delicious and easy slow cooker chili that’s full of vegetables, canned beans, and lots of flavor. Don’t miss this easy chili recipe that takes just minutes to put together!

If you are looking for a satisfying chili that’s simple to make, this Three Bean Vegetarian Chili is it. Filled with veggies, beans, tomatoes, and corn, this is a recipe that you can feel good about making.

Looking for another delicious and satisfying vegetarian main course? Check out my Easy Eggplant Parmesan – simple and so tasty! And, if you’re craving vegetarian comfort food, don’t miss this Mushroom Pea Risotto recipe. For another delicious dinner, be sure to try this Tofu Eggplant Curry. 

You’ll Love Slow Cooker Three Bean Vegetarian Chili

There is nothing more comforting than a bowl full of chili made easy in the slow cooker. This three bean chili takes just 5 minutes to put together and is so satisfying and delicious! 

Three Bean Vegetarian Chili comes together quick and is full of veggies, beans, and delicious spicy flavors. Plus, it’s a great meal prep food too. 

You can whip up a batch of this bean chili recipe and keep in the fridge for a quick meal throughout the week. And, it’s so delicious, you’ll forget that this is vegan chili recipe! 

This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or, you can freeze this healthy meal in an airtight container for up to a month. 

Protein packed and good for you, this vegetarian chili recipe is a comforting dish that you’ll want to make year round. Plus, it tastes even better the next day! 

You’ll love that you can top this dish with a variety of dairy options such as sour cream, greek yogurt, or shredded cheese. It’s also delicious with chopped onions, tortilla chips, avocado slices, or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Beans: here, I use a combination of three cans of beans: cannellini beans, red kidney beans, and black beans. I like the contrasting color and texture of the beans. You can substitute other types of beans such as pinto beans, navy beans, garbanzo beans, or white beans. 
• Diced Tomatoes: canned diced tomatoes add the perfect flavor and texture to this three bean vegetarian chili. You could use whole diced tomatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, or tomato sauce if you’d like. 
• Onion: you’ll need half of a medium yellow onion. 
• Carrot: peel and dice one large carrot. 
• Bell Pepper: I like to add bell peppers to amp up the flavors and textures of this dish. Either an orange, yellow, or red bell pepper works great. 

• Garlic: use three cloves garlic to get extra delicious flavor to you chili. Garlic powder can be substituted. 
• Spices: here I use a combo of chili powder, paprika, cumin, and cayenne. If you have a blend of spices you like, or if you have a package of chili seasoning, feel free to use that instead.
• Vegetable Broth: this recipe calls for vegetable broth just to keep it vegetarian. However, you could use chicken broth, or just water instead.
• Corn: I love to add corn to my chili, just like I do in my Turkey Chili recipe. It adds a nice sweet bite and great texture to the dish. If you don’t have it, you can always just omit it. Frozen corn works great!
• Lime: a squeeze of fresh lime at the end of cooking will add great depth of flavor to the chili. 
• Add Ins: once your three bean vegetarian chili is ready, top it with shredded cheese, diced avocado, sour cream, or chopped green onion. 

How to Make Three Bean Chili in the Slow Cooker

This Three Bean Vegetarian Chili is a simple and comforting meal to make in the slow cooker! It’s easy to put together ahead of time and have a delicious meal ready when you are. 

Step 1: prep ingredients

Start by dicing the veggies. You’ll need a carrot, half an onion, garlic, and a red bell pepper. Also, you’ll need to rinse and drain all of the canned beans. Add the veggies and the rest of the ingredients (except for the corn) to the slow cooker Crock Pot. 

Step 2:  set the slow cooker

Once all of the ingredients are in the slow cooker, you can stir it all together and set it. This chili will take 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on medium to cook. 

Step 3: add in the corn

Once the chili is done cooking, stir in the corn and lime juice. Stir just until the corn is warmed through. 

If you want a thicker chili, you can blend about a cup of the beans and add it back to the chili. Note that the chili will thicken the longer it sits. 

Step 4: add on toppings

This chili is excellent served with your favorite chili toppings like a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, diced avocado, and green onions. Or, use tortilla chips to add some delicious crunch.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

• You can use whatever veggies you have on hand such as butternut squash, summer squash, celery, or mushrooms.
• Add more or less cayenne pepper depending on how spicy you like your chili. Or omit it altogether. You could also add chipotle peppers in adobo sauce or red pepper flakes for more heat. 
• Transform this three bean vegetarian chili into a soup by pureeing half of the chili mixture before adding the corn.
• Leftover chili can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze for up to two months. 

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Dinner Recipes