Unfussy Lentil Chili for the Table

Looking for a especially good, crowd-pleasing dinner option? Lentil Chili with notable bold flavors coming right up! This lentil chili recipe is a hearty and healthy plant-based chili filled with lentils, beans, tomatoes, and plenty of flavor-packed spices! An straightforward one pot dinner option that the whole family will love!

Why this is our go-to vegetarian chili!

In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a warm and comforting chili dinner, especially this time of year. Whether it’s a loaded vegan chili or a slow cooker chili, it’s always a hit in my house. This lentil chili is our new go-to – it’s full of flavor, color and texture and is a total winner.

Here’s why you’ll LOVE this lentil bean chili:

• Packed with protein – Lentils add the dependable meaty texture while keeping it 100% vegetarian and such a savory hearty meal!
• Budget-friendly – Made with pantry staples like beans, lentils, tomatoes, and spices, this chili stretches your dollar without sacrificing flavor.
• One-pot wonder – Everything simmers together in one pot, making cleanup a breeze.
• Reliable for meal prep – This has so much flavor that gets even better the next day, and it freezes beautifully for future dinners.
• Customizable – Add extra veggies, swap in different beans, or adjust the spice level to make it your own.

Ingredients we’re using

This method is full of healthy, nourishing ingredients and savory spices that make this lentil chili completely satisfying! Here’s the key ingredients (full list can be found down in the recipe card):

• Yellow onion + garlic. Adds savory savory flavor to the chili. Sometimes I add in other veggies such as sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, or even poblano pepper!
• Vegetable broth. Use more or less veggie broth, depending on how thick you like your chili.
• Lentils. The dependable lentils for this are brown or green lentils. If you’d like to use red lentils, only know that the chili will not need to cook as long. I haven’t tried this dish with split red lentils, but my guess is that it would only need to simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Tomato sauce. A regular here the way the tomato sauce combines with the broth to cook this chili extra hearty.
• Tomatoes. Use regular diced tomatoes or fire roasted tomatoes for so much satisfying flavor!
• Beans. The recipe calls for black and kidney beans, but feel free to use any beans you’d like. Pinto beans or chili beans would also work great.
• Cocoa powder. My secret ingredient! It gives this chili such a pleasing depth of flavor!
• Seasonings. Chili powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper create the reliable blend of flavors. If you’re sensitive to spice, feel free to omit the cayenne pepper.
• Toppings. Worth keeping serving this straightforward lentil chili with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, diced red onion, cilantro and a dollop of dairy-free sour cream or greek yogurt.

How for this lentil chili

Making this comforting lentil chili is such a breeze! Worth keeping that everything is cooked in one pot and the only chopping you have to do is for the onion and garlic. Here’s a short rundown of what’s involved, but you can find the complete recipe at the bottom of the post.

1. Start this chili recipe by heating olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and sautéing onion + garlic.

1. Stir in broth, lentils, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, kidney and black beans.

1. Add in cocoa powder, salt + pepper, chili powder, oregano, and cayenne and stir to incorporate all of the ingredients.

1. Simmer the chili covered for 25 minutes and until lentils are tender and chili is thick. Serve with your regular toppings (such as sour cream, cheese, and green onions) and enjoy! Store leftover lentil chili in an airtight container!

Is lentil chili good for you?

This plant-based chili is GREAT for you! It’s packed with nourishing, healthy ingredients like lentils, beans, and tomatoes that contain numerous health benefits.

It’s also low in calories and fat, but high in protein and fiber, which makes it reliable for satisfying lunches and dinners. I suggest also checking out my creamy lentil soup!

Here are some of the health benefits of this chili and its ingredients:

• High in Fiber, Vitamins, and Minerals. lentils, onions, tomatoes, beans
• Rich in Antioxidants. onions, garlic, tomatoes, beans
• Packed with Protein. lentils, beans, add even more protein by topping your chili with Greek yogurt

Frequently Asked Questions