Vegan 3-Bean Chili Recipe

Warm up with a bowl of this (vegan) chili

Chili is one of our favorite comfort foods—especially on those, ahem, chillier nights when we want a bowl of something to keep us warm. That's why we're diving into this three-bean chili, packed with vegetables to add a little nutritional magic. The classic combo of corn, beans and squash (commonly found in succotash) provides all the amino acids to form a complete protein without any meat required.

Though this recipe is perfect for a crowd on game day, it also keeps beautifully in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to three months. Make a batch on Monday, and you'll have a healthy, hearty lunch for the rest of the week.

Check out our favorite soup recipes.

Recipe from the Tasting Table Test Kitchen

Vegan 3-Bean Chili
4.6 from 73 ratings
Kidney, garbanzo and cannellini beans come together with corn and butternut squash for a hearty and healthy three-bean chili inspired by the flavors of succotash.
Prep Time
25
minutes
Cook Time
1.58
hours
Servings
10
to 12 servings
Total time: 2 hours
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups red kidney beans
  • 1½ cups garbanzo beans
  • 1½ cups cannellini beans
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeño—stemmed, seeded and minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 pound peeled butternut squash, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • One 28-ounce can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
  • 8 cups water
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 1½ cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
  • 1 cup roasted red peppers, finely chopped
  • ½ cup minced cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
Directions
  1. In a large bowl, combine the red kidney, garbanzo and cannellini beans, and cover by at least 4 inches of water. Cover with plastic wrap and let soak at room temperature overnight. The next day, drain the beans.
  2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, onion and jalapeño, and cook until softened and lightly golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cumin, smoked paprika, coriander and cayenne, and stir until fragrant, 1 minute.
  3. Stir in the butternut squash, followed by the crushed tomatoes, water and drained beans. Season with salt and bring to a simmer. Cook, partially covered until the beans and squash are tender and the broth is thickened, 1½ hours.
  4. Remove from the heat and stir in the corn, red peppers, cilantro and lime juice. Adjust the seasoning with salt and serve.
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