Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili Recipe

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(This post has been updated from the original January 2018 version to provide a better experience for you)

This Vegetarian Chili Recipe is perfect if you’re trying to make healthier and tastier choices but love comfort food WAY too much! Just like my coconut chickpea curry recipe, it also happens to inadvertently be vegan too – ideal for those of you taking part in Veganuary! All done in the slow cooker for extra ease, this easy chili recipe is CRAZY delicious, seriously hearty and ridiculously simple to make. With minimal hands on time and hardly any pots to wash this meal is great for lunch or dinner, with none of the fuss. Sounds good doesn’t it? Well it is!

If you’re a fan of crazy easy slow cooker recipes, you should absolutely check out my slow cooker meatballs recipe too! You don’t even need to precook the meatballs and it tastes amazing!!

Anyway, back to this beautiful slow cooker vegetarian chili recipe. Not only is it healthy, incredibly delicious and filling – it freezes very well too. This makes it a perfect make ahead lunch for those cold winter days! I’ve taken both this and an epic lentil dahl to work in my thermos flask on many occasions and every single time my colleagues get jealous of how amazing it smells! (While I enjoy how amazing it tastes!) It also makes a great midweek meal.

Vegetarian Chili Recipe Tips

• Make sure to chop the carrots quite small as they take much longer to cook compared to the other ingredients. The larger they are, the longer they’ll take – the smaller they are, the less time they’ll take.
• If you’re stocking up your freezer – bag/box them in individual sized portions. That way you’ll create less possible waste.
• Don’t substitute the red lentils for another colour. Split red lentils are one of the most absorbent and, if you swap them for another, you’ll likely get quite a watery chili.
• Not a fan of kidney beans? You can try swapping them for red beans, pinto beans or cannellini beans.
• Want a seriously hearty dinner? Top a baked potato with a load of this chili, scatter with cheese and enjoy!

Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Here is what you will need to serve 5-6. (Makes approx 2kg.)

• 3 x Carrots, Peeled & Finely Chopped
• 2 x Celery Sticks, Finely Chopped
• 2 x Small Onions, Finely Diced
• 3 x Garlic Cloves, Minced
• 1x 39g (1.5 oz) Packet of Chili Seasoning *
• 150g (3/4 Cup) Dried Split Red Lentils
• Salt & Pepper
• 2 x 400g (14 oz) Tins of Chopped Tomatoes
• 1 x 400g (14 oz) Tin of Kidney Beans, Drained & Rinsed
• 550ml (2 + 1/4 Cup) Vegetable Stock

*You can just as easily use the same quantity of a home made chili seasoning. See end of post for recommended recipe.

To Serve

• Sour Cream, Optional
• Chopped Fresh Parsley, Optional

Essential Equipment

• 3.5 litre Slow Cooker

First thing’s first, if you haven’t already – prep all the vegetables (3 x carrots, 2 x celery sticks, 2 small onions & 3 x cloves of garlic) and pop them into the slow cooker along with the chili seasoning (39g | 1.5 oz) and the lentils (150g | 3/4 Cup). Add in a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper too.

Then pour in the tinned tomatoes (2 x 400g | 14 oz tins), kidney beans (1 x 400g | 14 oz tin) and 300ml [1 + 1/4 Cup] of the vegetable stock. (Save the remaining 250ml [1 Cup] for later.) Give it all a really good stir then switch your slow cooker on low and cook for 5-6 hours.

When the cooking time is up, it will appear a little dry. That’s because the lentils have done their job and thickened it all up nicely. (No one likes a watery chili!) All that remains to do is to give it a good stir through, then gradually add that remaining 250ml (1 Cup) of vegetable stock.

You should now have a beautiful Vegetarian/Vegan Chili that is the perfect consistency, smells amazing & is basically begging you to eat it!

Top with a generous dollop of sour cream and maybe a little grated cheese if you like. Feeling fancy? Sprinkle a bit of parsley on top. It actually freezes really well too so would be a brilliantly convenient & healthy way to stock up your freezer! Amazing on jacket potatoes or simply on it’s own – this Vegetarian Chili Recipe will be one that stays firmly in your life. I guarantee it!

Speaking of awesome recipes that will stay firmly in your life… I’m just gonna leave this slow cooker chicken teriyaki recipe link here for you. (This is a click you WON’T regret!)

Have you made this recipe? I’d LOVE to know! Share your cooking wins and questions in the comments below or tag me on any social media.

On another note, if you’d rather make your own chili seasoning, here’s a great recipe from My Baking Addiction.

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Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Yield: 6 Servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 hours

Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes

This is a wonderfully simple and tasty vegetarian chili made easily in the slow cooker. Comfort food at it's best with a healthy twist!

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Ingredients

• 3 Carrots, (Peeled & Finely Chopped)
• 2 Celery Sticks, (Finely Chopped)
• 2 Small Onions, (Finely Diced)
• 3 Garlic Cloves, (Minced)
• 1 39g Packet of Chili Seasoning *
• 150 g Dried Split Red Lentils
• Salt & Pepper
• 800 g (2 x Tins) Chopped Tomatoes
• 400 g (1 Tin) of Kidney Beans, (Drained & Rinsed)
• 550 ml Vegetable Stock

To Serve

• Sour Cream, (Optional)
• Chopped Fresh Parsley, (Optional)

Essential Equipment

• 3.5 litre Slow Cooker

Instructions

1. Prepare the carrots, celery, onion & garlic as per the above instructions then place them all into the slow cooker with the chili seasoning and lentils. Season well with salt and pepper.
2. Add the tinned tomatoes, kidney beans and 300 ml of the vegetable stock. (reserve the rest of the stock for later.) Stir well then cook on low for 5-6 hours.
3. When the time is up, stir it well then mix in the remaining 250 ml of vegetable stock.
4. Serve immediately with sour cream and a scattering of chopped parsley. Alternatively, allow to cool completely then freeze in portions for a later date.

Notes

*You can just as easily use the same quantity of a home made chili seasoning.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

• 
  Morphy Richards Slow Cooker Sear and Stew 460012 3.5L Black Slowcooker
• 
  Old El Paso Mexican Chilli Seasoning Mix 39g

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 176Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 491mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 9gSugar: 7gProtein: 11g

Nutritional information on kitchenmason.com should only be used as a general guideline, I am not a certified nutritionist. Please always check labels for allergens where applicable.

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