Vegetarian Chili: 3 Ways

Vegetarian chiliLet’s get a few things straight. 1. Yes, these are all vegetarian— I’m not a big meat eater. If you are, feel free to add ground beef or shredded chicken or whatever. 2. This is chili, 3 ways. Not chili 3—way. We can talk about 3—way sometime. If you want. To me, it’s a Steak n’ Shake thing.

Anyway. Glad we got through that. Now we can focus on chili. I really love chili in the fall. It’s the perfect fall meal. My favorite way to serve it is over Fritos. You gotta have Fritos. Here are three different recipes for chili, each focusing on different flavors. I’ll tell you my favorite, maybe.

Curry chiliCurry Chili, makes 2-3 servings.

Needed: 2 tablespoons olive oil,1/2 yellow onion, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1 can pinto beans, 1 can black beans, 1 chipotle pepper (in adobo sauce), 1 can diced tomatoes, 1/2 tablespoon toasted curry, a pinch of cumin, cinnamon and red pepper.

In a medium/large pot, heat the oil over low heat. Dice onion and bell pepper, mince garlic. Add to the pot and turn the heat up to medium.

Sauté until onion begins to soften. Chop chipotle pepper and add to the pot, if you like it spicy add a little of the sauce too. Add diced tomatoes with juices and all the spices and cook for 2-3 minutes. like to use an immersion blender to puree things slightly. Or, you can leave the mixture more chunky and rustic. Drain and rinse the beans and add to the pot. Once everything is warmed through, check to see if you need to add any salt or pepper. Serve with cheese or sour cream.

Pumpkin chiliPumpkin Chili, makes 2-3 servings.

Needed: 2 tablespoons olive oil,1/2 yellow onion, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1 can pinto beans, 1 can red beans, 1 chipotle pepper (in adobo sauce), 1 can diced tomatoes, 1/2 can pumpkin puree, a pinch of cumin, cinnamon and red pepper.

In a medium/large pot, heat the oil over low heat. Dice onion and bell pepper, mince garlic. Add to the pot and turn the heat up to medium.

Sauté until onion begins to soften. Chop the chipotle pepper and add to the pot. If you like it spicy, add a little of the sauce too. Add diced tomatoes with juices, pumpkin, and all the spices and cook for 2-3 minutes. Here I like to use an immersion blender to puree things slightly. Or, you can leave the mixture more chunky and rustic. Drain and rinse the beans and add to the pot. Once everything is warmed through check to see if you need to add any salt or pepper. Serve with cheese or sour cream.

Black and white chiliBlack and White Chili, makes 2-3 servings. This is the most like classic chili.

Needed: 2 tablespoons olive oil,1/2 yellow onion, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1 can great northern beans, 1 can black beans, 1 jalapeno pepper (remove seeds and veins), 1 can diced tomatoes, a pinch of cumin, cinnamon and red pepper.

In a medium/large pot, heat the oil over low heat. Dice onion, jalapeno and bell pepper. Mince garlic. Add to the pot and turn the heat up to medium.

Sauté until onion begins to soften. Add diced tomatoes with juices and all the spices and cook for 2-3 minutes. Here I like to use an immersion blender to puree things slightly. Or, you can leave the mixture more chunky and rustic. Drain and rinse the beans and add to the pot. Once everything is warmed through, check to see if you need to add any salt or pepper. Serve with cheese or sour cream.

Best vegetarian chiliThe big reveal: My favorite is pumpkin chili! I bet you aren’t surprised. I love anything and everything pumpkin. I also really like how creamy the addition of pumpkin makes the chili. I don’t like super soupy chili, but I love the creaminess. And, if you omit any sour cream or cheese garnish, then it’s technically vegan too. Make some chili this weekend! xo. Emma

  • Yum! These 3 options look amazing! Think I might try the pumpkin version. Thanks for sharing!! 😉

  • Yum! These 3 options look amazing! Think I might try the pumpkin version. Thanks for sharing!! 😉

  • Great recipe! I followed the curry chili recipe but didn’t end up adding curry. I also used green bell peppers rather than red to add more color. My mom, who isn’t vegetarian like I am, loved this recipe so much that she ate three bowls! I managed two and now my stomach hurts, ha. Thanks again!

  • My husband made me the curry chili tonight for dinner. The spices were just right. SO YUMMY! Thank you, Emma!

  • I dunno…while Steak and Shake does serve a decent three-way, they’re really a CINCINNATI thing! 😉

  • This looks so yummy! I love chilli this time of year. I will try this and then also try adding ground turkey.

    http://shopaholicundercover.com

  • Yum! I’m not a big meat eater either, haven’t made a chili for a while and I like the idea of the pumpkin one! Might have to try it this week if the weather is cold enough 🙂

  • hi ladies! the pumpkin chili was just deeeelicious!! my husband made it last night and we loved it. he modified it a bit, like he always does with recipes. thank you for the great recipe idea. happy fall!!

    http://lilmuselily.com/2012/10/16/curry-chipotle-pumpkin-chili/

  • Hey Emma, can you make these recipes with a crockpot instead of in a traditional pot? Would you adjust them at all?

    Thanks for the inspiration, these look delicious!

  • A steak and shake thing? I’m confused. Do they make Cincinnati style 3-ways at Steak and Shake or do they do something else they call a “3-way”? Because in Cincinnati, a 3-way is Cincy style chili on spaghetti topped with cheese. A 4-way is when you add onions or black beans and a 5-way is when you add both.

  • Thank you for posting veg recipes! For more veg recipes, tips and ideas check out ChooseVeg.com for another resource!

  • Looks great & delicious!

    Xx

    http://kendra-genevieve-rose.blogspot.com

  • I’m a vegetarian and extraordinary recipes are so hard to come by.. Thanks for sharing yours! All of them look delicious.

  • Yum! It sounds amazing! My husband and I are trying to do less meat and more veggies so this is perfect!

    Brooke

  • I love chilli, just had a bowl for lunch 🙂 But I never would have thought of putting pureed pumpkin in it!
    http://cobysvintage.blogspot.de/

  • yumm! I’m vegetarian and am always looking for great chili recipies

    http://thelittletexan.blogspot.com/

  • Love this Chili 3 ways post…I think I’m going to try that pumpkin chili today. My girls don’t love chili but think with the pumpkin, it will convince them they really do! It’s perfect for a cold Fall day. Thanks!

  • Sounds really tasty and perfect for me since I’m a vegetarian! Might try one or all 😉

  • I will definitely be trying these. The last one sounds delicious, but the pumpkin one may be visiting my tabletop for Thanksgiving. I’m Celiac so it’s great to find awesome recipes that I can serve and also eat! Thanks, ladies!

  • I LOVE vegetarian chili! I wish I saw it more when I eat out, but nope. Thanks for the awesome recipes 🙂

  • Just made the pumpkin with black beans (didn’t have pinto). So amazing, Emma! I might not have any left over for lunch during the week!

  • I would love to try these recipes! I was wondering if you could tell me the actual size of the cans of beans, pumpkin ect that you used?

  • What luck!! I’m going to a “byo chili” party tomorrow and we’re vegetarians!! I’ll be trying one of these! Thank you!

  • These sound absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try some at home!

  • How’d ya know? It’s chili time here in our house, after an exotic trip to the fish market here in Korea, we need a taste of down-home goodness. Can’t wait to give these recipes a whirl!

  • YUM!! I love chilli on tortilla crisps, I just always go for rice cause its easy yano? But I gota have me some of this. Yum yum yum, thanks Emma! xx

  • Yum! I throw a Mexican Party every few months and as a vegetarian have been dying for some new recipes to try! Thanks for these Emma, can’t wait to try them
    Becky xo
    http://pixiwishesforeheadkisses.wordpress.com/

  • THANK YOU. i’m always on the hunt for some fresh new veg recipes to try. these all sound delicious. i’m going to make one this week, for sure!

  • I can’t help it, but as a Cincinnatian, I must chime in: 3-ways come from”Cincinnati-style” chili parlors. It’s perfect drunk food (chili and mounds of cheese piled on top of spaghetti), and the topic is a great way to start up an awkward conversation with non-locals when you say “I could really go for a 3-way right now.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_chili

  • I am vegetarian and those ideas just looks so yummie! Love those pictures too because I think that the meal the most hard to make «pretty» is a chili and you did great!

  • These are beautiful! I’m so glad this is up before I do my grocery shopping for the week, one of these will definitely be on there 🙂 Thanks Emma!

  • I can’t believe two out of three of these recipes use pinto beans and chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, and those are the signature ingredients to my chili recipe! So I know without even trying, they had to be taste delicious! 🙂

  • These all look so good! I can’t wait to try the pumpkin version. I’m a vegan, so it’s great to see some vegan-friendly recipes on your blog.

  • I love reading your recipes, you have a wicked sense of humour, that always makes me smirk. Thanks for sharing – my chilli always ends up tasting the same, and I needed some new inspiration! Ta.

    Hannah

  • Emma, thank you so much for sharing a vegetarian chilli:) I became a vegetarian in January and its been one of the best decisions of my life. You rock!

    http://www.popsparkleandshineclub.com

    http://lauralistar.onsugar.com/

  • oh!!! thanks a lot for posting this! I’m so glad, I’m a vegan and this is perfect for me I want to try all three recipes 🙂

  • brilliant recipes! they sound delicious 🙂 especially the white bean one!

    raspberrykitsch.com
    xx

  • Love chili when the weather starts getting cold, thanks for the great recipes! Also, don’t hate me….I have never had Fritos with chili!! But now I will try it.

    <3

  • oh boy! these all look delicious. I cant wait to eat this on a chilli day 🙂

    -Melissa
    http://shakeshakee.blogspot.com

  • All of these sound delicious! And I like seeing the mention of chili 3-way! Here in Ohio, we just call them three-ways, four-ways (with red beans or onions) or five-ways (with both beans and onions) and chocolate is rumored to be one of the secret ingredients of Cincinnati-style chili. There are tons of local chili focused restaurants in the Cincinnati area; if you get a chance to visit be sure to try it out.

  • Pumpkin chilli sounds awesome, I’m not usually a big chilli eater but it does sounds like a perfect meal for cold evenings. Beautiful photos xo

  • They all sound so good! I love putting butternut squash in my chili, so I bet the pumpkin chili is really good.
    http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/

  • thank you so much for the post! I am vegetarian and always huntig for new recipes! I will try this one this weekend!

    xxx Lena

    http://joyfuldiary.blogspot.de/

  • Awesome – my partner and I recently transitioned to full vego and he loves (and misses) traditional chili so I will definitely try these out. 🙂

  • These look great, I love the idea of pumpkin chilli, I tend to make curry rather than chilli if I’m making something stew like and spicy but there’s some great inspiration for me here
    http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/

  • I’m so excited about these recipes. I love love love chili and have been making an effort to eat less meat. I can’t wait to try all of these!

  • I love veggie chili! And curry chili? Why didn’t I think of that? And I totally feel you on the Fritos. Although, I rarely make 2-3 servings of chili- I think half the point of making chili is to make huge pot so I don’t have to cook the rest of the week.

  • Yum, they all look delicious! I love chili as well, and since I am trying to eat less meat, these recipes come in very handy 🙂 I’m definitely gonna try all three of them soon!

  • Yum! I love chili! Can’t wait to try these recipes once it’s a little colder around here 🙂

  • this is so perfect! i’m about to embark on a 6 month long remote field camp and we couldn’t find any cans of vegetarian chili to bring with us. making is isn’t as daunting as i had imagined. thanks!

  • Every single one of those look delicious! I’ve never thought of putting chipotle with adobo sauce before! Great idea!

  • Great post! I will definitely have to try those. Great pictures too by the way.

  • This post makes me so happy! I’m a recent vegetarian (just over 3 months), and I was thinking about some vegie-chili recipes!
    Thank you for sharing vegie-recipes. Please keep them coming 🙂

  • A 3-way chili is also a Skyline thing….which is an Ohio thing :).

  • As a vegan I LOVE to try out new veggie chili recipes!!! I’m definitely trying out the pumpkin chili recipe. I finally bought a can of pumpkin yesterday, its still in the 80s here in Florida so it doesn’t seem like pumpkin season yet!

  • This is so funny, just last night my dad was asking if i new any chilli recipies, and I figured id sneak him some with out meat to see if he liked it (:

    looks super tasty cant wait to make some

  • Vegetarian chili is one of my favorite parts of fall. This might be my favorite food post you’ve done! I think I’ll have to start with the pumpkin chili.

    Also love that you referenced Steak N Shake. We don’t have them where I live now, and I miss them!

  • I’m a new reader, and I think this was the perfect post to read first! I’ve been looking for some simple and delicious chili recipes for fall. Thanks for sharing!

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