I’m bringing you this chili recipe today for a few different reasons. One: because chili is freaking awesome and everyone should have a great go-to chili recipe!
Two: because it has been raining non-stop all day today and what a better dish to sit on the couch under a warm blanket watching Friends re-runs with than chili? Three: because this is how I am slowly dipping my spoon into the waters of fall recipes. To me, chili is more of a fall/winter dish, but I’ve also added in some corn, zucchini, and fresh tomatoes to give it a little touch of summer. And, four: because football season has started and everybody knows that football and chili go hand in hand.
To be honest, I’m not a huge football fan myself, but I happened to marry one and I promise that I’m trying to enjoy it more. But, after 7 years, I still much prefer the snacks that go along with watching football than the actual football watching itself. I also use it as my excuse to have wine on Sunday. Every once in a while I try to impress my husband with a few important facts that I’ve picked up about some of the football players, such as: Tom Brady has two children with Giselle Bunchen, and Croy Bierman just got a vasectomy because he now has six kids with Kim Zolciak. You know, all the important stuff! Thankfully my husband is a reality show addict as much as I am and really does appreciate my anecdotes.
Another reason why I love chili so much is because it is one of my “everything but the kitchen sink” recipes. Which literally means that when I’m making chili, I pretty much just ransack the refrigerator and pantry and throw in all kinds of different ingredients. I usually use the same base and the same spices, but look out when it comes to everything else, because you never know what you are going to get! And I mean that in the tastiest way possible!
While I’m ready to welcome fall into my life with open arms, I just can seem to shake the summer heat that seems to be following me around. For that reason, I used the usual chili vegetables, like onions, garlic, and peppers, but I also threw in some corn, zucchini, and fresh tomatoes (you could also used canned tomatoes).
My husband likes his chili to be really thick, so I laid off the broth a little bit and I loaded it up with 3 kinds of beans and tons of vegetables. Not only is chili a hearty and filling dish, but it is also so versatile. You can eat it with cornbread, fritos, or biscuits. You can top it with sour cream, cheese, onion, cilantro, and avocados. And, you can also bake it in between two layers of cornbread (recipe coming sometime this season!).
Whether you are looking for a game day snack or just a good ole fashioned chili recipe, you have come to the right place and I hope you enjoy it! P.S. it is also a great recipe to get your loved ones to eat a few more vegetables!
Don’t let the long list of ingredients scare you! You most likely already have the spices in your pantry and you can use any vegetables you like š
Print
Three Bean Loaded Veggie Chili
Ingredients
- 3 – 15 ounce cans of beans, rinsed and drained, I used: pinto beans, black beans & kidney beans
- 2 large roma tomatoes, diced – or 1 –15 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- 3 cups of vegetable broth
- 1 – 6 ounce can of tomato paste
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 cup diced carrots
- 1/2 cup diced zucchini
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced*
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced*
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced*
- 1 large hatch green chili, diced (optional)
- diced jalapeno, to taste
- 2 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 small pinch brown sugar or coconut sugar
- red pepper flakes, to taste
- olive oil
- Optional toppings: cilantro, green onion, red onion, avocado, tortilla chips, sour cream, Greek yogurt, vegan sour cream, cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium heat and coat the bottom with olive oil. Add in the onion, garlic, diced peppers, carrots, and a pinch of salt. Stir for 5 minutes, until vegetables are beginning to soften. Next, add in beans, corn, tomato and all of the seasonings. Stir together and cook for 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste and then add the vegetable broth. Mix until everything is combined. Reduce chili to a simmer and simmer for at least 20 minutes, but can be left on the stove for a couple of hours to help develop the flavors.
- Spoon chili into serving bowls and add toppings of your choice!
Notes
*You don’t have to use all 3 colors of bell pepper, just use the equivalent of 1 1/2 large bell peppers.
- Category: Entree, Soup, Gluten Free, Vegan
Talk to the foot!
That chili looks awesome Izzy, and I can’t agree more with you: chilli and football go hand in hand.
Now if only the NY Giants could remember how to play football again, I could enjoy a bowl of chili while watching the game.
Last night I was so angry, I would have probably thrown the bowl at the TV š
Haha, I’m sorry your Giants didn’t do very well! My husband gets pretty upset sometimes and I have to calm him down š Usually I just distract him with a nacho!
This chili looks so delicious Isadora! Love all the veggies!!! I really am a veggie monster hahaha
Thanks, Jessica! Haha, veggie monster, I love it š
Haha, I love that you know all the important stuff about football. We would get along perfectly at any game š This chili looks so delicious! A great loaded veggie chili is my favorite way to celebrate Fall
Haha, yes it really is all the important stuff, isn’t it?! I would love to watch football and eat chili with you, Cindy š
Ha ha, those are about the same kind of facts I would pick up watching football…it’s just one of those sports I don’t get! This chili looks amazing, love all the veggies, it is so bright and colorful and delicious looking. And your photos are just beautiful š
I’m glad I’m not the only one who focuses on the important part of football š I don’t get it either and every time I ask my husband to explain it, I get bored listening to him talk about it, haha! Thank you so much, Denise!
Man, I love that this is vegetarian! And since fall is just around the corner, it’s perfect š
Thanks Vedika! Chili and fall are a match made in heaven š
This chilli looks amazing, Izzy! Most veggie chilli’s are tasteless, but this sounds amazing- loving the combination of spices and flavours! Bookmarking this recipe to try out! š
Thank you, Jess! This one has a lot of flavor and is soo good! I hope you enjoy it š
Izzy, this is such a stunning recipe! All the colors of late summer, early fall and the beans! It makes me ready for chili, but not football. Lucky for me, the only football my hubs watches is the super bowl! YAY! And that day definitely calls for wine! lol! Your recipe officially has me thinking about and now craving chili! Thank you for sharing this beautiful recipe! Can’t wait to give it a go!
Thank you so much, Traci! My husband has literally been watching football all day today and I’m a little sick of it right now! I wish he only watched the super bowl, you are lucky š Yes, lots of wine! I hope you enjoy this chili, Traci š
You are so right, Isa. Chilli is the best dish to have when the weather is cold. Love your recipe! Delicious!
Thank you, Olivia! I’m hoping that there will be lots of chili in my future! I hope you are having some nice weather š
London has been surprisingly lucky with the weather this week! This looks amazing, so wholesome and colorful. Food of the earth <3
Thank you Tash! We had one day of rain, but now it is back to being sunny š I’m sensing some cooler weather coming soon though! That is great that you are having such nice weather!
We may get snow tomorrow (yes SNOW!). So this recipe came at the perfect time! Thank you for sharing!
OMG, snow! I can’t even imagine! You definitely need this chili to warm you up!
I want it to rain all day here, so I can make a pot of this chili and watch my favorite TV shows all day š
I’ll send some rain your way, Kathy! I’ll also send some chili your way š
I made a “traditional” chili this week and never thought to add the rest of my zucchini and corn to it! I should have. Did use fresh tomatoes and what a difference they make. And the colored bell peppers just make chili for me. Yours looks so healthy and delicious and perfect for these fall days we’re having here (and yes, I guess watching football with hubby who loves it and the Buffalo Bills, ha!) Beautiful photo’s as usual and many congrats on Readers Digest!!!!
Hi Laura! Fresh tomatoes really do make a huge difference. I usually use canned, but I had some roma tomatoes lying around and I’m so glad I threw them in! I love all the colors too, it makes it more fun to eat š What is it with guys and football?! I’m trying to be more interested, but sometimes the noise just fades into the background, haha!
Thank you so much, Laura! š
Hey! Beautiful site! I am always on the look out for delicious veggie chili’s. This is going to be perfect this fall!!
Hi Annie! Thank you so much! Aren’t chilis the best?! Thanks so much for stopping by š
It’s raining here today as well as for the past few days and definitely has me craving for soup and chili. Yours looks amazing! I love all the different beans and summer veggies in here and the photos are just gorgeous! Looks like comfort in a bowl – yum š
Thank you Kelly! There is something so comforting about soups and chili! I hope you are enjoying all your rain š
I love chili! I don’t think I have had one with so many fantastic veggies though! And your pictures are so pretty!!
Thank you so much, Annie š It is a perfect way to sneak veggies into the husbands stomach!
I love that chili season is here and I also love all the gorgeous bright veggies in this chili! You are so right, chili is such a “use whatever I have left in the fridge” kind of recipe – and I can’t wait to try your recipe!
And –> “I still much prefer the snacks that go along with watching football than the actual football watching itself” <– my thoughts exactly! š Pinned!
Thank you, Ceara! I kinda got a little crazy with all the veggies, but it was a great way to get my husband to eat more vegetables without realizing it! I’m horrible at measuring ingredients and using the same recipe twice which is why I love making chili so much, you just throw everything in the pot!
Haha, I’m so glad you agree! There is something so delicious about football snacks that will get me to try to sit through a whole game just so I have an excuse to eat them!
Chili is so perfect for rainy days and fall/winter! Whenever I think of chili, I think of it being cold out, definitely perfect comfort food! I love that you loaded this dish with veggies and extra beans. Definitely my kind of recipe! Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t like beans in his chili, so I always have to make it with just meat. But now I have the perfect recipe to make all for myself! š
It really is the best comfort food! That is too bad your hubby doesn’t like beans in his chili! I was actually kind of surprised when my husband requested three cans of beans in his chili, but it was so good! Yes, definitely a good excuse for you to be able to eat the whole pot of chili š
I’m definitely ready for chili with the gross, rainy weather here. In fact, I already had chili on my menu plan for the week š But this sounds seriously delicious. I love the summer/fall mash-up!
Yah for chili and cool rainy weather! Chili is one of the best cold weather comfort foods! I hope you enjoy your chili and rain š
Wow! I’ve been craving chili now that it is football season too. I’ll lay off a few more weeks because it’s still pretty hot here, but I’ll be ready for chili soon. Your facts are hilarious! Watching football is all about the food and time on the couch for me…the game is just extra? š
We had one cool rainy day and now it is back to hot, but I’m hoping it will stay cool after a few weeks and then I can eat chili all the time! It is all about the food and time on the couch for me too! My husband is actually watching a game as I type, haha!
I can’t tell you how jealous I am that you got a rainy day all day today. Here in California, it was 98 degrees. 98! Ugh, I am just so sick of being hot all day long. It’s slowly gotten a little cooler at nights, and it’s getting me so very excited for fall. This chilli looks delicious! As soon as it’s cool enough, this is one of the first things I want to make!
You don’t have to be too jealous because it rained for one day and then it was back to 100 degrees the next day, haha! It is starting to get cool in the evenings here too, so I have hope that summer really is almost over! Chili is one of the best cool weather comfort foods š