Straightforward Vegetarian Lentil Chili – She Likes Meals

December 11, 2025

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Created On: December 10, 2025 &nbsp| Up to date: December 11, 2025 | Go away a remark

My Straightforward Vegetarian Lentil Chili recipe comes collectively rapidly and multi function pot for straightforward cleanup. It’s full of heat flavors, protein, and veggies that can fill you up and preserve you satiated for hours. Garnish this plant-based chili together with your favourite toppings and revel in with a aspect of crackers or cornbread.

Chili has been one among my favourite chilly climate meals for a very long time, so I’m unsure why it took me this lengthy to make it with lentils. I’ve been actually loving canned lentils these days, as a result of they’re so handy to make use of and so they add tons of vitamins to all the pieces you place them in. This hearty and straightforward Vegetarian Lentil Chili Recipe is one I will likely be making on repeat all winter lengthy, so I hope you get pleasure from it too. Freeze in particular person parts for straightforward lunches and dinners which might be truly wholesome.

Why You’ll Love This Plant-Primarily based Chili Recipe

Straightforward to make – Chili is one among my favourite simple meals to make as a result of all the pieces will get cooked collectively in a single pot. Soups and stews are the unique one pot meals and so they’re nice as a result of there’s a lot taste when all the pieces will get cooked collectively and never many dishes to scrub up afterwards.
Full of protein – Lentils have so many well being advantages, together with being excessive in protein. Lentils aren’t fairly a “full protein” however they’re full of many of the important amino acids and so they do an awesome job filling you up and maintaining you feeling satiated lengthy after you’ve loved them.
Hearty and comfy – Once I take into consideration the proper lunch or dinner on a chilly winter day, chili is likely one of the first dishes that involves thoughts. It’s served sizzling, full of heat spices and could be loved together with your favourite toppings and a slice of fluffy cornbread.

Why We Love Lentils

Iron is an important mineral that helps preserve wholesome blood in our our bodies. Iron helps to hold oxygen out of your lungs to different components of your physique. With out enough iron within the blood, the physique is unable to move oxygen as effectively, leading to a situation known as anemia. There are a number of sorts of anemia, however I’m referring particularly to Iron Deficiency Anemia. Anemia may cause a number of totally different signs, together with fatigue, simple bruising, dizziness, shortness of breath, pale pores and skin, and coronary heart palpitations. In case you expertise any of those signs, please carry them to your physician’s consideration. Anemia is recognized with a easy blood take a look at.

There are two sorts of iron, heme iron and non-heme iron. Heme iron is just present in animal protein, like poultry, shellfish, and different meats. Non-heme iron is present in plant-based merchandise, akin to lentils, spinach, and nuts. Sadly, for us vegetarians, heme iron is extra readily absorbed by the physique. A food plan wealthy in non-heme iron requires extra components for absorption, akin to vitamin C. This salad recipe is wealthy in non-heme iron sources, so I made certain so as to add further vitamin C to assist in its absorption.

Vegetarian Lentil Chili Recipe Substances

Lentils – I used canned lentils on this recipe as a result of they’re so handy and I’ve been loving them these days. You should utilize dried lentils if you happen to favor, however the recipe will likely be just a little totally different. It’ll require an extended cooking time and additional vegetable broth. Different sorts of canned beans can simply be substituted for the lentils if you happen to favor.
Greens – I like a number of veggies in my chili, so I’ve added onion, garlic and some several types of bell peppers, in addition to some diced carrot. I additionally add one can of petite diced tomatoes which have been evenly drained. Different greens like corn or candy potato can simply be added as nicely.
Spices – I wish to taste my chili with a number of heat spices, together with: cumin, chili powder, paprika, onion, garlic, oregano and just a bit little bit of brown sugar. A chili seasoning package deal can be used, if wanted.
Tomato Paste – Tomato paste provides depth of taste and helps tie the chili collectively.
Vegetable Broth – I exploit a vegetable broth focus that I then add to water. I’ve discovered that broth concentrates have tons of taste and so they’re simpler to maintain available with out worrying about them going dangerous. Any type of broth can be utilized although.

How To Make Straightforward Lentil Chili

Warmth a big pot over medium warmth and add in 2 tablespoons olive oil. As soon as oil is sizzling, add within the diced onion, bell peppers and carrot, together with a giant pinch of salt. Cook dinner veggies till softened, about 5-7 minutes. Subsequent, add within the minced garlic, tomato paste and all the spices. Combine collectively and prepare dinner for one more 2-3 minutes.
Add within the cooked lentils and may of diced tomatoes. Stir all the pieces collectively nicely after which add within the vegetable broth and stir once more. Enable chili to come back to a simmer and let prepare dinner till carrots are fork tender, about 10-12 minutes, stirring often.
Flip the warmth off and punctiliously add about 2-3 cups of the chili to a blender, or meals processor, and mix till easy. Pour again into the pot of chili and blend collectively nicely. This step is non-obligatory, however will give the chili a creamier texture. Style the chili and regulate the salt and different seasonings as wanted.
Lentil Chili is greatest served sizzling together with your favourite toppings, for lunch or dinner. Retailer chili in an air-tight container, in both the fridge for about 4-5 days, or within the freezer for as much as 3 months.

Recipe Often Requested Questions

This recipe is already vegan and gluten free.
Is that this chili recipe spicy? No, I make mine fairly gentle in taste, however you’re welcome so as to add further spice, akin to sizzling peppers or cayenne powder, if you happen to favor.
Is chili freezer pleasant? Sure, this can be a nice recipe to freeze. Enable chili to chill utterly after which freeze both all collectively or in particular person parts, for as much as 3 months. Be certain that to make use of a freezer pleasant, air-tight container.
How lengthy do leftovers final? If saved in an air-tight container, within the fridge, leftovers ought to final about 4-5 days. Re-heat within the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop.
Can different sorts of beans be used? Sure, you possibly can completely use different sorts of beans fairly than lentils.
Can the greens be overlooked? In case you favor a veggie free chili, you possibly can simply miss the bell peppers. Chances are you’ll need to add an additional can of lentils in although.
Can dry lentils be used? This particular recipe is supposed for canned lentils, however you may adapt it to make use of dry lentils as a substitute. There will likely be an extended prepare dinner time and you’ll most likely want further broth.

Have a query I didn’t reply? Ask me within the remark part beneath and I’ll get again to you ASAP!

Wanting For Extra Vegetarian Lentil Recipes?

Iron-Wealthy Spinach Lentil Salad

Spaghetti with Meaty Lentil Sauce

Lentil and Roasted Carrot Salad

Straightforward Balsamic Lentil Pasta

Lentils and Rice with Curry Yogurt Sauce

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