Vegan White Bean Chili Recipe (Easy + Healthy)

Get ready to cozy up to a bowl of this warm and comforting Vegan White Bean Chili! Hearty, healthy, and full of flavor, this vegan chili is an easy one-pot meal you’ll want to make on repeat!

With three kinds of white beans, potatoes, corn, poblano, and jalapeno peppers, and the perfect blend of seasonings, this tasty white bean vegan chili packs a punch of flavor in every bite!

It’s a true crowd-pleaser and makes the perfect game day or party dish!

If you’re looking for more party food ideas, be sure to check out my Air Fried Taquitos and my Instant Pot Hummus.

Jump to:

• 💚 Why You’ll Love This Vegan Chili Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients
• 🌿 Variations
• ✅ How to Make Vegan White Bean Chili
• 🍽️ Serving Suggestions
• ❄️ Storage Directions
• 🔪 Helpful Kitchen Gadgets & Tools
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips
• ❓Recipe FAQs
• 🌎 Sustainability Suggestions
• ➕ More Delicious Chili and Soup Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• Vegan White Bean Chili
• 💬 Comments

💚 Why You’ll Love This Vegan Chili Recipe

• One-Pot: All the ingredients are cooked in the same pot, which means fewer dishes to wash!
• Gluten-Free: Not only is this three bean chili 100% plant-based, it’s also naturally gluten-free, making it perfect for all types of eaters.
• Make-Ahead: This chili is perfect for meal prep, so you can make a batch to enjoy throughout the week or freeze for another night.
• Healthy Comfort Food: This vegan chili is loaded with protein, fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals, making it a plant-based powerhouse when it comes to nutrition.

🛒 Ingredients

Here is the simple ingredient list needed to make a pot of homemade chili with white beans. See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

• Olive Oil: For sauteing (be sure to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil).
• Aromatics: Onion, celery, and fresh garlic add flavor and aroma to this vegan white chili.
• Chili Peppers: Both poblano peppers and jalapeno peppers add a kick of heat.
• Russet Potato: Adds earthiness and heartiness and helps thicken the chili.
• Seasonings: Cumin, oregano, coriander, chili powder, cilantro seasoning, salt, and pepper combine to create this delicious flavor combination.
• White Beans: A mixture of navy beans, great northern beans, and cannellini beans add a good amount of fiber and protein to the chili.
• Vegetable Broth: Liquid is necessary for thinning out the chili. You can use water instead, but broth adds more flavor.
• Corn: Provides natural sweetness without adding sugar.
• Tapioca Flour: For thickening the chili.
• Lime: Fresh lime juice adds a hint of acidity and boosts the flavors in the chili.

• Toppings: Add your favorite toppings of choice, such as freshly chopped cilantro, vegan sour cream, vegan cheddar cheese, cubed avocado, and chopped scallions.

🌿 Variations

• Chili Peppers: Change the heat level by using different chili peppers. You can use two poblanos or bell peppers for a milder chili or swap for another mild pepper like Anaheim. To turn up the heat, use two jalapenos or swap one for a hotter variety, such as habanero. Cayenne pepper can be added to the mix of seasonings for an extra kick!
• Tapioca Flour: Arrowroot starch is a great replacement for tapioca and can be used at a 1:1 ratio to thicken the chili.
• Creamy: To give the chili a creamier texture, puree half of the beans before adding them to the pot, pulse the chili a few times with an immersion blender after cooking, or stir in one cup of coconut milk.
• Onions: Yellow onions, shallots, white or red onions can be used in the recipe and vary the flavor slightly. Be sure to use green onions as a topping. They are a great finishing touch!
• Beans: Using different beans, such as butter beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, and black beans, can vary the soup's taste, texture, and color.
• Dairy: Vegan cheese is recommended, but you can vary the toppings with a Mexican Cheddar Cheese blend or Greek Yogurt topping for a vegetarian white bean chili recipe.
• Smoky: For a smoky flavor add in any of these: 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, or char the peppers on the cooktop or grill before adding them to the chili.

✅ How to Make Vegan White Bean Chili

Here are the instructions on how to make this vegan three bean chili.

1. Saute Onion and Celery: Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven (or large pot) over medium. Add the diced onions and celery to the pot. Saute for 5 minutes.
2. Cook the Peppers: Stir in the diced poblano and jalapeno peppers and cook for 5 minutes longer.

3. Stir in the Potatoes and Seasonings: Add the cubed potatoes and dried seasonings and stir to combine.
4. Drain the Beans: Open the cans of beans and pour into a strainer to drain the liquid. Combine the three types of beans in a bowl and set aside.

5. Adding the liquid: Stir in the vegetable stock, beans, and frozen corn and bring the chili to a bowl.
6. Cook the Chili: Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 30-45 minutes or until potatoes have softened. Squeeze in the lime juice and add the tapioca flour to the pot slowly. Continue to cook until thickened.
7. Serve: Ladle into bowls and top with fresh cilantro, vegan sour cream, vegan cheddar cheese, avocado, and green onions.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

White Bean Chili can be served as is or ladled over your favorite grain. I recommend brown rice, quinoa, or sorghum.

Make up a batch for the big game and serve with some homemade cornbread or baked tortilla chips on the side.

This delicious dish is perfect for parties, potlucks, or anytime you find yourself craving a big bowl of chili!

Add some vegan condiments like a spoonful of this vegan cashew cream which tastes very similar to sour cream or some refrigerator pickled jalapeños.

Serve with a side of my vegan cornbread made with jalapeño and vegan cheddar cheese.

❄️ Storage Directions

• Refrigeration: Store leftover chili in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Reheating: The next day, reheat leftover chili in the microwave on medium heat for 30-60 seconds intervals until it is heated through. You can also reheat on the stovetop (medium-low), stirring frequently, until thoroughly heated.
• Freezing: This vegan white chili is great for freezing. Allow the chili to cool to room temperature and then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Be sure to thaw frozen chili in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

🔪 Helpful Kitchen Gadgets & Tools

To make this easy recipe, you’ll need some basic kitchen items, including a knife for chopping the vegetables, a cutting board to cut them on, measuring cups and spoons for measuring the ingredients, and a Dutch Oven for cooking the chili. An immersion or high-speed blender is handy to make a creamy chili.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Check Your Seasonings: Be sure your seasonings aren’t expired to ensure the best flavor.
• Adjust the Seasonings: Feel free to adjust the seasonings and spiciness level to suit your tastes. After cooking, you’ll also want to taste and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking.
• Don’t Add the Tapioca Too Early: Tapioca flour doesn’t hold up well to high temperatures and can become gummy if overcooked, so be sure not to add it in too early.

❓Recipe FAQs

🌎 Sustainability Suggestions

Zero Waste! Onion, garlic, and potato peels are great for composting. You can also use the potato peels to make crispy potato peel chips which you can serve as a snack alongside the chili.

Skipping the Meat is Better For the Planet. Eliminating meat from one meal (or even more if you can) is a great way to reduce your impact on the planet. Whether you choose to eat just one meal a week or transition to a more eco-flexitarian style of eating, it's a great way to get started reducing your carbon footprint.

➕ More Delicious Chili and Soup Recipes

If you made this recipe, please leave a star 🌟 rating on the recipe card right below! You can also drop a review in the comment section. Your feedback is appreciated! And don’t forget to tag @themindfulfork so we can see your creations.

📖 Recipe