It has been nose-nipping, fingertips feel like they’re falling off, wonder why I don’t own snow pants, scarf wrapped high enough to meet my hat so that I just have a wee slit to see through, kinda cold this week. That and I seem to have one of those never-ending colds that don’t want to go away, no matter how much I ignore it. (I admit there are better cold remedies).
So between the two colds, all I wanted was something insanely delicious, hearty, satisfying, a big ol’ pot of warm me up from the inside. And then it happened, I made The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!!
See what I mean? Don’t you just want to bite that spoon!?
No really, this is serious stuff, friends. This isn’t the first pot of vegan chili that I’ve ever made. I’ve cooked up many of those three bean type chili recipes in the past, which are good, but they never feel particularly special to me. They were missing that oomph.
Today, the colds must have sparked some mad scientist creativity, because I decided to use a similar method to prepare tofu that I use in my Tofu Bolognese. The key is that the tofu is seasoned and then dried out in the oven. Then when you stir it into the sauce, it gets this gorgeously chewy, amazing, can’t-stop-eating texture. I used this same technique in this vegan chili recipe, and let me tell you, it was seriously the best idea ever.
This vegan chili is bursting with gorgeous spices, the double-bean action makes for a scrumptious heartiness, the rich simmered tomatoes, and that chewy, totally addictive tofu. I’m so deeply in love!
Just with all chili recipes, this vegan chili was delicious freshly made, but it was even better the next day. The tofu stays perfectly chewy and the flavours deepen and get even more flavourful.
To make the best vegan chili ever: Add the olive oil to a large pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent and just begins to brown. Add the tomatoes, beans, water, and all of the spices. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and continue to simmer for 1 hour. If the chili gets too thick, just splash in more water to reach desired consistency.
In the meantime, prepare the tofu crumbles. Mix nutritional yeast, soy sauce, and olive oil together in a large bowl. Open and drain the tofu (no need to press it), then break off chunks and crumble with your fingers into the bowl. Do this with all of the tofu until you have a large bowl of crumbles. Stir the tofu crumbles well making sure all of the tofu is evenly coated in the nutritional yeast mix.
Spread the tofu mixture evenly over the pan. Bake for about 45 mins, stopping to stir the tofu every now and then. Keep a close eye on it towards the end so that it doesn’t burn.
You want the tofu to be nice and browned. The smaller crumbles will be darker than the larger crumbles, and that’s ok because it will provide a variety of texture. Mmmmmm tofu crumbles. I can’t help but eat a few right from the pan, but I seriously have to control myself as I may eat them all!
When the chili and tofu are both prepared, stir in the tofu crumbles and continue to cook the chili for another 5 minutes. This will allow the tofu to absorb the sauce and get gloriously chewy.
Serve hot with a dollop of vegan sour cream and a sprinkle of chives if desired. And don’t forget a piece of the Easiest (and most delicious) Vegan Cornbread. The best vegan chili ever!!! I’m so excited, I need to make another pot ASAP.
So much better than your average vegetarian chili! The secret ingredient takes it to the next level. Easy to prepare and everyone (vegan or not) will love it.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 19 oz can black beans (2 cups) , drained and rinsed
- 1 19 oz can kidney beans (2 cups), drained and rinsed
- 1 cup water (plus more if needed)
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 350g block extra-firm tofu
- For the Chili: Add the olive oil to a large pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent and just begins to brown. Add in the tomatoes, beans, water, and all of the spices. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer and continue to simmer for 1 hour. If the chili gets too thick, just splash in more water to reach desired consistency.
- For the Tofu: In the meantime, preheat your oven to 350F (180C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or lightly grease the pan.
- Mix nutritional yeast, soy sauce, and olive oil together in a large bowl. Open and drain the tofu (no need to press it), then break off chunks and crumble with your fingers into the bowl. Do this with all of the tofu until you have a large bowl of crumbles. Stir the tofu crumbles well making sure all of the tofu is evenly coated in the nutritional yeast mix.
- Spread the tofu mixture evenly over the pan. Bake for about 45 mins, stopping to stir the tofu every now and then. Keep a close eye on it towards the end so that it doesn't burn. You want the tofu to be nice and browned. The smaller crumbles will be darker than the larger crumbles, and that's ok because it will provide a variety of texture.
When the chili and tofu are both prepared, stir in the tofu crumbles and continue to cook the for another 5 minutes. This will allow the tofu to absorb the sauce and get gloriously chewy. Serve hot with a dollop of vegan sour cream and a sprinkle of chives if desired.
Perfectly pairs with the Easiest (and most delicious) Vegan Cornbread!
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram and hashtag #itdoesnttastelikechicken.
Bon appetegan!
Sam.
Can’t wait to try this! Very new to vegetarian eating and I’ve only used tofu 3-4 times, so I’m looking for new recipes. What is the purpose of coating the tofu in nutritional yeast? Is it for flavor or does it change the texture of the tofu?
Hi Liza, glad you’re looking forward to it! The seasonings are to provide a gorgeous flavour. Trust me when I say, you will likely find it hard to resist nibbling on the crumbles before they even make it into the chili! Haha. Enjoy! 🙂
I just made this. I’ve only been vegan for 10 months and if I had been told it was beef chili I would have been completely fooled! Excellent!
Amazing!!! SO happy to hear 🙂
This really is the BEST vegan chili ever! I am impressed. My husband also loved it and said it could win a chili cookoff! Thank you for the recipe.
Thank you so much, Monika! I’ve actually heard from several different readers that they entered this chili into competitions and it has won! Haha 🙂
Can this recipe be frozen?
Yes, I believe it should freeze just fine. Enjoy!
Hi Sam,
I made this recipe last night and it turned out great. I never know how to handle vagueries like “stir the tofu every now and then.” I’m no chef. My education is in engineering do I need things to be more concrete… so that recipes don’t turn out like concrete! 😉 So I set the timer for 10 minutes and that worked out well.
HINT: After the first 10 minutes in the oven, I noticed that the tofu at the back of the pan had browned significantly more than the rest. So I rotated the pan 45 degrees to have the pan’s longest dimension oriented left-right and pulled it a little more to the front of the oven. Every 10 minutes thereafter, when I went to stir the tofu, I also rotated the pan 90 degrees
Cheers,
Bill
You did exactly the right thing, Bill! Everyone has different ovens so keeping an eye on it and adjusting it so it doesn’t burn is exactly right. 🙂
This was my second time making this recipe and… I learned from the first and doubled it up this time! It’s so tasty it’s a shame not to have leftovers so I definitely needed a bigger batch. I do add extra veg to mine, peppers, courgettes, and maybe frozen sweetcorn (because you can never have too much veg!) but the recipe is just great. The chewy tofu bits are just genius! They really make the chili. Thank you Sam!
You’re most welcome! I’m so happy it’s such a favourite! I might have to make this again myself tonight… omnomnom!
Followed the recipe exactly and was very pleased. So flavorful. The tofu crumbles really make the dish.
Yay! Thrilled you loved it so much, Kelly 🙂
Hey Sam! I just wanted to let you know that your nutrition values are off. I posted this on reddit and someone pointed it out. I ran your recipe through myfitnesspal.com and this is what I got:
Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 8g | Sodium: 620mg | Potassium: 898mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 95% | Vitamin C: 28% | Calcium: 38% | Iron: 18%
Just figured I’d let you know – Love this recipe, btw.
Hi Lisa, you’re absolutely right! I ran my nutrition program again and it came up wich results like yours. Thanks for pointing that out! 🙂
Hi, I would love to make this for dinner tonight in my Instapot. Can someone who has had success with this in their Instapot share how long they pressure cooked it and if I need to add any liquid like veg broth/water.
Thanks!
Hi Crystal, I don’t have an Instapot so I’m afraid I can’t be much help, but I hope someone is able to chime in an help you 🙂
Hi Crystal, did you end up trying this recipe in your Instapot? I’d love to hear what you did and how it came out 🙂
I made this tonight in my Instant Pot. I sautéed the onion, garlic and some other veggies (celery and peppers) first, then added the spices, beans, tomatoes (only one can), 1 sweet potato and 1.5 cups of water. Pressure cooked on high for 9 min then natural release for a bit (maybe 15 min). Then added the tofu.
It turned out amazing!
Sorry I missed your response. I did try this in the Insta Pot and sauteed the veggies and followed the rest of your recipe. I pressure cooked on high for 10 min. it came out AMAZING!!! Your recipe is outstanding!!! This is going to be a staple vegan chili in our house. Sweet potatoes sound interesting. I think I’m going to try that next time. I’ve been wanting to experiment with sweet potatoes since they’re really good for you, but I’ve never really been of fan, maybe I’ll like them this way. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe with us Courtney!!! <3 I look forward to the next recipe! 🙂
So happy you loved it!
I made this recipe in my Instapot; I did the first steps on sauté and when it was time to let it cook, I did about 25 min on soup. However, I think this was too long because the kidney beans had dissolved. I also like very spicy food but I think that it’s too much chili powder if I’m going to cook it in the Instapot because it seems like it didn’t cook out as much, and my husband could barely eat it. I think next time I’m either going to just stick to cooking it on the stovetop or reduce the chili powder a bit, or replace it with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
This recipe is magnificent!!!! So full of flavor, I added celery and frozen corn (heated in the microwave and then added to the chili). To be honest I don’t think the corn really did much but I’m just on a corn kick at the moment. This is the 4th time I used tofu, made your tofu taco crumbles twice and the 3rd try at tofu was someone else’s recipe which ended up in the compost. I honestly will no longer look around for tofu recipes, I’m just going to use yours! I’m just glad your recipe (both) turned out great, if I had tried someone else’s first, I would not have bought tofu again. Thank you for sharing wonderful recipes!
When the chili was done, I had a quick taste, said to my husband its missing something (it wasn’t I just wanted him to taste it lol) he tasted and said it needs salt, funny part is I noticed he had a small piece of tofu on his spoon which he ate. He said he would never eat tofu, I have the leftovers in containers on the kitch counter, just waiting to see if there will be a spoon in 1 later lol
Haha! That’s awesome, Mary!! So happy you love my tofu recipes so much 🙂 You can always adjust salt as needed. Enjoy!
This chili and the tofu recipe have become a staple for me and my bf. It’s our go-to easy but super yummy, last for ever, tons of left overs meal!! We make it in our big slow cooker and add some mushrooms and broccoli or whatever other veggies we happen to have! Always comes out perfect and delicious! 🙂
Awesome!!! So happy you’re both such a fan! 🙂
I’m not vegan but I made this for my vegan bf last night & it went down a treat. Added lots of veg and loved the texture of the tofu – never going back! Served it with a roasted sweet potato, oatly creme fraiche, vegan cheese & corriander. So yum! Thank you 🙂
Wonderful! So happy you loved it so much, Catherine 🙂
Delicious! The only thing I changed was adding extra veggies.
Wonderful!
I’ll do this tomorrow! Mmmm.
Still snowing in Ottawa. April Fools!
(Btw, snowpants was one of the smartest clothing purchases I ever made. I highly encourage them. When it’s super cold, wear them inside instead of a sweater when you’re working in the kitchen and don’t want long sleeves etc in your way…. It works! )
Haha!! Love it. 🙂
Making this for the 4th time since I discovered it in January! It’s enjoyed by our family. Of 4 non vegans including semi picky kids and husband. I change it up a little each time but always use the recipe’s tofu method as it’s amazing!
Wonderful! So happy it’s become a go-to recipe for you, Cara 🙂
One of my all-time favorite recipes. All of your recipes are amazing. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much, Abby 🙂
This truly is the vegan chili I have been searching for forever! This is so delicious and the tofu crumbles have changed my world (I know it sounds a bit dramatic). My family (who are not vegan) loved this recipe so much and could not get enough. I am so glad to have found your website. So much gratitude!
Haha! I love it!!! Thrilled you enjoyed it so much, Pamela 🙂
This really is the best! And although I can’t stand when people tweak recipes a ton I did add frozen sweet corn to it. And since I’m lazy I added TVP instead of tofu. And of course I doubled it! The spices are spot on thank you for this recipe
Haha, that’s awesome, Melissa! Thrilled you enjoyed it so much 🙂
I have been meaning to try this recipe for a while now … seeing it on Instagram and since it is national Chili day, I had to make it! The whole family loves it! Only wish I didn’t wait so long to make it. Thank you Sam for yet another amazing recipe!!!!!!
Aww you’re most welcome, Ashely! Thrilled you loved it so much 🙂
This is now my “Go To” Chili. It is so good!
My whole family really enjoy it, along with a big chunk of cornbread. My son(16) said last night that it’s his favourite meal I make. My daughter(15), who is an absolute pain it the arse to feed) actually said “Yeah!” when I announced what I was cooking for dinner…I nearly fell off of my chair!!!
Thank you! x
Forgot to rate.
Hahaha! Love it!! So thrilled you and your family love the chili so much, Zoe 🙂
Believe me, I’ve tried various vegan chilli recipes on the internet and none impressed me much until I came across this incredible recipe! Tofu crumble in the chilli – such a stroke of genius!! I made it in the Instant Pot to save time (i have a young baby) and the chilli turned out so delicious my husband and I, and our 6yo son finished it in one sitting. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!
Aww that’s so amazing!!! Thrilled you loved it so much, Shwu Huey Ng 🙂
This chili is amazing. My whole family loved it!!! Glad that I found such a great recipe 🙂
That’s wonderful, Alexandra! So happy everyone loved it 🙂
Just wanted to say thanks for the recipe. I cooked this tonight and it’s absolutely superb.
Yay!!! So thrilled you loved it, Jim 🙂
My family, some vegan, some not, love this chili. Ive made it twice so far. Only substitute I made is I used Beyond Meat Crumbles instead of tofu. Ready to make this again today!
So happy you enjoyed!
I made this a year ago and all my friends are begging to have it again! Love it..might add some hearty mushrooms to the mix this time too.
That’s awesome!! So very happy you love the recipe so much, Matt 🙂
Just made this tonight and it was fantastic! This will be a regular for me! Many thanks for the recipe!
You’re most welcome, John! So happy you loved it so much 🙂
This is the best chili I have ever eaten. My husband said the same. We doubled the beans and added fire roasted diced tomatoes and it was astoundingly good, especially with that baked tofu! Thank you so much.
You’re most welcome, Trish! Thrilled you enjoyed it so much 🙂
Instant pot ain’t got nothing on this recipe! Its aromatic, bursting with flavours and has just the right amount of heat! Amazingly easy to make especially for a weeks worth of lunch for two people. I change up the beans every now and then to whatever is in my pantry….and there’s no altering ther tofu for me! My husband and I make this chilli about once a month and have shared the recipe with those who are lucky enough to have a taste of ours! #getinmybelly!
Yay! So happy you enjoyed it, Ingrid 🙂
This is an excellent recipe. I made this yesterday. My non-vegan family loved it! It is an indeed yummy recipe!
Thanks so much, Tiffany, thrilled you enjoed it so much 🙂
I’m Making this tomorrow… just wondering, how many ounces or cup is one serving of this? Or do you have a nutrition breakdown of what a serving is?
Sorry, I didn’t measure out the serving sizes, but the recipe makes enough for 8. Enjoy!
I just made the chili and the tofu for a chili cookoff in 1.5 days. I’m wondering if I should put the tofu in the chili now, or wait till shortly before the event.
You can put it in now. It stays chewy. Good luck!
hi!! Any tips for adding a medium amount of spice? I love spicy foods but am sharing this at a chili cookoff. Am definitely thinking to add jalapenos but I’m not sure at what point in the recipe to add them in. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Thanks!
The cayenne adds spice to this recipe. It’s spicy stuff so start with a little and you can always add more to taste 🙂
True to its name- this is the best vegan chili ever!!! I have made so many.. sooo beany chilis and it was so refreshing to finally have come across a chili that will now be my go-to! My husband made me double the recipe so he could have enough to take to work for lunch for the entire week! After eating the first few bits, I kid you not, he said, “this is the best chili ever!” I definitely steer clear of tofu, but now I am a tofu believer after preparing it how you suggested! Mmmmmm so delicious! My cans of beans only come in 15oz, so I just threw in an extra can of white beans and added a splash more broth and it was so yummy!
Yayyyyy!!! So thrilled you and your husband love it so much, Reagan 🙂
Making this for office chili cook off at end of the month. Did a test run yesterday, and now have tons of lovely leftovers to enjoy. Tweaked recipe a bit, of course — added 2 carrots, 1 sweet potato, 1 zucchini, 2 jalapeno peppers, and extra garlic — all chopped up. For one can of the tomatoes I used Rotel. It is full up of yummy veggies. After it had simmered for awhile, put about 2 cups of cooked chili in blender — added back to the pot, Made chili much thicker and richer. Tofu crumbles are amazing, added some amazing texture. Cannot wait to share at cook off. May even convince some folks that meat free is not bad at all. Thanks for the good recipe suggestion.
Glad you enjoyed!
That sounds perfect. (I love hiding extra vegetables in food as i have 3 fussy boys to feed, who pick them out)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made vegan chili and been disappointed. I am so stoked to have found your recipe! This is better than any chili I’ve ever had. I ate the entire pot by myself in three days lol! Just wanted to say Thank you so much! : )
Your website rocks!
Haha, that’s awesome!! Thrilled you loved the recipe so much, Amanda! I told you it’s the best chili ever 😉
When i first saw the recipe, i thought maybe the crumbled tofu was a long step for not much but…OMG it made all the difference. It’s indeed the best chili I’ve ever made. Every time i do chili i’m disapoint at the end and i’m discouraged by all the leftover i have to eat … but i this case it’ll be a pleasure. 🙂 .. sorry for my unperfect english, i’m from Québec ;P
just made it. OMG this IS the best chili ever. With meat or vegan meat, this tops it all 🙂 I added stewed tomatoes in addition to the other ingredients.
tip I found out: if you don’t have tofu, like I didn’t. I used the plant meat, cooked it up, added the ‘sauce’ listed above (olive oil, N. yeast and Tamari / soy mixture) after it was cooked it. Stirred it around, added it to my chili, stirred it around for 1-2 min and it was ready to be served. My kids ate it up and said this is the best food ever. :)thanks for the amazing recipe 🙂
So happy you enjoy it, Rachel!
I made this chili last night, it looked like chili, smelt like chili … & it was delicious! I just added more cumin for my personal taste. I will make this again – thanks for the recipe!
Awesome! So happy you enjoyed it, Angela 🙂
I have made this a number of times and it never gets old. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
Amazing!! You’re most welcome, Hope 🙂
school starts here in a week (so early! 🙁 lol) I told my kids I am going to make a big pot of chili for first day of school. Hopefully get 2 days worth lol.
if you made this in the crockpot, how would you make it? Thanks 🙂
Wow! So early! I don’t have a crockpot so I really don’t know. I hope your kids love it!
I followed the recipe exactly as written. It turned out AWESOME! Will make again 🙂
Woohoo! Thrilled you loved it, Lindsay 🙂
Hi there. Really wanna make this recipe but I do not have nutritional yeast. Is it a crucial component or do you think I’d be ok to skip it?
Thanks!
The nutritional yeast helps add a gorgeous flavour to the tofu, but if you don’t have it, you could skip it. The tofu just might be a little less awesome. Haha. Enjoy!
It was a little more tomato-ey than I like the day I made it, but the leftovers for lunch the next day were perfect! Making it tonight for a chili cookoff at work tomorrow, with Gardein beefless grounds instead of tofu, I’ll let you know what everyone thinks – and provide a link to the recipe, of course!
Forgot to mention, the first time I made a mistake and got one can of diced tomatoes and the other crushed… so that may have made a difference.
So happy you enjoyed it. Yes, crushed tomatoes would make it a bit more tomato-ey. Haha. 🙂
The second batch was great too! I think the beefless grounds added some texture to it. The response from one of my vegetarian coworkers was “Damn good!”.
This really is the BEST vegan chili. The way of preparing the tofu is perfect and leads to deliciously chewy bits *.* (but apparently don’t use dark soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce, it lead to our bits becoming too crispy in the oven). We use less chopped tomatoes because we like it “meaty” and I usually bake some of Sam’s cornbread to go with it. Perfect <3
Gah!! All of you comments are making me so hungry! You’re cooking up a storm in your kitchen, Johanna!
I just made this and it was sooo awesome and i don’t like tofu (I must be the only vegan who doesn’t like tofu) but this is my new vegan chili from here on out. Going to double next time so i can freeze some. Thanks Sam
Yay!! So happy you love it, Tina! Tofu can be prepared a million different ways, and I’m glad you found a method you enjoy 😀
I made this chili last night along with the cornbread. Delicious! Making the brownies from Fuss Free Vegan today!
So happy you loved it so much, Kristi! I just made it again this weekend as well. I hope you love the brownies!
Hi Sam, this is my favorite chili recipe, but now one of my kids can’t eat beans. Do you think this would be okay as is and just leaving out the beans, or would you recommend I increase something else in it? Thanks!
Hi Kristi, I think it would be ok as is, but personally, I would want to bulk it up a bit more with some veg. I think so chopped mushrooms and carrots might be nice. Hope that helps!
I can’t believe how freaking delicious this chili is and with the cornbread…. girl. i’m done. i think i went to heaven. thank you for your amazing recipes.
Bahahaha! Love it! You’re most welcome, it’s my pleasure 🙂
I added some additional spices and some frozen corn, and I really enjoyed it. Also, the tofu crumbles were quite tasty. Your recipes have truly helped me with maintaining my relatively new vegan diet. Thanks for this recipe!
Wonderful! So happy to hear that, Kristal. Congrats on your new veganism!
So just started my vegan journey. Found this and was very skeptical I am a meat loving man. Made this and thought smells amazing then had my first bite and omg so much flavor and so feeling. Kids were looking at me crazy until they tried it. Loved it everyone.
Hahaha love it!!! SO happy you enjoyed it so much 😀
This is the best chili I’ve ever had vegan or not! It was very easy to read and follow. Your blog is full of unique fun recipes! I can’t wait to try more!
Yay! So happy you enjoyed. Thanks, Erin 🙂
I love this recipe. I tweaked it slightly by adding carrots, green pepper, and leeks. The tofu was an amazing trick! I look forward to experimenting more. Thank you for posting.
You’re most welcome, Ryan! So happy you loved it!
This was so good! The baked tofu gives it just what it needs to be complex. My husband, who is not a chili fan, said this was so good I could serve it at a restaurant as he ate his second bowl. This will be added to our regular rotation for sure 🙂 The only things I did different were using fire roasted diced tomatoes and used half the cayenne pepper (my husband is really sensitive to spicy), but I added a few shakes of hot sauce to my second bowl and it was amazing!
Awesome! So happy it was enjoyed, Megan 🙂
Absolutely delicious!!!
I am normally not a fan of chili, but THIS recipe…WOW!
Thank YOU for sharing this culinary mix.
Yuummmmmyyyyyy
Lynne
You’re most welcome, Lynne! Thrilled you loved it so much 🙂
And this is the first recipe I try from your website, as I just discovered it a few days ago via a vegan friend (who highly recommended your website).
I am delighted!!!
ps: I am considering attempting your vegan poutine now as I am from Quebec… haha!
I have never tried making vegan cheese before. Let the culinary adventures begin!
Yay! Thrilled you enjoyed it and welcome to my blog 🙂 I hope you enjoy the poutine or any other recipe you try 🙂
So excited to try this! Do you think it would freeze well? 8 servings is a lot for one person so I’d love to freeze half!
Hi Allison, it should freeze pretty well. Tofu can change in texture a bit once frozen and thawed so the texture might be a bit different, but I am sure still delicious. Enjoy!
I just stumbled across your blog yesterday, and what a find! I made this for dinner last night and it was a huge hit. I’m always looking for creative ways to incorporate tofu into recipes, and your method here was new to me and absolutely fantastic. After a while, vegan or vegetarian chili recipes start to feel the same. Yours was unique, and definitely my favorite chili I have made in ages. The only change I made was to add some red lentils since I had no kidney means. Yum!! Thanks so much for your creativity and willingness to share here.
So happy you found me, Dana! And even happier that you loved the chili. Welcome! 😀
Oh my goodness, this is my favorite chili recipe ever!!! My family and I are big chili freaks. We recently (3 months ago) became vegans. I found many sites and recipes that were okay and even some pretty good. Then I found, It doesn’t taste like chicken (Insert heavenly angels sounds here). Your recipes are awesome! They are quick, pretty simple and taste fantastic. This chili recipe is not to be topped. I have made it for my husbands works chili cookoff, for my teens fall parties and for family get togethers. Everyone loves it. Kudos Sam.
Bahahahahahaha! The heavenly angel sounds made me laugh out loud! So thrilled you found me and are continuing to love my recipes so much, Angela! 😀
What is a Chilli cookoff ?
I’m looking to make this for a chili cook-off at work and would like to take some shortcuts due to my crazy schedule. Do you think using a bag of soy crumbles and also a crock-pot would work?
Thanks!
The tofu crumbles are really what makes this recipe, so I would suggest sticking to them. The chili can be made a 1-3 days in advance, however, so you can have it done ahead of time. I’ve never made it in a crockpot (don’t have one), I am sure it would work but I couldn’t recommend cooking times. Hope that helps!
I have made this chili twice now and it is delicious!!! I made it for a family get tog And it fooled all the guys!!!! My son-in-law asked my daughter after they left, “ why did she put meat in the chili !!! I thought they weren’t eating meat any more?” I even used the tofu trick for spaghetti last week! Very delicious!!! Thank you for sharing!
Hahahah! That’s awesome! You’re most welcome, Lisa. Thrilled it was such a hit 🙂
I’ve been a vegetarian since I was a kid, and I’d never cooked with tofu before. To be honest, I’ve never been the biggest fan of it it, but I was determined to give it a shot.
The reviews on this recipe persuaded me that this was the recipe to try — and I’m so glad I did!
My slight modifications: I had firm tofu on hand (not extra firm), and I added a little extra spice and a handful of frozen corn.
I’d worried there was too much liquid, but it all came together in the most perfect consistency.
I don’t know if I’m quite to the point of eating the tofu off the tray yet — but my meat-eating fiancé and I both loved this chili and the leftovers, too!
Woohoo! Tofu is all about how you prepare it. Thrilled you loved it so much, Kate. 🙂
Gorgeous chili and honestly the best I’ve had so far !! It was oh So satisfying. Only minor edit : I added a red bell pepper and slightly mashed the chili with a potato masher at the end because I like it when my stew is thick. Served with homemade guacamole and cashew sour cream. Thank you for such a great recipe ! Love from France
So very happy you enjoyed it so much, Laetitia 😀
Very good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I like the way you do the tofu cause after it cooks for 45 minutes and 5 in the chili the texture is the same as ground beef.
So happy you enjoyed it Josée!
I made this Chili yesterday and Waww sooo yummy heaven food!!!
Thank you so much to share it , One of my favorites so far! ( I have made one more of your recipes, tasty as well)
Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙂
You’re most welcome, Johanna! So happy you loved it 🙂
This Chile was awesome and i considered myself a Chile expert
Thanks for the recipe well definitely be making this again
Yay! Happy to hear that. You’re most welcome, Aaron 🙂
Had this tonight. A-MAZING! Chili is our Halloween tradition and this chili is better than what we usually make. Love it!! So glad we don’t have to give up everything now that we are vegan. Thank you!
You’re most welcome, Stefani! So happy you enjoyed it so much 🙂
Hello! that’s Livia from Italy 🙂
I was going to make this recipe tomorrow. It could be ok to use a silken tofu soft? Is there any trick to make it harder? thanks x
Hi Livia,
No silken tofu won’t work. Only extra-firm tofu will work for this recipe. Hope that helps!
Today is my second day trying to go vegan and I made this and it is DELICIOUS! I do have a question though, how many days can this last in the fridge? I live alone and it might take me a while to finish it all! ^_^
Welcome to your new veganism, Karina!!! So happy you like the chili so much. It should last about a week in the fridge, or you can freeze it. So glad you found my blog, let me know if you ever have any questions or need any support 🙂
This really is the best chilli ever! Thank you so much for this recipe. It’s the easiest one ever for something that is normally so complicated. I did add mushrooms though, and it was great. Thank you again.
So happy you love it so much, Milla! Mushrooms sound like a great addition 🙂
Hello! This is yvonne from Holland. I just put it all in my slow cooker as I have 10 of my friends coming over for a girlie catch up tomorrow evening. I’m the only Vegan, so I wanted a crowd pleaser. I’ll let you know how it went!!!! Ps: If I’m correct I can put the tofu in as soon as it’s ready and just leave it in over night correct?? Of should I add them just before serving? Thank you!!!
Yay! I hope you and your friends love it, Yvonne. Yes, you can put the tofu in as soon as it’s ready. It will stay lovely and chewy overnight. 🙂
I’m an omnivore and had a dinner party for myself and 5 others, 2 of whom are vegetarians. All I got the whole night from all guests were compliments on how amazing the chilli was! People kept asking me for the recipe and I gladly gave it to them. Definitely make it with the cornbread recipe on here as well. It was incredible and went so well with the chilli. Although the chilli recipe says it serves 8; to be safe, I’d say it would make 6 people more than satisfied.
Also, the only things I changed were that I added the garlic a bit after the onions because minced garlic tends to cook faster than the chopped onions. I also added a splash of white wine to the onions and garlic around 30 seconds before adding the rest of the ingredients. 5 stars. I’d definitely do it again!
This sounds like a fabulous dinner party you had, Rob! So happy you and everyone loved everything so much 😀
I made this last night and as my vegetarian daughter said “it was the bom diggity!” The tofu crumbles add texture and taste great but not in a faux meat way which we hate. I could have just eaten the tofu crumbles by the handful. This will definitely be a regular favourite. Thanks for the recipe.
Hahahaha! Love it. Sounds like something I would say! 😀
I am so happy I came across this recipe because this is the best chili I have ever had in my LIFE!! I couldn’t find the nutritional yeast anywhere, but it turned out fine without it. I will mention I made a couple adjustments. I added a large green bell pepper, for added veggies and color. I also added some sweet corn which made it so good. For spices, I used a hot Mexican chili powder instead of traditional. This recipe is definitely a new favorite and I will be making it very often! Thanks for sharing it 🙂
WOW!!! Can’t get a much better review than that!! So very happy you enjoyed it, Caitlyn. In case you ever want to pick up some nutritional yeast you can always find it on amazon. 🙂
I plan to make this tomorrow. Can this be frozen?
Thanks
Jamie
Tofu gets kinds of a spongey texture when frozen, which is ok, but not ideal for this recipe. I would recommend not freezing it. It can be made a couple days ahead of time, however. Enjoy!
I made this tonight for a group of friends. Everyone loved it! I’ll have to make a double batch next time, because there wasn’t a drop left over!
Haha! That’s a great problem to have. So happy everyone loved it!
Just wondering what size block of tofu you use? Over here (in Australia) it’s typically sold in 250g or 500g blocks. I would love to try this recipe, just not sure what size to use. Thanks in advance!
Oh, I didn’t know they were different sizes in other places! I used a 350g block of extra firm tofu. 🙂
Thank you so much! I look forward to trying this recipe soon.
Hi Sam!
I tried your vegan chili last night and was BLOWN AWAY! Im not even a chili person but saw the recipe and had to try it. It was AWESOME! Every bite was a party in my mouth! It was so filling too, that after one (large) bowl, I was full and didnt even have to snack all night like usual..lol I brought some to a friend who isnt vegan and she was impressed. Thanks so much for all these great ideas! (Forgot to soak cashews last night so will have to wait for tomorrow to try sour cream too!)
Woohoo!! Can’t get a much better review than that. So happy you loved it so very much Gina!
OMG! I made this tonight! So good. I typed it with vegan cheese, sour cream, fresh avocado, fresh jalepano slices, cilantro, scallions (because I didn’t have chives) and a squeeze of fresh lime. Delicious!
Woohoo!! Thrilled you loved it so much, Cheryl! I love all your topping options 🙂
this really is the best chili ever!
Hahaha, love it. So happy you agree, andy 🙂
Ummmm….yes…this absolutely is the best vegan chili ever. Since “converting” in October….we’ve tried many recipes which although having their own merits…..didn’t “wow” us like this one! Our program is also restrictive on sodium and oils so I made ours with all “no salt added” tomatoes and beans, used coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce, and used no salt added vegetable stock in place of the olive oil. Still tons of flavor and so yummy. The tofu crumbles are a game changer for me…..thanks so much for that fantastic idea!!!! Now I’ve been inspired to create a crumble that will work in a few of our favorite family recipes!! 🙂 Wish me luck! And thanks for the inspiration!
Woo hoo!! SO thrilled you loved it, Wendy, and were able to make your own adaptions 🙂 I wish you luck, and I hope you enjoy many more of my recipes!
Yum. Made this for dinner last night and my skeptical hubby called it a win! Of course, he added copious amounts of smoked paprika and cayenne to his bowl, but the rest of us don’t love spicy things, so I held back a bit on the spices when I made it. I also had some shredded carrots, green onions and bell pepper left over from something else and added them. I had no idea that tofu crumbles could be so yummy… what a treat that’ll be to play with – maybe sausage spiced crumbles for pizza toppings?!
I love your blog and use your recipes heavily in this plant-based food journey I’m on… thanks so much for sharing your gift!
Oooh I love the idea of sausage crumbles! Gonna try that myself. So happy my recipes are helping your journey and that you love the chili! 😀
I did make sausage crumbles… but I used lentil and walnut meat instead of tofu (I changed the spices/extras from a taco recipe). It made some killer pizza wraps along with other toppings and your stretchy mozzarella. It’s so much fun to experiment! 🙂
Oooo sounds delish! Yes, experimenting is so much fun, that’s basically why I started a blog!! haha
Oh my goodness!! I just finished making this chili and it is AMAZING! I had half the amount of diced tomatoes so to make up for some of it I added an 8 oz package of mushrooms, diced. The tofu technique is just brilliant. This is now my new regular chili recipe. So so simple!
Wohoo!!! SO thrilled you love it so much, Allison! Thanks for the lovely comment, totally made my day 😀
When I saw all the comments on this recipe, I knew I just had to try it. Did a couple of tweaks to accommodate for personal taste (added more cayenne pepper and smoked paprika) but this was just so good!
Tasted the tofu crumble while I was baking it and it took quite a bit of effort to just stop cooking the chili and just eat all of the crumble by itself. Thank god I didn’t, but I’ll probably cook more tofu next time.
Thanks for the great recipe and I can’t wait for your cookbook!
That is the problem with this recipe, the tofu crumbles are so good they get eaten before they even make it to the pot!! So happy you loved the recipe Jane, and I can’t wait for my cookbook either!! 😀
Okay, I’ve always made a good chili, but wanted to try the tofu crumbles and had a pot of stewed tomatoes/vegetables I wanted to use (replaced the canned/water) and I have to say….. This is THE BEST VEGAN CHILI EVER!! I would actually say this the best chili ever, period! Just the perfect blend of spices and the tofu crumbles added a wonderful texture. My newly veg husband said “keep this recipe”! Thank you so much! Can’t wait to try the vegan sour cream to top it with!
Yay!!! Sometimes I get nervous when I label recipes “the best ever” because I don’t want to mislead. But whenever I do that, it’s because I really feel strongly that it is indeed the best one I’ve ever had. It makes me feel like a million bucks when marvellous taste testers such as yourself, Linda, agree! So happy you and your husband loved it so much. Thanks for your comment, it put some pep in my step for the day 😀
I made this Chili last night and I will now be using it instead of what was a very good recipe. This is just outstanding. The tofu crumbles and the little bit of brown sugar make all the difference. My only modification (and those of us who love to create and cook ALWAYS have to tinker) was that I used one small can of low-sodium (6 oz) V8 juice and water to equal one cup liquid. This was really outstanding and will be replacing my old recipe at any chili bar events. Tonight I am going to try your celery soup – throwing in the cashews is genius! I may use a potato instead of flour to thicken.
So happy you loved it so much, Joanne! Thrilled and flattered that you found it outstanding 😀 Haha, yes, I’m sure you won’t be surprised that I’m always a tinkering with recipes as well, so I totally get that! I hope you enjoy the celery soup as well! Thanks for the lovely comment, it totally made my day 😀
HI Sam! We just had this for dinner and all 5 of us gave it thumbs up! I’ll admit, I was nervous about the tofu as I’m not a huge fan, but, as always, you did not let me down! The baked tofu really did have a meaty texture and I thought the flavor were balanced just right. Also…super easy! That’s the second most important thing to me after taste. So, keep do in’ what you’re do in’ girl…you’ve got a real gift!
Yay! So thrilled you loved it Rebecca 😀 And thank you so, so much. Making recipes is favourite thing to do, so I’m so happy when they are so well received!
Scrumptious. One of the best chilli recipes I have tasted.
Thanks Sheryl
Woohoo! Love it! Thanks for the comment Sheryl 🙂
I want to make this chili this morning but not have it until dinner tonight. Does the tofu crumbles’ texture hold up or is it best to serve right away?
They totally hold up, it’s not a problem. Some people have said they like the chili even better the next day. Enjoy! 😀
Thanks!
Okay, I just made the chili and ladled a tester bowl so I know what to expect. Great flavor! Honestly the best vegan chili I have ever made!
I cut the oil in half (only used it for the tofu crumbles) and cut the salt in half also. Definitely making this chili again!
Woohoo!! Love that you thought it was the best too! 😀
I made this delicious chili on Tuesday as my meal prep for the week and I love it – looking forward to having it all week long (my Friday is on Sunday lol). The chewy tofu is so yummy, such a great idea, Sam! I used chipolte chili pepper instead of chili powder so mine is VERY spicy lol – thank goodness for vegan sour cream to balance it out a little. This is my first time making chili, ever – thanks for the awesome recipe! I’ll definitely be making it again and again and again lol. 🙂
Yay! So happy you love it so much. Yours sounds delightfully spicy! Yum 😀
Would the tofu method work with frozen tofu?
If the tofu was thawed and drained first, yes, I think it would work, but frozen tofu gives a different texture so the end texture would be different. Not sure it that’s a good thing or a bad thing, let us know how it turns out if you give it a try 😀
Made this tonight and even my carnivore husband (he’s coming around VERY slowly). This will be a regular winter meal in my house. Love tofu crumbles. Will make them for spaghetti, too.
p.s. Also made the doggie biscuits tonight. I’m on a roll.
OOps! Always proofread. Even my carnivore husband LIKED IT!
Hahaha! I got it either way! So happy to hear that, woo him with deliciousness! The best way! Haha. Hope you’re pooch liked the treats!
Niko loved them. I gave some away to Tulip, who just got snipped yesterday. She needs extra loving care.
Yay!
Your timing is impeccable. This is exactly what I’ve been wanting for dinner.
Thanks!
Woohoo! I think I am getting better and better at reading your mind Bethery 🙂
Just stumbled on your site this morning looking for a good Pho recipe. So happy I did! Just beautiful. I love chili recipes and your technique with tofu. I usually use a press to get a firmer texture, but this sounds great. One of my favorite ways to entertain is with a chili bar. I include a vegan cornbread and huge bowls so guests can ladle their chili over it. One of the favorite toppings is black olives.
Aww thank you Joanne, and welcome 🙂 I press tofu sometimes as well, but drying it out in the oven like this, gets a very chewy cool texture. I hope you love it as much as I do. I definitly have to put a cornbread recipe on my list of recipes to-do, good idea!
OMG! I LOVE THIS CHILI!! It is the best chili I’ve ever made and it’s vegan. I am going to credit it for my great dreams last night, my happy mood this morning (I knew there was chili for lunch!) and for making everyone at work wonder how on earth vegan chili could smell so good.
I cannot say enough about it .. I loved it before the tofu went in (which it was lucky to make it in there and not have me eat all of it off the baking sheet), but put them together .. no words. And today it was even better, as predicted. 🙂
I didn’t use any toppings, but I did add a little butternut squash queso-ish dip (vegan) and it was amaze-balls. I will be making this for family gatherings, I can already tell.
Thank you SO MUCH (sorry you were under the weather, but damn girl .. it worked out!) for sharing. 🙂
XO
Dawn in California
Hahahahaha! That’s so awesome, Dawn. Thrilled you loved it just as much as I did!! Thanks for your fabulous comment 😀
Hi Sam, I’d like to try this recipe, especially since my boyfriend and I LOVE the tofu bolognese!
However, I was wondering if I could sub the diced tomatoes for crushed tomatoes?
That’s what I currently have in the pantry, and I was hoping to avoid the grocery store this weekend :}
Let me know!
Hi Sara,
So happy you love the bolognese! Sure, you can make that sub, the chili will likely be saucier and it won’t have any tomato chunks in the chili (which I always like). I would recommend reducing the water a bit so that it doesn’t get too saucy. Enjoy!
Thanks for the reply, Sam!
I decided to venture out in the snow to get some diced tomatoes so I can make this recipe properly and not miss out on those tomato chunks!
I’ll let you know how it turns out — I am pretty excited to take chili for lunch all work week long :}
Haha, I hope the chunks were worth it!! I was pretty pumped when I had that big pot of chili hanging around… it didn’t last long tho. Haha
Made this for dinner tonight. Added some extra veggies and the flavor was awesome! My new go-to chili recipe!
Woohoo! So happy you loved it so much Julie 🙂
Hi Sam,
Thank you for this interesting recipe. I follow your blog via bloglovin since a year and tried several of your recipes and liked them all.
Now I have a question. As I am a German I have no idea how big a block tofu is in Canada? Could you tell me the weight, so I can bring it in German metrics. Thank you very much.
Daniela
Hi Daniela from Germany! A block of extra-firm tofu here is usually about 350 grams. I hope that helps and that you enjoy the chili when you get to making it 🙂
Thank you very much Sam for your quick response. I’m sure I will enjoy!
I’ve never been a huge chili fan but something about this recipe drew me in and made me want to try it, and I’m so glad I did. This was absolutely delicious! I made it last night and couldn’t wait to have it again for dinner tonight. It’s so flavorful and hearty and completely satisfying. I added some avocado and ate the last few bites with tortilla chips which really made it feel like a treat 🙂 Thank you SO much for this recipe. It’ll certainly be one of my new go-to recipes when I want something easy and delicious!
I’m so very happy you tried it Katelyn, and even happier that you loved it! Avocado and tortilla chips sound like fantastic additions! So happy it has become one of your new go-to’s 🙂
Sam,
This chili rocks. There’s a party going on in my mouth lol
Your recipes are the very best.
Thank you.
Please let us all know when your amazing cookbook comes out.
5 stars+++
Ahaha! That sounds like an awesome party! So happy you love the chili. No worries, I will definitely make a big fuss when the cookbook comes out 😀
This recipe looks like a winner! I like the technique you used to make the tofu a bit dryer and change its texture.
I’m definitely trying it soon, thanks!
Thanks Thomas! That tofu technique is my favourite! Makes it so chewy and scrumptious 😀
Wonder why you didn’t use TVP. I make a mean vegan chili and that is what I use. I may try your way, but without the olive oil. I don’t add oil to anything.
I’m not a big fan of TVP personally. I also think tofu is usually more readily available, and I can control the texture/flavour to my liking.
What do you use for your vegan sour cream? This looks amazing!
Thank you Jenn! I actually used my own homemade vegan sour cream which will be in my cookbook when it comes out. I felt guilty making you guys wait tho, so I did mention it! Eeek! Haha.
Can’t wait to try this!!!
Woot woot! Enjoy Mary 🙂
Sam, you read my mind! I’ve been craving for a dish like this and can’t wait to try it out. I, too, have tried other vegan chilis and they always disappoint but I know you won’t let me down 🙂
Yay!!! Your mind has delicious thoughts! Haha. I hope you love the chili as much as I did 🙂
I tried this recipe last night and loved it! It’s so hearty with complex flavors and a perfect level of heat. I ended up subbing out black beans for adzuki beans as they’re less gassy and improve digestion and cardiovascular health. I was also glad to find a use for the leftover vegan sour cream I made last week to go with your quesadilla recipe. This recipe may take longer to cook than most of your recipes but considering how many meals you get out of just one batch, it’s definitely worth the effort!
Woohoo! So thrilled you love another recipe, Rebecca! Chili is such a great leftover as well since it tastes even better the next day. 😀
Your chili recipe sounds delicious, however it looks like it is very high in sodium. Do you know what the recommended amount of sodium is? I always heard that too much sodium is unhealthy?
I think less salt is probably always best health wise. You can read more here. If you would like to lower the sodium in this recipe, simply omit the salt and soy sauce. Enjoy!
This looks great, and I love the tofu crumbles and the fact that they aren’t just tofu…crumbles. Yay extra flavor!