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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    January 10, 2017 356 Comments

    The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!!

    31.5K shares
    Jump to Recipe

    This vegan chili recipe has won 1st place at a chili cook-off competition competing against non-vegan recipes!

    Bursting with gorgeous spices, the double-bean action makes for a scrumptious heartiness, the rich simmered tomatoes, and that chewy, totally addictive tofu will make this chili super meaty. That's why this is The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!!

    The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!! This vegan chili recipe has won 1st place at a chili cook-off competition competing against non-vegan recipes! Bursting with gorgeous spices, the double-bean action makes for a scrumptious heartiness, the rich simmered tomatoes, and that chewy, totally addictive tofu will make this chili super meaty. That's why this is The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!! #itdoesnttastelikechicken #veganrecipes #chili

    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!?

    The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!! This vegan chili recipe has won 1st place at a chili cook-off competition competing against non-vegan recipes! Bursting with gorgeous spices, the double-bean action makes for a scrumptious heartiness, the rich simmered tomatoes, and that chewy, totally addictive tofu will make this chili super meaty. That's why this is The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!! #itdoesnttastelikechicken #veganrecipes #chili

    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.

    The secret to the best vegan chili:

    Tofu. Yes, tofu. Trust me on this. The secret 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.

    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.

    Simmer the tomatoes and beans

    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.

    spread the tofu across the baking pan

    In the meantime, prepare the tofu crumbles for the vegan chili. 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. Make sure you use extra-firm tofu (and not firm or medium tofu), as extra-firm will have the greatest yield and best texture. My go-to is Sunrise Extra-Firm Tofu.

    Dry out the tofu in the oven to make it chewy.

    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 textures. 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!

    The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!! This vegan chili recipe has won 1st place at a chili cook-off competition competing against non-vegan recipes! Bursting with gorgeous spices, the double-bean action makes for a scrumptious heartiness, the rich simmered tomatoes, and that chewy, totally addictive tofu will make this chili super meaty. That's why this is The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!! #itdoesnttastelikechicken #veganrecipes #chili

    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.

    The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!! This vegan chili recipe has won 1st place at a chili cook-off competition competing against non-vegan recipes! Bursting with gorgeous spices, the double-bean action makes for a scrumptious heartiness, the rich simmered tomatoes, and that chewy, totally addictive tofu will make this chili super meaty. That's why this is The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!! #itdoesnttastelikechicken #veganrecipes #chili

    Common Questions:

    • How long does this chili last in the fridge? If kept in an air-tight container, chili can last up to 5 days in the fridge.
    • Can I freeze chili? Yes, you can. As long as the chili is kept in air-tight containers, chili will last up to 2 months in the freezer.

    Bon appetegan!

    Sam Turnbull.

    Print Recipe
    4.98 from 192 votes

    The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!!

    This vegan chili recipe has won 1st place at a chili cook-off competition competing against non-vegan recipes! Bursting with gorgeous spices, the double-bean action makes for a scrumptious heartiness, the rich simmered tomatoes, and that chewy, totally addictive tofu will make this chili super meaty. That's why this is The Best Vegan Chili Ever!!!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time1 hr 10 mins
    Total Time1 hr 20 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Canadian
    ingredient tag: beans, tofu, tomatoes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 230kcal
    Author: Sam Turnbull • It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

    Ingredients

    For the Chili:

    • 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
    • ¼ - ½ teaspoon cayenne powder

    For the Tofu:

    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 350g block extra-firm tofu
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • 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.

    Notes

    Perfectly pairs with the Easiest (and most delicious) Vegan Cornbread!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1(â…› of the recipe) | Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 500mg | Potassium: 863mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1014IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 6mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram and Hashtag #itdoesnttastelikechicken

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tamar says

      December 22, 2022 at 8:12 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing this recipe. It was delicious. I’ve been craving chili and have been let down by a few recipes, so I was hesitant to try your’s. I’m glad I gave your recipe a try. I was pleasantly surprised by how simple and flavorful the chili was. This will definitely be on my recipe rotation.

      Reply
    2. Jeff says

      December 19, 2022 at 1:05 pm

      I was wondering if I can add green peppers to this?

      Reply
      • Jess @ IDTLC Support says

        December 22, 2022 at 8:32 pm

        Yep, that would be tasty!

        Reply
    3. Adelaide Begley says

      November 29, 2022 at 7:19 pm

      5 stars
      I made this along with a 5star rated meat chilli for a family get together… this was the favourite hands down for everyone who tried both! Thank you

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        December 03, 2022 at 1:32 pm

        Haha I love that!! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Mandy says

      October 27, 2022 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      Your cornbread recipe was delicious! I've never made cornbread before and it was easy and so yummy! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        October 28, 2022 at 10:14 am

        So happy you enjoyed it!!

        Reply
    5. Mandy says

      October 27, 2022 at 11:04 am

      I love all your recipes Sam but this one I found way too hot! I love spice and put sriracha on everything but maybe my chili powder was too hot to use these measurements. It's authentic and very fresh. As I put 2 tablespoons of it in my huge pot I was quite concerned. Seemed like way too much....even for me! Turned out it WAS way too hot for us. My husband ate his with a bunch of sour cream on top ( he's not vegan). I added a can of coconut milk and 2 potatoes ( apparently that's supposed to take the heat down) but it's still way too hot! Next time I'll use HALF the chili powder and I'm sure it'll be perfect!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        October 28, 2022 at 10:13 am

        Hi Mandy, it sounds like you were using a different kind of chili powder. Chili powder is a spice blend made from ground dried chiles and a number of other spices and it is not usually spicy at all. It is not to be confused with chile powder, which is made from ground dried chiles and few or no additives and is usually very spicy. The only spicy spice added to this recipe is the cayenne. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    6. Kathryn says

      October 23, 2022 at 2:43 pm

      I am really not a big chilli lover but this was fantastic! It is perfect with the corn bread and so easy to make.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        October 28, 2022 at 10:00 am

        Yay! So happy you loved it Kathryn 🙂

        Reply
    7. Darcie says

      October 22, 2022 at 2:31 pm

      5 stars
      This—hands down—the best vegan chili ... actually the best chili of any kind, like ever. I loved this. So easy and freezes really well so great for meal prep. I added corn and upped the spices a bit but otherwise made exactly as written. My husband (who eats all the meat) loved this too.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        October 28, 2022 at 9:55 am

        Aww that's amazing! So happy you loved it Darcie!

        Reply
    8. Megan joy says

      October 17, 2022 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      Delicious chili. Very filling and wonderful for a chilly fall day.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        October 21, 2022 at 6:38 pm

        So happy you love it Megan! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Christiane says

      September 10, 2022 at 10:08 pm

      5 stars
      You are right: it is the best vegan chili ever!! I made it today and I also made your cornbread recipe. Both are fantastic and just what I wanted to celebrate the beginning of football season. Even those who don’t like football will enjoy the chili and cornbread!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        September 13, 2022 at 3:24 pm

        So happy you love it! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Sally says

      August 02, 2022 at 12:51 pm

      Can I freeze this after the tofu is added? I'm looking for recipes I can make ahead and freeze.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        August 03, 2022 at 10:04 am

        Yes, it freezes wonderfully!

        Reply
    11. Ester says

      April 03, 2022 at 10:56 am

      Very excited to try this recipe. Has anyone made it using the instant pot?

      Reply
    12. Kim says

      February 21, 2022 at 10:48 am

      Can this be made in the crockpot?

      Reply
      • Barbara Gilday says

        March 04, 2022 at 12:17 am

        5 stars
        I did. I was gone all day. I added the tofu for just the last few minutes. It was great.

        Reply
    13. Ruth Barnes says

      February 20, 2022 at 11:22 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Whether your vegan or not (we aren't), it is delicious. It was also fun to make our own protein substitute ...and see it come out so "meat like" and tasty! We'll be exploring using tofu in various other forms and dishes, so thank you for turning us on to this. As for this recipe, we used 2 cans diced and 2 cans crushed tomatoes for less tomato chunks and added 1 tea. baking cocoa for added complexity. We also added 3 - 15 oz cans of beans (1 great northern), so any way you want to "move this recipe around", it'll work fine so have fun with this. Looking forward to exploring more of Sam's recipes!

      Reply
    14. Shauna says

      February 16, 2022 at 9:30 am

      4 stars
      This chili is really good, but SUPER spicy if you use the full 2 tbsp of chili powder. I love spice, especially in chili, and am typically the person that adds hot sauce to everything. This makes my eyes tear up and would not be tolerated well by anyone who is sensitive to spice. I cut the chili powder in half and it still packs enough heat.

      Reply
      • Eliane says

        March 17, 2022 at 6:58 pm

        I think it really depends on what chili powder you use. The one I have is a mix of various spices, not just powdered hot chillies, so when I make this recipe it comes out just great, even my little kids can handle it. If your chili powder is 100% chillies, that would explain it! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Terri says

      February 13, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      I don't have time to do the tofu crumbles. Can I just pan fry some Beyond Burger with the onion and add that to the bean/tomato mixture?

      Reply
      • Ruth says

        February 20, 2022 at 11:35 pm

        Terri, it won't matter. If you haven't already made it, go for it. This recipe is so forgiving you can use it for a base and make substitutions as you see fit. (Although it was enlightening to see how easy, and tasty the tofu turned out). Enjoy!

        Reply
      • Is says

        June 06, 2022 at 10:54 am

        If you have time to scroll on social media you have time for tofu crumbles it takes 5 min.

        Reply
    16. Mary says

      February 09, 2022 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! So far, this is the best vegan chili I’ve had. Thank you so much!

      Reply
    17. Sarah R. says

      January 04, 2022 at 10:22 am

      5 stars
      Made this last night - super easy and DELICIOUS! I only had crushed tomatoes, so used those instead (and just went with one can) and added some frozen corn and a can of pinto beans. This will now be a staple in our house!! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        January 25, 2022 at 4:01 pm

        So happy you loved it, Sarah!

        Reply
    18. Alecia says

      December 24, 2021 at 10:40 pm

      Merry Christmas Eve! We just finished an evening full of family, cornbread and the best vegan chili ever!! This is our go-to recipe for comfort food and an easy delicious meal that can be prepared ahead of time. I’ve made this about 10 times and it hasn’t failed me once. Thank you Sam! Happy New Year and cheers to more great vegan recipes.

      Reply
    19. Beata says

      December 20, 2021 at 7:26 pm

      5 stars
      Hey Sam! Here's your best non vegan fan, lol. I'm sure you are praised for this chili over and over but I'm going to add my praise anyway! Been making this chili on repeat for I don't know, the past 2 years, and I have yet to get tired of it. It really is THE BEST CHILI EVER - and I'm soaking 4 kinds of beans right now to make your chili again in a day or so. I've been using diced tomatoes with green chilies recently to up the kick (I use 5 or 6 10 oz. cans of regular spiciness level diced tomatoes, depending on how thick I want the chili to be) and I add more chili powder as desired on any given day. I also play with the tofu seasonings as I see fit. My boyfriend LOVES this chili and ALWAYS gobbles it up (along with me!)Thank you!!! This is an absolutely perfect recipe!!!

      BTW, even though I'm not vegan or vegetarian, I really prefer the taste of nutritional yeast to grated parmesan now, lol. Thank you for helping facilitate that change, too!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        January 02, 2022 at 2:23 pm

        Aww that's wonderful! So thrilled this is your go-to Beata! And wonderful that you are including more plant-based meals in your life 🙂

        Reply
    20. Carolyn Clark says

      October 26, 2021 at 12:06 am

      This is delicious! I love many of your recipes because they are simple to follow and turn out well. I do think your prep times should be doubled though. The tofu crumbles are to die for. Like you wrote, it's hard to stop eating them to save to add to the chili! This is my new favorite chili! I had it over a small amount of white rice (the way we had it growing up) with a dollop of homemade cashew sour cream on top.I feel very satiated right now. Thank you!

      Reply
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