Easy One Pot Vegan chilli con carne

A vegan chilli con carne is such a delicious dish to try. Packed full of flavour and vegetables, this is one of those meals that could soon become a regular on those meat-free evenings. As it is a one pot vegan chilli it also means less washing up which we all love don’t we!

Will a non-vegan enjoy this chilli?

While you may usually enjoy chilli with beef mince, this recipe is a great way to reduce your meat intake without losing the texture of mince you might enjoy when eating this sort of dish.

This one pot vegan chilli con carne is packed with vegetables, lentils, and lots of herbs and spices. Everything is cooked in the same pot, which means less washing up. 

It is always good to try and reduce your meat intake each week, and it can be a great way to save some money in your food shop.

Using Quorn or other veggie mince means that you don’t lose the texture. So even those avid meat eaters won’t notice much difference. Such a quick and easy meal idea and one you just have to try. 

Ingredients needed to make the One Pot Vegan Chilli Con Carne

First of all, it is a good idea to ensure that you can get all of the ingredients together. Focusing on this first means that the cooking process will be simple. You will need:

• 500g of Quorn mince or other veggie mince of your choice
• 180g canned red kidney beans
• 180g canned green lentils
• Spray oil
• 300g rice
• 300g Passata
• 2 red chillies
• 2 red peppers
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 red onions
• A few leaves of fresh basil
• 3 garlic cloves
• Fresh Coriander (diced for topping)
• 1 tbsp of paprika powder

How to make the Vegan Chilli Con Carne 

Now that you have all your ingredients to hand it is time to make the. 

Wash the vegetables and finely chop them. Spray some cooking oil into a medium-sized saucepan and then gently heat up. Start by frying onions and garlic, then add the peppers and chillies.

Now you can add the mince, basil and passata. Then season with paprika then cook for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally.

Add the rice to the pan and pour about 1 cup of water into it. Cook on a low heat, and stir occasionally.

Next add the kidney beans and green lentils and stir well.

Then add chopped tomatoes mix well and simmer for about 25-30 minutes.

Serve and enjoy your one pot vegan chilli knowing you have minimal washing up to do afterwards!

Recipe notes and tips

When it comes to any recipe, it is always a good idea to understand what notes and tips you can use to help you fully utilise the recipe and have success every time.

If you want to make the most out of this super tasty vegan chilli dish then here are some recipe notes and tips to help.

This is a great meal to make ahead or double up the quantities to make a batch for the freezer. Make sure you check out the storage suggestions below. 

You can cook the rice separately if you wish. Just follow the packet guidelines and omit the water. Or for speedy results use pre-cooked packaged rice. I prefer the one pot vegan chilli as cooking rice separately makes more washing up though buying cooked rice would of course minimise this!

All rice and mince are a little different, don’t be afraid to add more water if needed as sometimes the mince absorbs too much water whilst cooking not allowing the rice to cook thoroughly.

Variations to try

Like with many recipes, once you have tried them out a few times you can look to make some changes and vary the recipe to suit your tastes and preferences. So I wanted to share with you some of them that you might want to try. 

If you still want that meaty flavour believe it or not many stock pots and stock cubes are vegan. So you get that delicious flavour without using any animal-derived products. 

Just use veggies instead of mince. Add chopped-up vegetables like courgette or aubergine. You could also add extra beans to this to get the protein. 

This recipe is a great option to follow if you do want to make a meaty version. Just substitute the Quorn mince for beef or pork. 

Use Quorn pieces instead of mince to make this a chunky vegan chilli con carne. 

FAQs

Like with any recipe, there are often questions that need answering. I thought I would share some of the common questions here, but if you have any comments or questions please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

How should I serve the Vegan Chilli con carne?

This is a complete meal as everything, including the rice, is cooked in the same pot. However, you could serve it up with some crusty bread or chips. 

How do I store the Vegan chilli con carne?

Make sure you allow this chilli to cool before storing any leftovers or batches for another day. Then transfer the chilli to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can also freeze this chilli. Just defrost thoroughly before reheating on the stove or in the microwave. 

Can you make this ahead of time? 

This is a great dish to make ahead of time. It allows all the flavours to combine and be stronger. Just store as suggested above and then reheat on the stove or in the microwave. 

I hope you enjoy making and eating your vegan chilli con carne

Print

If you found this helpful please share!

Just Average Jen Shopping Guides

My guides to help you spend your money wisely on whatever you need for your happy healthy lifestyle.