Easy Black Bean Quinoa Chili

An easy black bean quinoa chili made with pantry ingredients. This comforting vegan dinner is packed with flavor and contains a generous amount of plant protein from the black beans and quinoa. Serve it with avocados, vegan cheese, green onions and cilantro to take it to the next level.

Not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s also surprisingly easy to make. It takes only 20 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. It’s far from being a traditional chili, but it’s an easy and nutritious vegan option. It’s made with a base of black beans and quinoa for bulk and plant-based protein.

What you need: Onion, garlic, olive oil, red bell pepper, canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, black beans, quinoa and spices. You’ll need chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder and the option of cayenne for extra spice.

You might have most of the ingredients in your pantry already, which is always great.

You can easily prep this recipe on weekends for quick weeknight dinners. It’s also a great recipe to whip up after work when you’re tired. In less than 40 minutes (and only 20 minutes of work), you’ll have a warm bowl of thick, comforting chili.

How to Make A Black Bean Quinoa Chili

Start by sautéing the onions and garlic in a large saucepan, then add the bell pepper. Continue cooking the vegetables for 3-5 minutes, then add the salt and spices. Let them cook for a few minutes to bring out the flavors, then add the quinoa, vegetable broth, black beans and canned tomatoes.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked.

Serve your chili with diced avocados, vegan cheese and other toppings of choice.

Notes on the Recipe

• You can adjust the spice in this recipe by adding more or less cayenne pepper. Different chili powders may differ in flavor and spice level.
• If using a low-sodium vegetable broth instead of unsalted, start with half of the recommended salt and increase it as needed. You might want to use the same amount, depending on your preference.
• You can use either crushed tomatoes or diced tomatoes. Both work well. Diced tomatoes will simply add more texture. You can also do a mix of both.

More vegan chili recipes: Basic Pantry Vegetarian Chili and Slow Cooker Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili.

If you make this quinoa chili, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from you guys. And of course, if you try this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!