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Black Bean Chili Recipe

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This delicious black bean chili recipe will be your new family favorite! It's loaded with flavor and full of healthy ingredients.

This easy chili recipe is made from simmered black beans, tomatoes, corn, bell peppers, onion, vegetable stock, and lots of spices.

A bowl of black bean chili with lime and chopped parsley.
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This recipe for black bean chili is easy to make and serves 6. It’s a wonderful, warming bowl of soup - perfect for a chilly night.

It’s one of my all-time favorite weeknight meal recipes because it only requires 15 minutes of real hands-on time and the rest of the time it just simmers.

This chili recipe uses canned black beans - so it’s quicker than chilis using dried beans. This fantastic recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

Ingredients

This healthy black bean chili recipe is made with only a few simple, pantry ingredients.

Black beans, vegetable stock, garlic, olive oil, spices, corn, bell peppers, tomatoes, and onion.
  • Black Beans
  • Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes
  • Vegetable Stock or Vegetable Broth
  • Red Bell Peppers
  • Yellow Onion
  • Sweet Corn
  • Garlic Cloves
  • Olive Oil
  • Paprika
  • Cumin
  • Chili Powder
  • Salt

See the recipe card for quantities.


Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onion and sauté for 4 minutes. 

Sautéing onion in olive oil.

Then add the garlic, bell pepper, corn and sauté for an additional 4 minutes, stirring often. 

Cooking onions, bell peppers, and corn in a dutch oven.

Add the spices and salt to the pot and stir constantly for 30 seconds. 

Spices and vegetables cooking in a dutch oven.

Add the vegetable stock, tomatoes, and black beans to the pot and stir to combine.

Cover, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Let the chili simmer for 30 minutes, covered, stirring occasionally. 

Remove the lid and stir, let the chili simmer for an additional 10 minutes uncovered or until it reaches desired consistency.

Simmering black bean chili in a dutch oven.

Serve immediately or save in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

A large pot of black bean chili.

Toppings for Chili

There are lots of great toppings for black bean chili. Here are some of our favorite toppings to try:

  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Slice limes or fresh lime juice
  • Sliced jalapeños
  • Salsa
  • Diced green onions
  • Tortilla strips
  • Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • Diced cherry tomatoes
  • Shredded or crumbled cheese (Colby Jack, Cheddar Cheese, Goat Cheese)
  • Diced or sliced avocado
  • Finely chopped red onions

Feel free to serve it with a side of tortilla chips for dipping or some steamed rice if you'd like a heartier meal.

Substitutions & Variations

  • Spice Level - If you like a really spicy chili, then add another teaspoon of chili powder and one finely diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. 
  • Tomatoes - You don’t have to use fire-roasted tomatoes in this recipe )they add a nice depth of flavor), but regular diced tomatoes will work great!
  • Beans - you can swap the black beans (all of them or just one or two cans of them) for pinto beans or kidney beans.
A large pot of black bean chili with a ladle.

More Delicious Chili Recipes

If you like healthy, flavorful chili recipes, check out some of our other favorite easy recipes.

Storage

This recipe will keep for up to 5 days when stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

You can also save it for up to 6 months in the freezer when stored in a freezer-safe bag or container.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Links on some posts are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cooking Tips - Try to chop all your ingredients finely so you get every flavor in each bite!

Recommended Tools - I love making this recipe in a dutch oven, this is the one I used. I highly recommend this Lodge Enameled Dutch Oven.

Diet/Allergy Alternatives -

Alternate Cooking Methods -

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Yield: 6 servings

Black Bean Chili Recipe

A bowl of black bean chili with slices of lime.

This easy black bean chili recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and fiber-rich. It's full of flavor and will be a new family favorite!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 red bell peppers, diced
  • 2 ears corn, kernels sliced off
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 (15 ounces) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 3 (15 ounces) cans black beans, drained and rinsed

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onion and sauté for 4 minutes.
  2. Then add the garlic, bell pepper, and corn and sauté for an additional 4 minutes, stirring often.
  3. Add the spices and salt to the pot and stir constantly for 30 seconds.
  4. Add the vegetable stock, tomatoes, and black beans to the pot and stir to combine.
  5. Cover, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Let the chili simmer for 30 minutes, covered, stirring occasionally.
  6. Remove the lid and stir, let the chili simmer for an additional 10 minutes uncovered or until it reaches desired consistency.
  7. Serve immediately or save in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 205Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1325mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 10gSugar: 9gProtein: 9g

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