Crockpot Three Bean Chili (Stovetop Version, GF, V)

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Need a comforting, hearty, warming and filling meal that can be easily prepped-ahead with pantry staples. Then you can’t go wrong with this affordable Three Bean Chili.

Just think of a combination of three beans aka black-eyed beans, black beans and borlotti bean with additional veggies, herbs and spices simmered away till absolutely perfect.

The bonus is that the veggies combined together provide you with a complete protein packed meal without a single piece of meat. And you can make it in both the crockpot and stovetop.

Great for easy weeknight dinners, potlucks, game day, lunch boxes, veggie tacos, freezer meals and more. Also goes great with a side of Instant Pot Brown Rice or Crockpot Mashed Potatoes.

Why You’ll ♡ Bean Chili

• It is made from everyday pantry staples and super budget friendly.
• Assemble ahead for a freezer-friendly meal.
• It has plenty of protein and will keep you full for hours.
• Feed a crowd by just doubling or tripling the recipe.
• It is vegan and gluten free.

Tools Needed

How To Make 3 Bean Chili in the Crockpot

1. Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the onion and pepper for about 5 minutes till softened.
2. Stir in the garlic paste, followed by the spices and herbs and cook for a further minute.
3. Transfer mix into a slow cooker, add in the rest of the ingredients, season with salt, cover and cook on high for 4 hr (or 7-8 hours on low). Check after 3.5 hrs, and if the three bean chilli needs a bit more time then cook until done.

A steps to your easy vegan chilli. Serve with some rice or corn tortillas and extra topping and you have yourself a complete meal.

Make it on the Stovetop

1. Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the onion and pepper for about 5 minutes till softened.
2. Stir in the garlic paste, followed by the spices and herbs and cook for a further minute.
3. Add in the rest of the ingredients, season with salt, mix, bring to the boil. The reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for about 35 mins until thickened and done.

Expert Recipe Tips

• Feel free to use store bought chili bean mix instead of individual cans.
• A tablespoon or two of grated dark chocolate adds an amazing depth of flavour to this vegan chili.
• Remove and mash up a few beans and add them back in if you want a thicker chili.
• Cooking times may vary depending on the size, make, and model of your slow cooker. Make sure to consult your manual as necessary. 

Delicious Variations

• Swap the beans – Use beans you have in your store cupboard. Borlotti beans, Cannellini beans and chickpeas all work.
• Substitute the veggies – Pumpkin or sweet potato can be substituted for butternut squash.
• Add heat – Feel free to add extra heat via jalapeños, chipotle or red pepper flakes.

Storing

Feel free to make an extra batch or two of this Jamaican Braised Oxtail stew and freeze it to enjoy again later. And if you are a fan of #mealprep then making extra, or freezing any extra stew you have, helps make this a frugal recipe, which means you can easily stick to your meal prep budget.

• Refrigerator: Let cool down completely before transferring it into an air tight container and storing in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Store in Ziploc bags, remove all the air, label them and freeze for up to 3 months.
• Thaw: Take frozen bags of chili out of your freezer and allow to thaw in the refrigerator the night before.
• Reheat : Warm in the microwave to desired temperature. Or you can reheat it in a saucepan on the stovetop.

Can I Add Ground Beef?

You sure can. Cook the ground beef when you are cooking the onions and peppers. You will need to add extra diced tomatoes and even some beef broth to the chili.

Are Corn Tortillas Gluten-free?

A quick note about keeping this gluten-free chili, gluten-free. Please do serve it with some gluten-free corn tortillas. Corn tortillas today are made from a special type of finely ground corn flour called masa harina.

This is normally gluten-free, but some brands get cross-contaminated with gluten during processing and packaging.

So it is worth checking that your masa harina labelled “gluten-free ” if you are making this yourself, It is also worth checking the labelling of any shop bought tortillas to see if they are ‘gluten-free’ too.

Weight Watchers Points

If you replace the 2 tsp olive oil used for frying with a calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are:

• 0 Blue Plan SmartPoints per serving
• 5 PointsPlus points per serving
• beans for chili, chili bean mix,

Thank you for reading my crockpot three bean chilli recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for reading Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.

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