This is a very tasty budget easy vegan chili recipe. It is a meat-free alternative to chili con carne. Basically chili without the meat yay!
It can be served on top of baked potatoes, rice, quinoa, spaghetti, pasta or with a big hunk of bread.
How to spell chili, chilli or chile?
Let’s clear up the correct spelling of chilli first please before I get in trouble 😆
You probably spell chili differently depending on where in the world you live. I am British English, so we spell it as chilli. My American friends more commonly spell it chili. I am using the US preferred spelling since half of my readers are from North America. Most people don’t care how you spell it (as long as it tastes good right! haha).
For geeks like me, you can read all about the history and the spelling of the word here: Chili, chilli, chile – explaining the difference
How do you spell chili where you live? Let me know in the comments below.
Which chili should I use to make an easy vegan chili?
Use whatever is easiest.
You can buy fresh chilies, chili that is pre-chopped and infused with oil in a jar or you can get it dried and powdered. It’s all chili so use what you have. I prefer it fresh or in a jar, but to be honest this recipe willl taste great whatever you use.
Just be aware that chili varies in heat. If in doubt use less or a mild chili.
Super easy vegan chili recipe on a budget
I’ve done the maths on the most budget brands of ingredients for this vegan chili recipe. My calculations are from a regular supermarket here in the UK.
If you serve your easy vegan chili with a large potato or portion of rice, then this makes a whole, complete filling meal. On a tight budget, you can make this for about 59p per person. However, even if you use organic ingredients it still works out to less than just over £1 per portion, which isn’t bad at all.
Mushrooms 80p
Sweet potato 20p
Kidney beans 33p
Passata (called tomato puree or served/strained tomatoes in the USA) 34p
Extras 10p
Total 59p per portion of chilli
You can also add in a small amount of creamed coconut and fresh herbs, which only bumps up the cost slightly. It’s worth it though as these extras turn your chili from tasty to exceedingly delicious.
Red kidney bean budget tips
Red kidney beans are perfect for making your easy vegan chili. Cans of red kidney beans vary in price. The least expensive ones I could find in a regular supermarket were 33p a can. On the other hand, it’s about 99p a can to buy an organic option if you shop around.
If you like to cook in bulk and have freezer space, then it’s a great idea to cook a big pan of red kidney beans. Simply soak your beans overnight (this reduces the cooking time the next day). Cook them until they are soft. It will take 60 to 90 minutes to cook them if they have been soaked. Once they have cooked and cooled down, take out the quantity that you require, and then freeze the rest into portions.
After freezing them, all you need to do is take your red kidney beans out of the freezer whenever your recipe asks for them.
Passata (and alternatives) for your tomato sauce for a super easy vegan chili base
Passata is ripe, sieved or strained tomatoes jarred, bottled or preserved in a carton.
… but passata has a different name in the USA (arghh)
Passata is sometimes called sieved or strained tomatoes or tomato puree in the USA (NOTE: in the UK tomato puree is something DIFFERENT).
If you are in the UK or Europe use passata. In the UK passata is available everywhere.
I am going to stop there before it gets too confusing haha!
PHOTO: Here are different options for passata. The ones in a carton are cheap to buy here in the UK, The organic one is a little more expensive but still reasonably priced. Passata usually comes in a bottle or carton and has a different name in the USA.
You could make your own easy vegan chili sauce with fresh tomatoes
If you grow your own tomatoes then you could make your own fresh tomato sauce equivalent. The easiest way to use them for this easy vegan chili would be to use a pile of tomatoes, cook them down, and leave the skins on for a fuss-free tomato base. This recipe is versatile.
However, it’s often cheaper to buy a carton or bottle of passata (or your USA equivalent) than buy fresh ripe tomatoes.
For me that means unless I am growing tomatoes myself I usually just buy a bottle of passata. Here in the UK, you can get 500ml of passata in the supermarket for less than 40p. Bargain or what!
…or alternatively, just use a can of tomatoes instead for your chili recipe
If you can’t find passata or sieved/strained tomatoes, then you can always just use a can of tomatoes instead.
Mushrooms on a budget
You can use any mushrooms for this vegan chili recipe. Make the most of what you have available. If you are on a tight budget then get the least expensive ones you can find.
I sometimes find some organic ones or speciality mushrooms on a special offer or in the reduced section at the end of the day.
Easy vegan kidney bean chili
A quick, super easy vegan chili recipe with mushrooms and kidney beans. Really delicious, creamy and nutritious. With tomato sauce and a hint of optional coconut.
Ingredients
- 150g mushrooms
- 1 clove garlic
- Dash of olive oil
- 1 small sweet potato (200g approx)
- 1 can of red kidney beans (drained)
- 400ml passata
- 125ml (½ cup) water
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ to 1 teaspoon chili in a jar (or half a fresh medium hot chili pepper)
- A handful fresh parsley or coriander (optional)
- 30g creamed coconut block (optional but nice)
Instructions
- Chop the mushrooms into small pieces.
- Crush the garlic.
- Heat the oil in a pan and sautee the mushrooms and garlic for a few minutes, with the lid off.
- Chop your sweet potato into tiny cubes (1cm cubed is great as they will cook quickly, but basically as small as you can get them). No need to remove the sweet potato skin.
- If you are using a fresh chili pepper then chop into tiny pieces. Otherwise just use pre chopped chili from a jar.
- Add the sweet potato, passata, water, kidney beans, sea salt, and chili.
- Mix everything in and leave to simmer for 10 minutes with the lid on. Stir occassionally.
- It's ready once you can easily pierce the sweet potato with a fork.
- Optional additions. In the meantime chop the parsley or coriander and creamed coconut into small pieces.
- After the stew has been cooking for 10 minutes toss in the coconut and parsley. You can also save the green herbs to garnish instead. The coconut should melt instantly creating a creamier thick sauce.
- It is now ready to serve. It works well with rice, quinoa, baked potatoes or chunks of bread.
- Enjoy!
Notes
PASSATA NOTES (taken from the article above)
Passata (and alternatives)
- Passata is ripe, sieved or strained tomatoes jarred, bottled or preserved in a carton.
... but passata has a different name in the USA (arghh)
- Passata is sometimes called sieved or strained tomatoes or tomato puree in the USA (NOTE: in the UK tomato puree is something DIFFERENT). If you are in the UK or Europe use passata. In the UK passata is available everywhere.
I am going to stop there before it gets too confusing haha!
Alternative: you can make your own sauce with fresh tomatoes
- If you grow your own tomatoes then you could make your own fresh tomato sauce equivalent. The easiest way to use them for this easy vegan chili would be to use a pile of tomatoes, cook them down, and leave the skins on for a fuss-free tomato base. This recipe is versatile.
- However, it's often cheaper to buy a carton or bottle of passata (or your USA equivalent) than buy fresh ripe tomatoes. For me that means unless I am growing tomatoes myself I usually just buy a bottle of passata. Here in the UK, you can get 500ml of passata in the supermarket for less than 40p. Bargain or what!
...or alternatively, just use a can of tomatoes instead for your chili recipe
- If you can't find passata or sieved/strained tomatoes, then you can always just use a can of tomatoes instead.
Pin your easy vegan chili for later…
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