Tempeh Chili (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
This tempeh chili is an easy, filling, and tasty meal. Crumbled tempeh makes the chili extra “meaty” while providing hearty plant protein.
Make this tempeh chili when you’re in need of an easy, filling, and delicious plant-based dinner! High in protein thanks to the tempeh, beans, and nutritional yeast; plus gut-healthy fiber from all the veggies and beans. Using crumbled tempeh helps mimic a ground meat texture and is a great way to introduce tempeh into your diet. You can’t really taste it, but you will still get all the health benefits of this fermented superfood! (You can also try it in this tempeh & chickpea peanut curry.)
Key Ingredients
- Tempeh ⟶ Tempeh is usually made of soybeans and maybe some grains, but ingredients, flavor, and texture will vary depending on brand. If you find your tempeh to be particularly bitter, you may want to try a different brand if possible. I personally like Trader Joe’s 3 Grain Tempeh – it’s affordable (used to be $1.99 but now $2.29, still the cheapest option I’ve found near me) and has a fairly mild flavor.
- Beans ⟶ For chili I prefer black beans or kidney beans, but you can use any bean you like, or even lentils.
- Vinegar/Lime Juice ⟶ A little tang complements the flavors of chili so well! My go-to is always lime juice (or lemon if I’m out of lime), but recently I’ve been adding a little of balsamic vinegar as well. It adds a deeper, slightly sweet flavor.
- Veggies ⟶ Onions, carrots, celery, and bell peppers are perfect for adding flavor and slightly crunchy texture. Mushrooms would be delicious as well to add a little umami and chewy texture.
- Spices ⟶ Along with the typical chili spices, I like to add nutritional yeast* and a tiny bit of cocoa/cacao powder. The nutritional yeast adds umami and protein, and the cacao powder adds a little extra depth of flavor while also giving the chili that beautiful dark red hue.
Tempeh Chili FAQ
Can I make this chili ahead of time?
Yes! In fact, chili is one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day as the flavors have time to meld overnight.
Can I freeze chili?
Yes! I recommend making a big batch so you have leftovers to freeze for the future. Let the chili cool completely at room temperature, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags. If using freezer bags, be sure to tightly close them to remove all the air from the bag, then place the bag down flat in your freezer. This way the chili will freeze flat and it will be easier to store other things in your freezer.
What should I serve with chili?
Tempeh chili pairs well rice or cauliflower rice, crusty bread (or served in a bread bowl!), and cornbread (maybe even this blueberry cornbread?) For garnishes, try avocado, guacamole, green onions, cilantro, jalapeños, pickled onions, cheese, sour cream, or crushed tortilla chips!
More Hearty Vegan Stews
If you try out this tempeh chili, don’t forget to leave a comment/rating down below and tag me in your photos on instagram @ellielikes.cooking. I love seeing all of your tasty recreations!
Recipe updated Oct 6, 2024 to use 8 oz tempeh instead of 4 oz and 2 tbsp oil.
Tempeh Chili
Ingredients
Spices
- 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 ½ tsp chili powder
- ¾ tsp paprika
- ¾ tsp oregano
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¾ tsp cacao powder optional
- 3 tbsp
nutritional yeast*
Chili
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ large onion diced
- 1 celery diced
- 1 carrot diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 8 oz tempeh crumbled**
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 ½ cups (15 oz can) chopped or crushed tomatoes
- 1½ cups vegetable broth
- 1 ½ cups (15 oz can) black beans or other beans of choice
- 1 bell pepper diced
- ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ tbsp lime juice
**See notes for garnish ideas
Instructions
- Mix spices: Add all the spices to a bowl and mix together.
- Cook onion: Heat 1/2 the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until the onions start to brown, 3-5 minutes.
- Add celery, carrots, and garlic: Stir in celery, carrots, and garlic and cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add tempeh: Add crumbled tempeh and remaining oil and cook for 1 minute. You can also add the bell pepper now if you want it to be soft – I prefer a crunchy texture so I add the bell peppers near the end.
- Add spices: Add spices and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Add tomato paste: Add tomato paste and stir another 30 seconds.
- Add tomatoes, broth, and beans: Pour in tomatoes, vegetable broth, and beans.
- Simmer: Give the chili a good stir, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer the chili for 15-30 minutes (15 if you're in a hurry, 30 for better flavor). Check and stir occasionally, adding extra vegetable broth if needed.
- Add bell peppers and acid: Add the bell peppers if you didn't add them previously, and drizzle in balsamic vinegar. Stir and cook another minute or two until bell peppers are crisp-tender. Stir in lime juice.
- Garnish as desired (see notes).
Notes
*Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, but the price remains the same to you. Thank you for supporting Ellie Likes Cooking!
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