Jessica’s Quick and Easy Healthy Chili

Jessica Randazza

Everyone has their secret recipe. It’s their “go-to” for drop by/quick dinners, and always a grand slam with family and friends. Ichili have to tell you, I’m really bad at keeping secrets. So, prepare yourselves folks. I’m about to share an all time fav, and it’s just in time for the cooling weather — chili.

Really, chili, Jessica? Well. I’ve been to enough chili cook-offs to know that everyone has their preferences, but I will happily boast that my soon-to-be-not-so-secret chili has never received a negative comment from vegetarians or carnivores alike (many of them were surprised it doesn’t have real meat).

Here’s REALLY great news: it only takes 15 minutes and you can keep all of the ingredients on hand (I strongly believe you should always have your go-to meal in your pantry for surprise guests). It cooks up a hearty batch which is more than enough to feed eight people, and if you’re a calorie counter this will be sure to please.

Ingredients

* Morning Star Soy Crumbles – I always keep a few packs in my freezer, they serve as a great ground beef substitute
* Small/Medium white or yellow onion, chopped
* 14 oz can kidney beans, drained – if you have black beans on hand those will work
* Two 14 oz cans diced tomatoes – typically I pick one flavored one like Italian herbs or garlic and onion
* 28 oz can diced tomatoes
* Chili packet –  taco seasoning can work, too. NOT fajita seasoning, I made that mistake once. Ew.
* 14 oz can unsalted yellow corn, drained
* Salsa – Pace will work fine, just something to add a kick
* ½ cup Splenda or sugar

You could add:
* Shredded cheese
* Sour Cream
* Rice (sometimes put my chili on top of rice to bulk it up)
* Fresh Spinach (it will wilt with the warm chili, but it’s a great way to add in some greens)

Preparation

You only need one pot to make this recipe, so pull out whatever large-ish pot you prefer. Spray cooking spray or a splash of olive oil on the bottom of the pot over a medium heat. When heated, add in onions and soy crumbles. Cook until soy crumbles are completely warm throughout, stirring frequently (otherwise they’ll stick to the bottom of the pot).

Add in chili packet and reduce heat to medium-low. Throw in tomatoes and beans and mix well let simmer until warm, stirring occasionally. Add in sugar and corn and add salsa to taste. Should only take 15 – 20 minutes to heat up this incredible dish!

Feel free to add over rice and/or spinach, add sour cream and cheese. Feel really cool for scoring a hot chili recipe? Hope you enjoy and go ahead, I give you permission to share with your friends!

Related posts:

  1. Healthy Hamburg, Black Bean and Brown Rice Filling
  2. Wonderfully Warm Winter Beef Soup with Lentils
  3. All The Comforts of Home: Italian Sausage, Peppers & Onions
  4. Joe’s Roasted Cauliflower and Parmesan Soup


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  • kpedraja
    I was about to type a snarky comment about how “chili” should be like “Champagne.” You know, only wines from the champagne region in France are allowed to call themselves that. Everything else is just “sparkling wine.” I think chili should be the same way; if it doesn’t have any meat it’s just vegetable stew. But your recipe looks pretty good...
  • It IS good. You would think you spending so much time on the West Coast would soften you up to the vegetarian lifestyle. And who's chili rule is that anyway? Have you ever been to a chili cook-off? They're INTENSE and typically there is an entire section dedicated to meat-free chili! Heck, they even sell vegetarian chili in cans in stores (it's on the shelf next to the Cook's Champagne).

    As a girl who grew up in the South (no where near Texas, but still), I say vegetarian chili (especially when carnivores can't tell the difference) is still very much a chili.
  • kpedraja
    Evs. I've been to a few chili cook-offs in my day. One thing I learned is that "healthy" and "chili" should never be in the same sentence. The other thing I learned is that the people cooking the vegetable stew, er, I mean vegetarian chili were usually off to the side listening to lute music when they were not being, you know, beaten up. I might add that your recipe is missing another key ingredient to qualify as "real" chili: beer. But, like I said, it still looks tasty.
  • melissaleon
    Kevin I hope you are friends with Jessica because you are being extra snarky in a comment for a food blog.
  • Hahah, Melissa, Kevin is a dear friend. He's teasing. He even sent me an e-mail hug today in honor of "Hug a Vegetarian" day (which is today).

    Did you try to make the chili, Melissa?
  • melissaleon
    Haha thats funny! I'm gonna make the chili this week. Ill let you know how it turns out. =)
  • Great! I can't wait. :)
  • Kevin LOL!! Way to skool Jessica then end it with a polite: "But, like I said, it still looks tasty."

    And seriously, I am anti-vegan-vegetarian-organic-episcopalian(?)-FULL-BLOWN-carnivore but you don't even KNOW how good her chili is. #CantMakeThisCrapUp
  • You tricked me. I ate soy crumbles. And I liked it. Still not sure how I feel 'bout that, but damn straight your EFin chili is BOMB.
  • melissaleon
    Sounds great Jessica! Especially since I am starving right now and have most of these things in my pantry at home. Seriously thinking about making this tonight.
  • Oh do it! It's sooooo easy. I made it last night and shared with my colleagues and friends. All of them LOVED it and I just linked them straight to this recipe. :)
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