This healthy Vegan White Bean Chili is so hearty and filling, even the carnivores will be asking for more! This creamy chili is gluten-free and dairy-free, and it’s loaded with green chiles, potatoes, corn, white beans, and just the right amount of kick.
It always makes me laugh how at how from the beginning of fall, through the early days of spring, my top performing recipe isn’t a baked good recipe at all, but a chili recipe. My Best Chili, to be exact. It was first posted back in December of 2010, only a few months after I first started Bakerita.
I was a high school senior and experimenting with savory cooking in addition to my usual baking. The chili recipe my high school self came up with has now become a reader favorite all over the world. I hear from folks who used that recipe to win chili cook-offs and created chili-lovers out of previous chili haters. I think it’s the bacon 😉
Earlier this year, right after finishing a Whole30, I shared my Paleo Chili, which had helped get me and my dad through the 30-day challenge. That one also quickly became a favorite on Bakerita – it’s hearty and filling, despite the lack of beans.
These days, as the weather has cooled down, I’ve been craving a hearty chili. However, lately, I’ve been craving more plant-based foods with less of a focus on eating meat. I’ve found myself feeling a lot better and with that in mind, want to create a vegan chili that would still be hearty, flavorful, and wholly satisfying.
I settled on a white bean vegan chili, with flavor punches from cumin and green chiles. The chili is loaded with potatoes, corn, onion, and jalapeno. There’s even a jar of salsa verde for an extra punch of acidity and flavor. I use Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde and find it works beautifully here to add an extra boost of flavor.
The white bean vegan chili comes together in about 45 minutes and most of that is hands-off time to let the chili simmer (with the occasional stir to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom). In that time, the soup simmers and thickens, and the flavors meld deliciously. Once it’s done, you’ve got an ultra thick and hearty chili.
I assume you could also make it in the slow cooker. Just saute the aromatics before transferring it all to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients to cook all day. I might try that one day soon. If so, I’ll add the directions below. Might try it in the Instant Pot, too! Let me know if you’ve tried either of these methods in the comments below.
The chili recipe uses tapioca flour to thicken, but if you’d like it even thicker, you could mash down some of the potatoes and beans. I found it to be plenty thick and hearty without that, though.
Here are some chili topping ideas to make it even better:
- Fresh herbs, like cilantro
- Lime juice
- Crumbled tortilla chips
- Vegan sour cream
- Avocado
I like to use a few of the toppings to add some herbaceousness and crunch. It was perfection. My dad ate it on its own without any adornments though and still gave it a raving review.
I sent a container home with my boyfriend, and he ended up serving it for dinner to two of his hungry, carnivorous friends over some rice. They LOVED it. He said they were still talking about how delicious it was the next day. I call that a major win.
The hearty beans, potatoes, and corn in this White Bean Vegan Chili will keep you satiated all day, while the green chiles and salsa verde make every bite a burst of tart, complex flavor. I hope you love it as much as I do! Enjoy! Remember to tag me on Instagram @bakeritablog if you decide to make it!
Vegan White Bean Chili
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small white onion diced
- ½ jalapeño pepper seeded and minced (you can use the whole pepper for a spicier chili)
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1½ teaspoon cumin
- 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
- 1 lb. yukon gold potatoes chopped into ½” cubes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 (15 oz.) cans white beans, drained
- 1 cup corn kernels canned or frozen are fine
- 1 (12 oz.) jar salsa verde (I used Trader Joe’s)
- 1 (4 oz.) can green chiles
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- Cilantro, tortilla chips, avocado + lime wedges to serve
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the onion and jalapeño and sauté for 8-10 minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Add in the garlic and cumin and sauté for 1 minute. Add in the tapioca flour, potatoes, and vegetable broth, stirring as you pour the broth in.
Add in the white beans, corn, salsa verde, green chiles, salt, pepper and oregano. Let the soup come to a boil, and then turn it down and let simmer for 30 minutes, to let the potatoes cook. Stir frequently.
Once the potatoes are cooked through, serve with cilantro, tortilla chips, lime wedges, and/or avocado!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to a year.
Chris says
Hi there! This looks delicious, would I use the same recipe for a crockpot?
Rachel says
Hi Chris, yes you can make it in a crockpot, just make sure to saute the veggies first!
Carly says
Hi there, have you tried this recipe in a crock pot yet? I am just wondering what heat setting and cook time you would recommend. Thank you!
Rachel says
Hi Carly, I haven’t made this in the crock pot (I don’t have one anymore) but I’m guessing it would be around 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low :) hope this helps!
Lauren says
Is there any reason a regular all purpose flour wouldn’t work well in this recipe?
Rachel says
No that should work just fine Lauren! Enjoy :)
Barbara says
i googled it and cornstarch was a substitute for tapioca flour! I was awesome! My husband dotted it with sour cream and lived it! I would like to know the calories.
Rachel says
So thrilled to hear you and your husband enjoyed it, Barbara. I’ll update the nutritional information in a little bit :)
Jean says
Tastes great but more like 5 servings than 12. Really would like to the nutritional values. Can’t import into fitness pal. Thank you!
Rachel says
Hi Jean, I’ve updated the nutritional info and updated the recipe to 8 servings. The number of servings will always depend on how big the eaters are!
Crystal says
Loving this Vegan soup that doesn’t taste “Vegan” at all!! New family favorite!
Rachel says
Yay, that makes me SO happy to hear, Crystal! So glad you’re all loving it.
Carla Christian says
I made this today in my Instant Pot. Just tossed everything in and set the time for 10 minutes of pressure. I did a natural release for an additional 10 minutes. I reduced the broth to 3 cups as I wanted a thicker consistency. It is amazing! Will definitely make again.
Rachel says
Thank you so much for sharing your Instant Pot instructions here – I’ve been meaning to try it out in the IP! So glad you’re enjoying it, Carla.
Lauren says
Making this for the second time this month. Delicious!
Rachel says
So glad you’re loving it! Thanks so much for your feedback Lauren.
Lonnie Cruz says
I made this soup this past weekend it was excellent and very filling. My husband is a part-time vegan, he loved it. I used 1 can of white beans and one cup of farro beans. I also added celery and carrots as I cooked the onion. I didn’t add any flour to thick, I used a submersion blender and pureed some of the soup. It did get nice and thick…. maybe the farro beans help thicken the soup. Delicious. Thanks very much!
Rachel says
I would imagine the farro would help thicken it a bit and I love the idea of pureeing some of it to help thicken too! So glad you and your husband enjoyed it, Lonnie. Thanks for your feedback :)
Grace says
Your recipe sounds delicious. Lately I have been having problems making bean soup because no matter what type of bean used, canned or dry, the beans come out tough. Last batch of navy bean soup I used very fresh dry beans . The beans themselves got tender but the skins separated out and remained tough and papery no matter how long and slow I cooked them. I’ve read up on this and have followed many suggestions with continued bad results.. Have used Dry, canned,, organic, non-organic, no salt, no acid till late in the cooking, stove top and crock pot. Still get tough beans. Very disappointing. Can you specify the type of white bean you use and the brand? Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I ended up having to totally purée my last soup batch of navy bean and ham to make it edible. Really frustrated.
Rachel says
Hi Grace, I’ve never had the issue you’re describing so not sure how much help I’ll be – every time I’ve made this I’ve used canned beans, and I’ve used Sprouts brand and Trader Joe’s brand, always organic. I’ve used all sorts of white beans too, always with good results. Have you tried using a different pot to cook them in or anything? It could be a bad reaction with metal or something. Hard to know when I don’t know the recipes used or anything.
Nancy A Horyza says
Old beans-can be old from a store. That can be the culprit! Try pre soaking the raw beans longer. Or boil pre soaking water first, then soak. After soaking, have the beans expanded? If not I wouldn’t use them.
Monica says
Which green chiles do i use? Do you mean whole or diced? In Vinegar? Thank you !!
Rachel says
I use a small can of chopped green chiles, usually from Trader Joe’s!
Terri says
Would your recipe work well using brown rice flour instead of tapioca and if so would the ratio stay the same? Your recipe sounds delicious, I plan to try it out tonight. Thank you!
Rachel says
Hi Terri, I’m not too familiar with brown rice flour, but I imagine it would work. Even better would be cornstarch or arrowroot powder, but I’ve also made this recipe just skipping the flour entirely and that worked as well!
K says
Just made it (it’s a snow day). Very good! A little “hot” spicy (oops put a whole jalapeno in)but I made some vegan sour cream and that helped! Thank you!
Rachel says
So thrilled you enjoyed it, K! Thanks so much for your feedback – sounds so good with the vegan sour cream!
Kyla says
I should’ve read this comment before making it! I put a giant jalapeno in mine and boy is it spicy!!! I’ll find sour cream to remedy it. Thanks for the advice.
Rachel says
A whole pepper will definitely increase the spice! Hope it’s still delicious though :) thanks for the feedback, Kyla.
Katie says
Hi! Do you use canilini beans or great northern? Excited to try your recipe this weekend since it still feels like Winter in Ohio!
Rachel says
Hi Katie, I’m pretty sure I used a can of each! You can use whichever you prefer :) hope you enjoy it! One of my faves.
Bethany Bolthosue says
Do you know by chance approximately how many cups of chopped potatoes you used? I don’t have a kitchen scale sadly! Also this looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it next week!
Rachel says
Hi Bethany, I used two medium sized potatoes. I didn’t measure them in cups though, so not sure how many cups it would be diced. Hope this helps!
Ashley says
Just made this yesterday! It’s delicious! We used our Instant Pot and it turned out perfectly! Highly recommend and will be making it again in the future.
Rachel says
So glad you loved it! Thanks for sharing your feedback, Ashley.
Samantha Hamilton says
Can’t say enough how amazing this Chili tastes! I’ve had NUMEROUS people ask for the recipe, of course, I direct them to your site. I’ve made this a few times now….just finished eating some right now actually. So yummy and so simple and easy to make!
Rachel says
So glad you’re loving it, Samantha! I’m thrilled you’re sharing it with others and I so appreciate you sharing your feedback!
Primo C says
I made your white bean vegan chili recipe and my family loved it. we ate with chips avocado and cheese. it was different but it tasted really good. everyone loved it even my neighbors wanted the recipe. very easy and simple to make. thanks. this will be included in our party/guests family recipe book. thanks. San Antonio, Texas.
Rachel says
So thrilled it was a hit with your family and friends! Thanks for sharing your feedback, Primo.
Stephanie says
This was awesome!!! My husband absolutely love it. Thanks so much! Perfect for when the weather gets a little cooler too.
Rachel says
So glad you and your husband enjoyed it, Stephanie! One of my favorites too :)
katherine says
I stopped eating meat about two years ago and have MISSED my mom’s white chicken chili. This recipe satisfied all my cravings! I made it in the slow cooker (4 hours on high) because I wanted my place to smell good, and used an immersion blender at the end to make it a little chunkier. Thanks so much for this delicious recipe – will definitely make again :)
Rachel says
So glad it satisfied the craving, Katherine!! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback :)
Kristin Merrill says
A new favorite!! A friend shared this recipe with me and it is now my “go to” for any Fall potluck we attend. It becomes a crowd favorite at football tailgates or teacher appreciation luncheons. On top of that, my four boys love it!! Truth: when I make it as a family meal for our growing boys, I do add rotisserie chicken. :)
Rachel says
So thrilled you’re loving it and sharing it with so many people! Thanks so much for letting me know :)
Anne says
I really liked this chili. I feel like it’s foolproof. I didn’t have jalapeno and I didn’t put in green salsa, but it was still delicious! I played around with it a little bit, putting in some vanilla almond milk and some of the liquid from the canned corn, and it was still good. I even liked it before I boiled and thickened it; it was a delicious soup! I’m excited to have this recipe! Thanks!
Rachel says
So glad you’re loving it, Anne! I need to make it again soon :)
Bhavya says
Cumin seeds or powder? Making this tonight!
Rachel says
Powder! Hope you enjoy it :)
Kerri says
Hey Rachel :)
I am always on your site for dessert recipes and today I am so glad I looked for a savory one! I made this last night for dinner and it was awesome. The only thing I did, was scoop some out and put it in the nutrabullet and then whisked it back in to thicken it up a bit.
Delish! Xo
Rachel says
So thrilled you loved this recipe, Kerri! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback :) love that thickening tip, too!
Lynsii says
Enjoyed this very much! Will be making again soon. Thanks for the recipe!
Rachel says
So happy to hear it – thanks for the feedback, Lynsii!
Alison says
Made this recipe tonight for my husband and toddler. Everyone LOVED it. I used plant based sour cream, crushed tortilla chips and avocado for the toppings. Yummmmmm!!
Rachel says
So thrilled it was a hit with the whole family, Alison!
Marcel B says
Loved this recipe. Thanks for making my transition to a plant based diet much more fun than I imagined. Quick question— it ended up a little too thick in the end. What suggestions do you have to lighten it up without sacrificing the flavor?
Rachel says
Hi Marcel, so glad you’re enjoying the recipe! I would try adding some extra broth to the recipe, and add more salt/spices if you think the soup needs it after adding the broth.
Vicki says
My niece is vegan & I am not. This chili receipe was delish. I have to watch my sodium intake. Can I use low sodium vegetable/ beef broth instead. Thx. Happy New Year.
Rachel says
You can absolutely use low-sodium broth to keep the sodium levels lower. So glad you and your niece enjoyed it. Happy New Year!
Angeline McGee says
When people say white beans what do they mean exactly? I live in CA and I can’t find any white beans in a can. Growing up in the south I heard of Great Northern Beans and white lima beans but not sure what to use here. I have some Great Northern Beans so I’m hoping those will work lol
Rachel says
Hi Angeline! Great Northern Beans definitely work. Navy beans and white pinto beans also work well.
Liz says
We are trying to be less meat centric in our cooking and stumbled upon your recipe when I was looking for a chili recipe. I cooked this in the instant pot for 10 minutes and then let it sit for 15 more. I followed the recipe explicitly at first to know what I might change. First, you don’t have to change anything it’s great! But next time I might add some canned tomatoes. Sooo delish.
Rachel says
So thrilled you enjoyed it, Liz, and thank you so much for sharing the instant pot directions!!