Description
Warm up with this hearty Easy Black Bean Chili — a cozy one-pot vegan dinner made with black beans, tender butternut squash, and bold smoky spices. Naturally gluten-free, high in protein and fiber, and perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or make-ahead lunches.
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, to taste)
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, with juice
2 cups vegetable broth
3 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Juice of 1 lime
Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper. Cook 5–7 minutes until softened.
3. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, cinnamon, and cayenne. Stir 30 seconds to bloom spices.
5. Mix in tomato paste and cook 1 minute, stirring often.
6. Pour in diced tomatoes (with juice) and vegetable broth; stir to combine.
7. Add butternut squash. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook 15–20 minutes until squash is fork-tender.
8. Stir in black beans and simmer 5–8 minutes until heated through and chili thickens slightly.
9. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Turn off heat and stir in lime juice.
10. Serve warm topped with fresh cilantro.
Notes
Make it mild: Skip the cayenne for a kid-friendly version.
Swap the squash: Sweet potato or pumpkin cubes work great.
Thicker chili: Mash 1 cup of beans before adding them back in.
Storage: Refrigerate up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Serving ideas: Great with rice, quinoa, tortilla chips, or avocado on top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southwestern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 14g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 0mg