Vegan Chili With Smart Ground Mock Meat Crumbles

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
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Updated on 12/28/22
Vegetarian chili with the Smart Ground meat substitute

The Spruce / Jolinda Hackett

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 10 to 12 servings

If you like chili, try this "beefy" vegetarian chili with lots of mock meat for a hearty and "meaty" texture. The Smart Ground brand is easy to use as a beef substitute and has a meat-like texture and taste. The Smart Ground, sometimes called "veggie ground" or even just "soy crumbles" tastes and acts similar to ground beef—just with a lot less fat. You can pan-fry it in a non-stick pan, though you may need to add a bit of oil since the veggie ground itself does not contain fat like ground beef does.

This vegetarian chili with Smart Ground or veggie ground is both low in fat and calories, while still providing plenty of healthy vegetarian protein. Note that if you use Smart Ground crumbles, they are, indeed, vegan. But if using another brand, check the label to read the ingredients list as not all vegetarian meat substitutes are vegan.

This recipe keeps it simple using canned beans, so you skip the time it would take to cook the kidney beans. However, you could prepare it using dried beans if you prefer.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1 (12-ounce) package Smart Ground Original (or other vegetarian meat substitute)

  • 1 cup chopped onion

  • 1 cup chopped green pepper

  • 1 cup sliced celery

  • 15 ounces canned kidney beans, drained

  • 15 ounces canned corn kernels

  • 32 ounces canned tomatoes, diced or chopped

  • 6 ounces tomato paste

  • 2 minced cloves garlic

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin

  • 3 teaspoons salt, sea salt or kosher

  • 1-2 sliced green onions

  • 1/2 cup vegan cheese

  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Heat a large pot over medium heat and add about 1 tablespoon of oil.

  3. Once the oil is hot, add the Smart Ground meat substitute (crumbling it as you go if it's all stuck together), the chopped onion, chopped green pepper, and sliced celery. Heat for about 2 to 3 minutes, just until onions are slightly translucent, stirring occasionally. Add more of the oil as needed to keep the meat substitute from sticking.

  4. Add in the drained kidney beans, corn kernels, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt, stirring to combine well. 

  5. Once the ingredients are well combined and simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover, and allow to simmer for at least 35 minutes, and up to 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  6. Taste and adjust the seasonings. 

  7. Serve hot and enjoy! You can top bowls of chili with sliced green onions, vegan cheese or nutritional yeast.

Tips

  • Store leftover chili in the refrigerator, covered, for up to four days. The flavors blend well when it is refrigerated and you may like it even better the next day. Reheat leftover chili in the microwave to enjoy for lunch or dinner. There are many ways you can use up leftover vegetarian chili. Enjoy it on a taco salad, in stuffed green peppers, or on top of a baked potato.
  • You can also freeze individual servings of chili in freezer bowl containers. It should keep in the freezer for four to six months at best quality. After that time, it is still edible but may not taste as good. When you want to enjoy the frozen chili, heat it in the microwave for several minutes.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
189 Calories
7g Fat
23g Carbs
11g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 189
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1035mg 45%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 16mg 79%
Calcium 94mg 7%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 514mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)