Easy Vegan Chili Using Pantry Staples (One-Pot & Budget-Friendly)

This post is all about the best easy vegan chili recipe, perfect for budget-friendly dinners.

If you’re craving a cozy, filling meal but don’t feel like running to the grocery store, this easy vegan chili using pantry staples is about to become your new go-to trusty recipe you can whip up in 20 simple minutes!

It’s made in one pot, includes 8 simple ingredients you probably already have, and is perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or feeding a crowd on a budget.

This chili is hearty, flavorful, and comforting without being complicated, no fancy ingredients, no long prep time (only 5 minutes to chop!), just a reliable plant-based meal that actually satisfies.

Whether you’re vegan, plant-based, or just trying to stretch your grocery budget, this pantry chili proves that easy dinners can still be delicious!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Easy vegan chili recipe

Vegan chili ingredient substitutions

Onion: I used a white onion for this recipe, which has a bit of a sharper taste, but yellow onions are a bit milder. Either is totally fine though, and won’t alter the taste of the chili that much! There’s probably onion in the chili seasoning mix, so a diced onion isn’t 100% necessary, but it does add some texture to the soup.

Kale: I added about 2 cups of chopped kale to this recipe, but I do think I could have added more. Sometimes I use spinach, which is better if you’re making this recipe for a crowd because spinach tends to have a milder flavor than kale.

Black beans: I actually found some spicy black beans for this recipe which was super good! Any black beans are good, and you can use garbanzo beans if you don’t have black beans on hand.

Kidney beans: Kidney beans really give chili that signature look! Dried beans tend to be cheaper, but they do take longer to cook. White beans or lentils are a good swap for kidney beans and can add a little extra protein as well.

{RECOMMENDED POST: Healthy Vegan Crockpot Recipes to Freeze for Easy Meal Prep}

Corn: Canned corn adds a pop of color and a sweet flavor to this chili recipe. You can for sure have a delicious chili without them, but if you want to maintain that bright pop of color, you can chop up a yellow bell pepper to take its place instead.

Crushed tomatoes: Diced tomatoes can make a good swap for crushed tomatoes! Without the tomatoes, the chili will probably be more of a soup, still delicious, but with less of a hearty texture.

Veggie broth: If you don’t have veggie broth, you can use water, but the flavor of the soup will be a bit diluted. Vegetable broth concentrate can be a really great option if you use vegetable broth often. That way, you don’t have to store big boxes of veggie broth, and it ends up being a pretty budget-friendly option as well, since they come in bulk!

Chili seasoning mix: This is the secret to this delicious recipe, and how I keep it incredibly easy/low cost: seasoning packets! I love keeping these vegan chili seasoning packets stocked in my pantry for when I need a dump-and-go dinner. They save time because you don’t have to measure out all of the individual seasonings, and it saves on washing all the measuring cups for the seasonings as well! It may seem lazy to some, but it feels like ease and stress-free cooking to me (;

Budget-friendly vegan chili recipe cost breakdown

These prices are approximate and will for sure vary by location, season, organic vs. not, etc.!

If you’re able to buy in bulk, grow any of these ingredients, or buy things on sale, that will be the easiest way to make this vegan chili recipe more affordable!

Here’s a quick cost breakdown for planning purposes:

• Onion $1 (small or medium-sized onion)
• Kale $2 (2-3 cups, freeze the rest of the bunch!)
• Corn $2 (canned or frozen)
• Crushed tomatoes $2
• Black beans $2 (dried beans can be more affordable than canned beans)
• Kidney beans $2 (dried beans can be more affordable than canned beans)
• Veggie broth $1 (This recipe uses half a carton, and you can freeze the rest!)
• Chili seasoning mix $1 (Because the veggie broth is flavored, you could get away with only using half the packet, and it still tastes good!)

Total: $13 total and $3.25 per serving!

Not too bad! For a meal that is filling, has variety, and is completely vegan, about $3 per serving is pretty incredible. Best of all, it actually tastes good!

Sometimes when making budget-friendly recipes, the flavor does start to lack, but this vegan chili recipe is a go-to for me regardless of what my piggy bank is currently looking like!

{RECOMMENDED POST: Best Vegan Green Chili Soup Recipe}

Why this vegan chili is budget-friendly

• Uses mostly canned and frozen ingredients, which tend to be cheaper than fresh produce.
• No specialty vegan products (I loveee adding vegan ground beef to chili, but for a cheaper and lighter option, skip it!).
• Pantry staples can be reused for multiple meals. Get canned items when they’re on sale!
• Easy to scale up for meal prep or freezing. This recipe freezes incredibly well and still tastes good when you reheat it. You could double this recipe and not have to worry about a few dinners in a couple of weeks!

{RECOMMENDED POST: Budget Friendly Vegan Pasta Salad Recipe}

Best food storage containers to store vegan chili

The best food storage containers are probably the ones you already own!

But if you are in need of an upgrade, these are some of my favorites that will hopefully last you for years! I always try to use glass containers, and having a tight seal is an absolute must for freshness.

If you enjoy having your chili over rice or quinoa, storing it in smaller portions, like the silicone cubes below, may be a good option for you. That way, you don’t have to defrost and reheat a huge portion when you’re ready for a quick lunch!

What do you like to add to your vegan chili recipe?

Let us know in the comments below! I always love finding new ways to enhance my vegan chili!

Stay well, 

Maggie 

This post was all about the best easy vegan chili recipe.

Other plant-based posts you may like: 

6 Easy Tips To Go Vegan On A Budget | Sustainable Frugal Living Hacks

Easy High Protein Vegan Meal Prep Ideas That Actually Keep You Full

The Best Vegan Pasta Recipes for Dinner Tonight

Your Ultimate Guide to Simple Sustainable Grocery Shopping 

If you’d like to save this easy vegan chili recipe for later, pint it!