Treat your family to this healthy 5 Bean Chilli. It’s super simple, tastes fab and is filled with fibre. The perfect alternative to a beef chilli for vegetarians, families exploring meat-free Mondays or people looking to add more fibre to their diet.
We all adore Chilli Con Carnie. It’s one of our go-to midweek meals and something that I know everyone will eat loads of.
It’s one of those meals that once you can make well, you keep coming back to.
A definite family favourite. But, to be honest, my favourite part of a Chilli Con Carne isn’t the juicy minced beef.
It’s the kidney beans.
Robyn’s the same. She’ll sit picking all of the big purple beans out before she eats the rest.
This means that we like a five Bean Chilli just as much, if not more.
My sauce is pretty much the same for my Bean Chilli as my meaty Chilly.
I skip the tomato puree and the cinnamon because it just doesn’t need it, and there are a few other small changes, but the taste at the end is very, very similar.
A Healthy Family Meal
Perhaps the best thing about a Beanie Chilli is how healthy it is. If you are looking for a healthy family meal, there’s not much better.
It’s very high in
So, whether you are a vegetarian looking for a healthy family meal, you just want a meat-free Monday meal, or, like me, you love meat, but also really like beans, this 5 Bean Chilli is absolutely perfect.
What is a 5 Bean Chilli?
A 5-bean chilli is typically a dish without meat.
Instead, 5 different kinds of beans are cooked in a classic chilli sauce.
Technically, if you wanted to, you could have meat in your 5-bean chilli too, but it might be a little much.
In the same vein, you could make a 6-bean chili recipe or even more than that!
My five-bean chilli recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and suitable for many different diets.
It’s also super simple and wonderfully frugal. You can even add some vegan cheese and wraps and use this as a base for vegan burritos.
Can You Make a 4 Bean Chilli?
Absolutely you can make a 4 bean chilli!
I love the slightly different textures and tastes for 5, but if you’ve only got 4, a four-bean chilli is fine.
Just follow the recipe as it is.
Another option is doubling up on one kind so that it’s still the same size. You could even make a 3 bean chilli if you wanted to!
How Do You Make a 5 Bean Chilli?
Chilli is such a simple meal, in all honestly, my 5-bean chili recipe is pretty much the same as my chilli con Carne recipe, just with less browning of the meat.
I cook the onions and peppers, simmer in wine, then add the beans, stock and tomatoes.
Then, you just simmer it all together until the sauce thickens, and your vegan chilli recipe tastes fab.
If you prefer a spicier 5-bean chilli con carne, by all means, add some extra chilli powder, chilli flakes, or fresh red chillies.
What Beans Do You Put in a Five Bean Chilli?
You can put pretty much any bean in your five-bean chilli recipe.
I tend to use kidney beans, butter beans, cannellini beans, haricot beans, and either pinto or black.
But you can use any that you’ve got or like. Or even add a tin of five-bean salad to your 5-bean chilli recipe.
Can You Freeze a 5 Bean Chilli?
Yes! This five-bean chili freezes amazingly well. Either freeze it all together in a sealed tub or divide it into portions.
To reheat, first, thaw thoroughly in the fridge, then heat slowly on the hob, adding a little extra water or stock if needed.
How to Serve 5 Bean Chilli
I tend to serve my Bean Chilli with rice and pitta bread.
The kids love making pitta sandwiches with the bread, and husband will turn anything into a sandwich if you let him.
You can add a dollop of soured cream or Creme fraiche if you like the added creamy
That said, it’s got enough of a kick to be warming and satisfying.
Tortilla chips could make an excellent side, too if you like to dip.
Alternatively, chilli is an amazing topping for a big fluffy jacket potato. Probably one of my personal favourites. I do add lots of cheese and butter too though.
Other Bean Recipes
If you love beans as much as I do, don’t stop with a 5 Bean Chilli, they also make a fantastic addition to a casserole or stew to save money or bulk a meal out.
Other great bean recipes you might love include:
5 Bean Chilli Recipe
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 Onion (Diced)
- 4 Cloves Garlic (Crushed)
- 1 Yellow Pepper (Deseeded and Chopped)
- 1 Green Pepper (Deseeded and Chopped)
- 1 Red Pepper (Deseeded and Chopped)
- 2 Teaspoons Red Chilli Puree
- 150 ml Red wine
- 500 ml Vegetable stock
- 400 g Tinned tomatoes
- 1 Tin Red kidney beans (Drained)
- 1 Tin Haricot Beans (Drained)
- 1 Tin Butter Beans (Drained)
- 1 Tin Cannellini Beans (Drained)
- 1 Tin Pinto Beans (Drained)
- 2 Teaspoon Cumin
- 1 Tablespoon Chilli Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Bay leaf
- Pinch Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat the cooking spray gently in a large flameproof pan over a medium heat.
- Add the onions and fry for 5 minutes until soft.
- Add the garlic and stir.
- Add the peppers and continue to cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the chilli puree and mix well.
- Pour in the wine and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Add stock and tinned tomatoes and stir.
- Add the beans and spices, salt and pepper, and bay leaf, stir and bring to the boil.
- Reduce and simmer for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
Video
Notes
- Add more chilli powder if you like it spicier.
- If you prefer, use 1 finely diced red chilli instead of puree.
- Skip wine if you prefer, and add a little more stock if needed.
Nutrition
Any nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate. The information is provided using an online calculator and is specific to my ingredients. Please make your own calculations if you want precise information.
I love a good chilli especially a bean chilli topper for a jacket potato, just right for warming you up on a grey and wet day! This chilli looks fantastic, definitely bookmarking for the weekend :)
Me too! I always have leftovers on a jacket potato the day after! Best bit!
I love beans too and would be quite happy with this. Unfortunately my husband and kids are not such huge fan. I often end up eating the leftover beans off his plate! Even so, I would be very happy eating this.
What a hearty soul-warming dish! Great for chilly evenings
A recipe that’s easy, delicious as well as healthy always gets my vote. Sounds and looks fantastic! Thank you for bringing it to #CookBlogShare.
Thank you! The kids love it too, which is always a bonus for a healthy recipe!
What a hearty and colorful chilli….Real comfort in a bowl!
Thank you!
What a fab idea to make a chilli totally from beans. Our chillis have had a larger bean ratio recently as beans are so much cheaper than mince but I wonder if my two would go for the total bean chilli – only one way to find out.
Mine really enjoy it. They probably prefer mince, but they don’t complain!
This looks delicious – I love that it’s both healthy and comforting!
Thank you!
YUM! Love a beany chilli – in fact that’s exactly what I’ve got planned for dinner tomorrow night. My kids love the beans too – especially my son! Eb x
Great recipe! Highly recommended and very healthy!
Thank You, David. Glad you enjoyed it :)