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While this time of year can seem gray, cold, and dark, this Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili is the exact opposite! It’s made with convenient canned beans, fresh sweet potato, quinoa, and a rainbow of southwest spices. It’s bold, colorful, and spirit-boosting, and thanks to the Instant Pot, it cooks in minutes instead of hours.

Instant Pot vegetarian chili with black beans, quinoa, and sweet potatoes in a bowl

If a single recipe concept could be extended to an entire food group, chili would have my top vote. With all of its delicious potential and recipe variations, from Crock Pot White Chicken Chili to Healthy Turkey Chili to Paleo Chili (another Instant Pot chili recipe), it’s a meal I never grow tired of creating or eating.

Chili can feed a crowd if you need it to and tastes fabulous leftover if you don’t.

It’s also perfectly poised to serve as a vehicle for a) your daily serving of veg and b) TOPPINGS.

Although this is a recipe for Instant Pot vegetarian chili, it is plenty hearty enough to stand on its own as a full meal, whether or not you routinely eat meat (just like this Vegetarian Chili recipe).

Depending upon your topping selections, this is actually an easy vegan chili (just leave off the dairy), BUT its robust blend of spices and hearty texture will satisfy the more carnivorous members of your family too.

A bowl of hearty and cozy chili made with sweet potato and quinoa

Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili—An All in One Healthy Meal

The base of this vegan chili recipe is one of my personal favorite chili recipes of all time and the one I made most often, my Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili. It’s deeply satisfying and strikes an ideal balance between spicy and sweet,

As I discovered when I first made Instant Pot Chili (<—this recipe is an excellent option if you are looking for easy Instant Pot chili recipe with veggies but absolutely must have meat too), an added benefit of making chili in the Instant Pot or a similar electric pressure cooker is the fact that thanks to the sauté function, 100% of the recipe comes together in one pot.

You don’t need cook any of the aromatics or even the quinoa separately. With the Instant Pot, the recipe is truly one and done.

This is the Instant Pot I own, by the way. I’ve had it for nearly two years now, and I love it more each time I use it. It’s also dropped in price recently, so if you are on the fence, that’s a great reason to go for it!

Easy Instant Pot chili is also another great reason, just sayin’. I even have ALL of these Instant Pot recipes to get you inspired and make use of your shiny new appliance.

Is Vegetarian Chili Good for You?

This Instant Pot chili is good for you! It’s loaded with wholesome, healthy ingredients like sweet potatoes, beans, and quinoa that contain numerous health benefits.

This recipe is also low in calories, but high in protein and fiber, which makes it ideal for filling lunches and dinners. 

Here are just a few of the health benefits of this chili and its ingredients:

  • High in Fiber, Vitamins, and Minerals. Thanks to the sweet potatoes, red peppers, onions, quinoa, red beans, chili powder, and tomato sauce.
  • Rich in Antioxidants. Credit to the onions, sweet potatoes, and red peppers.
  • Packed with Protein. The quinoa drives the protein levels in this chili. Beans offer added protein as well. For even more protein, top your chili with Greek yogurt.
A pressure cooker filled with ingredients for a hearty, cozy, and healthy dinner

How to Make Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili

The best vegetarian chili is made of a combination of fresh ingredients like onions, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers, and pantry staples like spices, quinoa, and beans. 

Instant Pot vegetarian chili takes 8 minutes of pressure cooking, plus the 10 minutes you’ll need for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. At the end, your quinoa will be perfectly cooked, the sweet potatoes tender, and chili ready for its finishing touches.

The Ingredients

  • Sweet Potatoes. Their natural sweetness is a heavenly pairing with classic chili spices, making these nutritional orange rockstars one of my top chili ingredients.
  • Red Bell Peppers. Another dimension of natural sweetness that goes well in chili, plus a sneaky extra serving of veg.
  • Onion + Garlic. A must for any chili recipe.
  • Spices. I used a mixture of chili powder (essential), cumin (also essential), and chipotle chili powder. The complex, cooked-all-day flavor hails from the chipotle chili powder. Chipotle gives the chili a touch of smokiness, and it’s a dream pairing with the natural sugars in the sweet potatoes.
    • If you want to make this a spicy vegetarian chili, you could up the amount of chipotle chili powder or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • Vegetable Broth. In order to make this a vegetarian chili with quinoa, I used vegetable broth for the liquid. If you aren’t concerned with it being strictly vegetarian or vegan, chicken broth will work also.
  • Tomato Sauce. For a thick texture and rich flavor, without any fuss. Use low-sodium or no-salt-added to keep the sodium levels lower and the chili from being too salty.
  • Quinoa. My secret addition to making this chili extra filling and thick. The quinoa absorbs the tomato liquid as it cooks, making it even more flavorful.
  • Beans. Use a blend of types for a multi-dimensional flavor/texture experience and wider assortment of nutrients. I used kidney beans and black beans, but feel free to swap these out for white beans or even pinto beans depending upon what you have on hand. The fiber-rich beans ensure that even though this chili is vegetarian, it’s just as satisfying as its meat counterparts. (If you’re a fan of beans in soup, try this delicious 15 Bean Soup.)
  • Sugar. To balance the acidity of the tomatoes. If you prefer to make this recipe without sugar, you can omit it.
  • Toppings. Greek yogurt, avocado, chips, cheese, cilantro, and more. When it comes to chili toppings, I will take them all, please and thank you.

The Directions

  1. Sauté the onion in the Instant Pot until soft, then add the potatoes, pepper, garlic, and spices. Cook until fragrant.
  2. Add half of the broth, stirring and scraping up any pieces stuck to the bottom. Stir in the remaining broth and quinoa. Pour in the tomato sauce, and do not stir.
  3. Cover, seal, and cook on manual (HIGH) pressure for 8 minutes. Immediately release the pressure, then open the Instant Pot.
  4. Stir in the beans and sugar. Close the lid and let it thicken. Serve hot with desired toppings, and ENJOY!

Storage and Reheating Tips

  • To Store. Vegetarian chili is good in the refrigerator for 5 days and in the freezer for 3 months. Let the leftovers cool completely, and store them in an airtight container.
  • To Reheat. Gently rewarm the chili in a large pot on the stove over medium heat until warmed through, adding splashes of broth or water if it is too thick. You can also reheat this chili in the microwave.
  • To Freeze. Store chili in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • To Make Ahead. Chop the sweet potatoes, peppers, garlic, and onions. Store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook, up to 1 day in advance. When ready to prepare, finish cooking as directed.

TIP!

If you enjoyed this Vegetarian Chili, try creating a vegetarian version of this Instant Pot Chili Recipe. Replace the turkey with additional beans, swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth, and top with your favorite vegetarian toppings.

A bowl of healthy soup packed with vegetables, quinoa, and beans

What Goes Well with Vegetarian Chili?

More Instant Pot Vegetarian Recipes

If you love easy and fast vegetarian Instant Pot recipes, here are a few more ideas:

Other Vegan Soups

If you’re following a Whole30 or paleo diet, I recommend trying my Whole30 Chili.

  • Instant Pot. The Instant Pot makes this chili quick, easy, and hands-free.
  • Sharp Knife. You’ll love using this sharp knife to chop the veggies.

Happy Chili Season!

Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili

4.94 From 297 reviews . Help us out! Review HERE.Help out & review HERE

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 50 minutes

Servings: 6 servings
Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili with quinoa, sweet potatoes and black beans. Quick, easy, healthy, and filling with the perfect blend of spices. Award-winning!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion 1/4-inch diced
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and 1/2-inch diced (about 4 generous cups)
  • 2 medium red bell peppers 3/4-inch diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 (8-ounce) can low-sodium or no-salt-added tomato sauce
  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium dark or light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar

For serving:

  • Sliced avocado
  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Shredded cheese
  • Crushed tortilla chips
  • Nonfat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

Instructions
 

  • To a 6-quart or large Instant Pot, add the olive oil. Turn to SAUTE and let the oil heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and cook until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, chipotle chili powder, cumin, and kosher salt. Cook for 1 to 2 additional minutes, until the garlic is fragrant.
  • Add half of the vegetable broth and stir, scraping up any stuck-on bits of food (this will prevent a burn warning). Stir in the remaining broth and the quinoa. Pour the tomato sauce on top (do not stir again).
  • Cover and seal the Instant Pot. Cook on manual (HIGH) pressure for 8 minutes. Immediately release the pressure. Carefully open the Instant Pot.
  • Turn the Instant Pot to OFF. Stir in the black beans, kidney beans, and sugar. Place the lid back on top and let stand 10 minutes to thicken. Uncover. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Serve hot, with any and all the toppings!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 6)Calories: 301kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 12gFat: 4gFiber: 12gSugar: 10g

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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  1. I have made this recipe repeatedly for over a year at least. It is cheap and quick to make. It freezes well so it’s great for bulk prepping lunches. Looks and smells so good. Its hard to find vegetarian meals that are crave-worthy and filling. It’s also easy to make vegan since the toppings/garnishes are the only ingredients that may include dairy. I highly recommend fresh cilantro and avocado chunks on top, with tortilla chips. I eat it more like a chip dip than with a spoon.5 stars

    1
  2. I’ve made zero other recipes in my insta pot (oops) but have made this at LEAST a dozen times. Thank you for such an incredible recipe!

  3. This is the only chili I make and I’ve made it often throughout the years. It’s so delicious. I used Spice Tribe’s California Love instead of chili powder and it was the best one I’ve had so far. Thanks for sharing this recipe with the world.5 stars

  4. I love this recipe so much, it’s economical in the time & money departments and so easy even I haven’t managed to mess it up! I especially love that it’s basically vegan, so I can bring it to potlucks as a vegan option with Greek yogurt or cheese on the side. It’s also great as a make-ahead option for camping. Easy 5 stars.5 stars

  5. Quick question
    We don’t like our canned beans crunchy which seems to be the case if we follow your recipe
    Would it be ok to pressure cook them with the sweet potatoes?
    Also do not have tomato sauce? Would puréed canned tomatoes work?
    Thanks
    Jeanne4 stars

    1. Hi Jeanne, I’ve not seen beans out of a can crunchy before, they are normally already soft so not really sure how it would be adjusting the timing on them, but you could experiment. Pureed tomatoes could work. If you decide to experiment, let us how it goes!

  6. This is my “go to” chili recipe! I love it, my family loves it, and even meat eaters love it! Sometimes I sub out the sweet potato and use Traders Joes fake meat crumbles. This is an A+5 stars

  7. This worked exactly as written, thanks! I have made it so many times and people love it. There is no leftovers cause everybody is getting seconds. My favorite way to serve it is when sour cream and shredded cheese. I’ve made it so many times. Comes together quickly5 stars

    1. Hi Lisa, I haven’t tried it in a smaller Instant Pot, you’ll have to experiment. You want to make sure it doesn’t go over the fill line. Let us know how it goes if you give it a try!

  8. I didn’t have any chipotle chili powder but this chili was great without it. Even better the next day when the quinoa soaked up more of the vegetable broth.5 stars

  9. Really great. Personally, I’m usually a meat eater – so I added some seitan, which added additional texture while keeping it vegan. Found a little hatch chile powder in pantry, which turned up the heat.

    Notwithstanding the above, the recipe as written is perfect. The flavors come together nicely and in record time in the pressure cooker. The leftovers two days later were even more flavorful with the layers really coming through. This is a keeper.5 stars

  10. Loved this because normally tomato based chilli makes my stomach hurt. This did not. It’s very light but still filling. Very easy to make also. For some reason my sweet potatoes soaked up most of the liquids though and it wasn’t bery soup like. However it was still very yummy!5 stars

    1. Hi Nancy, you could try to make a slurry of cornstarch and water, then add it to the chili but you probably need to have the chili actively cooking (maybe on the saute feature). You could also try adding more beans or some cooked rice. Hope this helps!

    1. Hi Cindy! You’ll be using ½ cup uncooked quinoa. Then adding it in Step 2 before you begin the cooking process. Hope this helps!

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  1. I have made this recipe repeatedly for over a year at least. It is cheap and quick to make. It freezes well so it’s great for bulk prepping lunches. Looks and smells so good. Its hard to find vegetarian meals that are crave-worthy and filling. It’s also easy to make vegan since the toppings/garnishes are the only ingredients that may include dairy. I highly recommend fresh cilantro and avocado chunks on top, with tortilla chips. I eat it more like a chip dip than with a spoon.5 stars

    1