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Instant Pot Vegan Chili – Oil-free Kidney Bean Red Lentil Chili. Easy Flavorful Bean Lentil Vegetarian Chili 18 Gm Protein! Saucepan Option. Vegan Glutenfree Nutfree Soyfree Recipe. Jump to Recipe 
It was hot last week to give a glimpse of Summer, and then we hit a cold front again. So here we are enjoying a bowl of chili for dinner! Curries, stews, chili, Dal are all season meals in my house. A hearty 1 Pot meal with veggies and beans and flavors of choice!
This chili has veggies, red lentils and kidney beans. The lentils add a great texture and also thicken the chili really well. Add whichever beans you like to make up the bulk. I like to use chipotle and ancho chilies for flavor. Use dry or canned chipotle pepper to preference.
This chili is Simple, hearty, quick and Delicious.
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto. No standing and stirring needed! GF
- Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chickin(soycurls). GF – Creamy, Delicious
- Japanese Veggie Curry. GF
- Potato Chickpea Spinach Soup. GF
- More Instant Pot Recipes!
Use re lentils in this popular Instant Pot Lasagna Soup with Red lentils, Tortilla soup, Srilankan red lentil coconut Curry!
Tips for an amazing chili in the instant pot every time
- Cook the veggies and tomato on saute for a more rounded flavor and texture.
- Add just enough liquid for the lentils for a thick chili as water does not evaporate while pressure cooking.
- Add texture ingredients such as chopped mushrooms, beefy crumbles, walnuts. Add a blend of different mexican dried chilies, powdered or flakes for flavor variations.
- Toppings are not optional 🙂
- Burn issues: Red lentils can sometimes tend to clump and settle and then burn at the bottom. To reduce this possibility, 1. Mix the lentils in really well for about 10-15 seconds so that they distribute and start to absorb some liquid and hence not settle. 2. Or sprinkle them over after step 3 and dont mix, 3. Or Add 1/2 cup more water and 1 or 2.
- There are several things that can affect thick dishes in a pressure cooker. The model, type of IP, the moisture content in veggies& tomato, anything stuck on the bottom of the pot, the age of the lentils etc. Sometimes whole lentils are labelled as red lentils. I use the split kind in this recipe. The non split red lentils will make an even thicker chili.
Instant Pot Vegan Chili - Oil-free Kidney Bean Red Lentil Chili
Instant Pot Vegan Chili - Oil-free Kidney Bean Red Lentil Chili. Easy Flavorful Pressure Cooker Vegetarian Chili. Vegan Glutenfree Nutfree Soyfree Recipe. Saucepan Option
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup water or broth
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1 jalapeno or 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 red bell pepper or green bell pepper, chopped
- 15 oz can kidney beans or 1.5 cups cooked, , or use black beans
- 1/2 cup dry red lentils, quick cooking lentils (masoor dal)
- 2 tsp ground cumin or a combination of cumin and coriander
- 1 to 2 tsp paprika, I use a combination of smoked paprika and sweet
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp chipotle chili flakes or powder, or ancho chili powder
- 1 to 2 tsp chili powder blend, chili blend not pure chili powder, optional
- 1/2 tsp each garlic powder and onion powder
- 1 bay leaf optional
- 28 oz diced tomato, with juices
- 1 to 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3/4 tsp salt, (less if using salted broth and beans)
- 1.5 cups water, or veggie broth
- lemon juice to taste, , cayenne or black pepper for heat
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- avocado, , hot sauce, vegan sour cream, chopped onion, tortilla strips, other toppings
Instructions
- Add water or broth to the instant Pot on Saute when hot. Add onion, garlic and jalapeno. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir frequently. Add another tbsp water to deglaze if needed.
- Add the veggies and a good dash of salt and mix. Cook for another 2 minutes. (At this point you can add the tomatoes and cook them until tender for 3 to 4 mins, stirring occasionally. This adds a deeper flavor profile or follow next step for quicker).
- Add the kidney beans, red lentils, spices, tomato, tomato paste, salt and water and give it a good mix to pick up any stuck bits. (You can also add other cooked beans at this point. Add some corn, veggies, 1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts for texture for variation). Add 1/2 cup more water for thinner consistency or if tomatoes werent as juicy..
- Close the lid and pressure cook for 8 to 9 minutes (Manual/Pressure Cook, high pressure). Let the pressure release naturally. Mix in 1 to 2 tsp lemon juice and half of the cilantro.
- Taste and adjust salt, heat and flavor and add more if needed. Serve hot garnished with chopped onion, jalapeno, cilantro, avocado, hot sauce. See Saucepan instructions in Notes
Video
Notes
For variation: Add a pinch of cinnamon and all spice with the spices.
Use a 1/3 cup red lentils and add a can of black beans for more beany chili.
Saucepan: Follow steps 1 and 2 in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add tomatoes, spices and tomato paste and cook until tender, mash the larger pieces. Add beans, lentils, salt, 2 cups water/broth, mix well. Partially cover and cook for 25 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition is 1 of 3 serves
Nutrition
Calories: 306kcal, Carbohydrates: 57g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 682mg, Potassium: 1416mg, Fiber: 21g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 4805IU, Vitamin C: 63.2mg, Calcium: 193mg, Iron: 7.9mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!
I made this but on the stop. Super easy and oh so delicious!
yay!
What can be the alternative for Oregano?
omit it. or add some cilantro
Made this for the family (2 adults, 2 kids) as a quick weekday meal with plenty of leftovers.
The little sprout loves salsa and said the whole house smelt like salsa. 😀
I love the lentils adding some heft to the chili. I also love that I can easily throw in whatever veggies I have laying in the bin, the straggler carrot, celery, onion, pepper etc.
Added green onions, a dollop of sour cream and avocado for a hearty meal.
Thanks, Richa. Another winner and I’m so glad your recipes fit the tiny instant pot. 😀
awesome!
Is there another way I could make this without a pressure cooker? I unfortunately do not own one.
Yes, i add Saucepan instructions in the notes section for all IP recipes. Scroll down below the recipe
I have dry kidney beans. How long should I soak those before they are ready to be added into this recipe? Thanks
overnight and they will still need 35 to 40 mins pressure cooking time. So pressure cook for 35 mins, quick release, then add the red lentils, close the lid and pressure cook for 2 mins. then natural release.
Thank you. Just want to clarify “pressure cook for 35 mins, quick release, then add the red lentils, close the lid and pressure cook for 2 mins. then natural release” – Do you suggest I do this and set aside the cooked beans and lentils, and then add into the Chilli as per Instructions Step #3. Or, do you mean alter Step #4 cooking time from 8-9 minutes to now 35 mins?
scrap that. kidney beans wont cook well with that much tomato.
Cook the kidney beans first, soak overnight, then pressure cook with 3 times the amount of water (eg. 1 cup dry beans, 3 cups water). for 35 mins.
Drain them out of the pot, dry the pot and follow the chili recipe as written.
for 1.5 cups beans you will need 3/4 cup dry beans.
Thank you!
I made this today .. it is awesome . Thank you for sharing this recipe. I turned vegan very recently, i find your recipes very helpfull.
thats awesome!
Can it be doubled using a 6 quart IP?
yes. Cooking time will be the same
Thanks! It’s on for tomorrow!
I tried this but got a burn notice before it had even come to pressure. It appears some of the lentils were stuck to the bottom of the pot and had started to burn. Maybe I should just push the lentils under the tomatoes but not mix them in completely.
Oh no. Red lentils can tend to stick to each other and settle at the bottom-,depending on the age and brand etc. there r 2 ways to handle this depending on your IP(the model and size and each unit behave differently). You can 1. sprinkle in the lentils a bit later on top and not mix and close and cook. Or 2. you can mix them in really well on Sauté for atleast 10 seconds. Then cancel and close the lid. The mixing allows the lentils to separate and start to absorb liquid and then they are less likely to settle.
Also sometimes moisture content varies in tomatoes and veggies, so add a bit more water/liquid if you generally get thicker result. Hope this helps! Lots of factors sometimes with the IP, the unit itself and the ingredients.
My non vegan friends were asking for this once again!! I made a double batch and love it. Going to use it for vegan chili nachos tonight!!
This turned out AMAZING
yay!