Substitute For Beans In Chili - 9 Options! (2024)

Published: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

Whether you can’t eat beans, don’t like the taste of them or you just don’t have any on hand, learn what to substitute for beans in chili!

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There is no recipe more comforting than chili, am I right? And here is a fun fact. My famous traditional chili recipe was the first one to really take off on my blog. There is a good reason for that, too. It is a really good soup recipe that people adore.

Here are a few things I adore about chili:

  • It is appropriate for any season.
  • So many toppings can be thrown into the mix.
  • It’s the most comforting dish of all time.

Whether you cannot eat beans or they are missing from your pantry, you can still make and enjoy a batch of chili. Ditch the chili beans and replace them with one of many food substitutes.

Read on for some great suggestions. First, though, let’s hook you up with the perfect recipe. Browse through the following options!

Best Beans For Chili

Below are types of chili beans that can be swapped out for other ingredients. Although they are a great source of protein, you may be searching for bean substitutes.

  • Pinto beans
  • Red kidney beans
  • White kidney beans
  • Black beans
  • Cannellini beans
  • Great northern beans
  • Navy beans
  • Fava beans

Chili Recipes

  • Whether you’re avoiding beans or just don’t have them on hand, chili can still be delicious! This chili without beans will satisfy every hungry belly at your table.
  • Don’t use any old chili recipe to pile on top of hot dogs. Make hot dog chili sauce with yummy meat, onions and spices!
  • This easy chili recipe is a super comforting dish that is packed with flavor and requires only 30 minutes of your time.
  • Instant Pot turkey chili offers a delicious meal packed with meat, white beans and veggies. This flavorful meal will quickly become a dinner favorite!
  • Change up your regular chili this week by making this delicious white chili with turkey, corn and white beans! Go spicy or make it mild. Either way, you will fall in love!
  • This chili mac is the perfect marriage of two of the most comforting comfort foods of all time. Delicious way to use up leftover chili!

Substitute For Beans In Chili

Any of the below are great substitute options for beans. Peruse the list below to select a good alternative that work for you and the people you are cooking for!

Note: Altering ingredients in any recipe may require you to adjust the cooking time and may alter the overall flavors of the dish.

  1. Add up to 1 extra pound of ground meat for an excellent substitute with fewer carbs – Ground beef, ground turkey, chicken, venison or pork sausage.
  2. Replacing up to 2 cups choppedvegetablesis a great choice and one of the best substitutes – Cauliflower florets, broccoli florets, bell pepper, white or portobello mushrooms, sweet peas or split peas, carrots, zucchini or butternut squash.
  3. Include up to 2 cups chopped potatoes for a great alternative high in fiber – Cut russet potatoes, red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes into small pieces or use sweet potatoes for a sweet flavor.
  4. Adding up to 2 cups of soy is an excellent alternative and great low carb option – Tofu, edamame, whole soybeans or texturized vegetable protein.
  5. Replace beans with up to 1 cup cooked grains for a really good substitute – Quinoa, white rice, brown rice, barley or farro.
  6. Substitute beans with up to 1 cup cooked gluten-free grains – Grits, polenta or corn.
  7. Including up to 1 cup cooked legumes is a great gluten free option – Chickpeas (aka, garbanzo beans), lima beans or black-eyed peas.
  8. Add up to 1 cup cooked lentils to add a nice texture – Brown, green or red lentils.
  9. Add a can of tomato paste to add a rich flavor and for a thicker consistency without adding chunky ingredients.

How Long Does Chili Last In The Fridge

If you are unsure about how to store leftover chili or whether your batch is still fresh, click over for all the info!

What To Serve With Chili

Dinner rollsare a great option to serve with this bowl of comfort.Chopped saladandgarlic breadare delicious options, too!

Chili Dinner Ideas

Chili dinners are so comforting! If you’re looking to round out your meal, look through this roundup about what to serve as appetizers for chili dinner.

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How To Thicken Chili

If you’ve made a batch of chili and want it to be thicker, here are a few tips that will help you fix it! Read on for tips abouthow to thicken chili.

What To Do With Chili Leftovers

If you have leftovers, check out these delicious recipes to help use them up:

  • Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
  • Best Ever Chili Dogs
  • Chili Mac and Cheese
  • Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes

FAQ About Chili

How to thicken chili?

If you prefer thick chili, it is easy enough to transform any version to fit your liking. Decrease the amount of tomatoes (juice and diced) used by half (or more) and simmer for 30 additional minutes.

Why chili is hot?

The ingredients in chili that typically make it spicy are chili powder, peppers and pepper (or cayenne pepper). To decrease the amount of heat in the recipe, reduce the amount of chili powder used and omit peppers (aside from bell peppers, which are very mild) and cayenne or black pepper.

What to top chili with?

A bowl of chili is the perfect template for delicious toppings! Consider any or all of the following: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions or oyster or saltine crackers.

What to serve with chili?

Serve chili warm with a bit of shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream. A few good options to serve alongside it include chopped salad, dinner rolls and cornbread.

Can chili be frozen?

Chili lasts up to 5 days in the fridge after it has been cooked and cooled. Beyond this timeframe, chili will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Store in an airtight container or double-bagged freezer bags.

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Substitute For Beans In Chili - 9 Options! (2024)

FAQs

Substitute For Beans In Chili - 9 Options!? ›

Replacing up to 2 cups chopped vegetables is a great choice and one of the best substitutes – Cauliflower florets, broccoli florets, bell pepper, white or portobello mushrooms, sweet peas or split peas, carrots, zucchini or butternut squash.

What can I sub for beans in chili? ›

Farro: farro is a whole grain that can be used in chili to add volume. I recommend cooking the farro separately and then adding it to the pot. Cooked Rice: add 1 ½ cups of cooked rice to the chili per can of beans. Mushrooms: dice them in slightly bigger pieces and add 1 ½ cups of mushrooms per can of beans.

What to put in chilli instead of kidney beans? ›

Best Kidney Bean Substitutes by Common Use

Black beans, garbanzo beans, and cannellini beans will work best in chili and soups where you want the firm texture of a bean. If you do not mind the beans breaking down a bit, pinto beans will also work well.

What can I use to replace beans? ›

(He has a chronic GI issue not related to diet that requires extra care and hypervigilance).
  • Replacing Beans and Lentils.
  • #1 Tofu (and soybeans)
  • #2 Sourgum.
  • #3 Cauliflower Florets (or cauliflower rice)
  • #4 Tempeh.
  • #5 Nuts like cashews and walnuts (or sunflower seeds)
  • #6 Quinoa (and other grains)
  • #6 Peas (or edamame)

What is a good low carb substitute for beans in chili? ›

You can also consider some alternatives to beans for recipes like chili and soup, such as mushrooms, eggplant, squash, or sausage. Whatever you choose, there are ways to enjoy many of your favorite bean recipes on keto while still hitting your macro goals.

Can of chilli with no beans? ›

HORMEL® Chili No Beans adds excitement to any meal occasion. How about pouring HORMEL® Chili on hot dogs for a simple, easy dinner upgrade? You'll want to keep several cans of HORMEL® Chili No Beans on hand in the pantry because that same excitement can be poured on fries, chips, in the bowl—anything!

Does Gordon Ramsay put beans in chili? ›

Gordon Ramsay's recipe for chili con carne includes onion, a red chili pepper, fresh tomatoes, and kidney beans. Ramsay's chili recipe is lengthy — it includes everything from ground cumin and sweet paprika to a cinnamon stick, ground beef or beef mince, and garlic.

What are the best beans for chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

Can you use navy beans instead of kidney beans in chili? ›

You could also try a different bean. Navy beans soften more than kidney and have a milder flavor. The only catch is they're white so it can have an odd appearance unless you're doing a white chili. Don't have to use beans at all... but my family often thiockens chili with refried beans (or toasted flour).

What happens if you don't drain kidney beans for chili? ›

Too much liquid will thin your chili

The same holds true for using canned beans in chili. According to Taste of Home, you should typically drain canned beans before adding them to your pot of chili. All that liquid can seriously water the chili down, diluting all its flavors.

What beans are interchangeable? ›

The types of white beans are great northern beans, cannellini beans, navy beans, and lima beans. Despite the different varieties having slightly different flavors, textures, and sizes, they can be used interchangeably in recipes.

What is the closest substitute for pinto beans? ›

You can substitute bortlotti or black beans for pinto beans in most recipes. You can also use cannellini beans and chickpeas in a pinch.

What is a meat alternative for bean? ›

Black eyed peas, pinto beans, edamame, these are all legumes that are good sources of protein and can be a healthy substitute for meat. Having a meatless meal occasionally is good for your pocket book as they tend to be less expensive than some cuts of meat.

What can I put in chili instead of kidney beans? ›

If you don't like kidney beans then black (turtle) beans are a good alternative. However it is possible to leave out the beans and certain chilli recipes do not contain beans. If you wish to add an alternative then diced red (bell) peppers add some colour.

Can you call it chili without beans? ›

The ICS defines Traditional Red Chili as "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients. Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed."

How to make chili thick without beans? ›

Mix in a scoop of cornstarch, all-purpose flour, or oats.

For 1 tablespoon of flour, use 2 tablespoons of water. No slurry is required for the absorbent oats; simply stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons. In all cases, allow the chili to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more, and you should notice it thicken up.

Does chili have to have beans in it? ›

The majority of us believed that beans are an essential part of our favorite chili recipes, but there were a few caveats. According to our Associate Culinary Producer Justin Sullivan, "BEANS GO IN CHILI unless it's specifically called 'Texas' chili."

What is chili without beans called? ›

No bean chili, also known as Texas chili or Chile con carne, is a spicy stew made without any beans. It traditionally contains meat (usually ground beef), tomatoes, peppers, onions, aromatics and flavorful spices.

What can I use instead of cannellini beans in chili? ›

If you don't have cannellini beans, substitute other dried white beans, like Great Northern or navy beans. If you don't have chard, use kale or spinach.

What are the lowest carb beans? ›

Highest and Lowest Carb Beans

Among these, black soybeans and green beans have the lowest carbs, potentially making them better for a keto diet. On the other hand, chickpeas, pinto beans, and navy beans have high carbs.

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