Get ready to cozy up with a bowl of hearty, flavorful 3-bean chili! This easy-to-make recipe is loaded with wholesome ingredients including black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans and sweet corn, all simmered in a rich, lightly spiced tomato base. Add your favourite toppings and you’ve got the perfect comfort food.
Whether you’re feeding a crowd or meal-prepping for a busy week ahead, this 3 bean chili is a cozy one-pot wonder! It’s bold, satisfying, and packed with plant-based protein and a firm favourite in our house.
Why Make This 3 Bean Chili
I love to make chili, and best of all, my kids love to eat it. I’ve cooked chili most of my life, and I have several different recipes I rotate around.
While some recipes have ground turkey, or chicken, others are just vegetarian. I decided I wanted to start cooking 2 plant based meals a week for the family. I feel this creates a variety at mealtime, and gives the body a rest from animal products. My kids call this the best 3 bean chili, so that’s what I’m calling it.
Chili is such a quick, and easy meal to prepare. In this simple vegetarian chili we used black beans, red kidney beans, and pinto beans. It may look complicated, but it’s actually really simple.
I like using black beans in all sorts of different recipes, because the kids really like them and there’s such a huge variety to choose from. I incorporate them into the kids breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Beans are a great source of protein, and have several other healthy benefits.
Best 3 Bean Chili Ingredients
For this recipe I’ve used canned beans, but if you have the time go ahead and used whole uncooked beans. Since, I’m asked for quick and easy recipes for busy parents, it has to be canned beans. And there’s nothing wrong with beans out the can.
You just need to be sure to rinse the beans out of the can to remove unnecessary sodium.
I didn’t add much of a kick to this chili, since it’s kids friendly. If you’re kids like it spicy, then go ahead an add the chili, woot woot!
This is not a dairy free recipe because we added cheese, and plain Greek yogurt. It’s tastes delicious like this, but feel free to add the toppings your family prefers. When I make this recipe, I always make a double batch to freeze for extra dinner or lunches.
Here’s the full list of ingredients for this simple 3 bean chili:
- Olive oil
- Onions
- Garlic cloves
- Tomato sauce
- Diced tomatoes
- Black beans
- Kidney beans
- Pinto beans
- Frozen corn
- Water
- Green chilis (in a 4oz can)
- Garlic salt, cumin, chili powder, chipotle, black pepper
TOPPING IDEAS
- Shredded cheese
- Plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream
- chopped parsley (as garnish)
Need some dessert ideas for after?
Here are a few of our favourites at the moment:
- Banana Chia Seed Pudding with Raspberry Sauce
- Grilled Peaches and Cream
- Mini Peppermint Cheesecakes with Oreo Crust
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl
- Banana Praline Ice Cream
Best 3 Bean Chili Instructions
- Open the canned ingredients, and set aside. Rinse the black beans, and kidney beans together through a strainer. Rinse the pinto beans separately, as they need to be cooked separately, since they cook quicker.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat add the diced onion, and saute for about 5 minutes. Then add the minced garlic for another 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, frozen corn, water, and diced green chili’s into the pot.
- Next, add the garlic salt, cumin, chili powder, chipotle, and black pepper.
- Slowly stir all the ingredients together until well mixed, cover, and reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the pinto beans, and simmer an additional 10 minutes
- Remove from heat, and serve in bowls topped with shredded cheese, plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream.
Want more BLC dinner ideas?
- Leftover Chicken Tacos With Mango Salsa
- Grilled Shrimp Skewers
- Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets
- Hidden Veg Easy Ground Turkey Burgers
- Chicken Sausage Soup
- Best Quiche Recipe
- Healthy Turkey Burgers Without Breadcrumbs
Best 3 Bean Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup diced onions
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes (I like to use fire roasted tomatoes)
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (rinse these separately as they're only added in the last 10 minutes of cooking)
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons green chilis (in a 4oz can)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt (add more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder (add more for a spicier chili)
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
FOR THE TOP
- shredded cheese
- plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream
- chopped parsley (as garnish)
Instructions
- Open the canned ingredients, and set aside. Rinse the black beans, and kidney beans together through a strainer. Rinse the pinto beans separately, as they need to be cooked separately, since they cook quicker.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat add the diced onion, and saute for about 5 minutes. Then add the minced garlic for another 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, frozen corn, water, and diced green chili’s into the pot.
- Next, add the garlic salt, cumin, chili powder, chipotle, and black pepper.
- Slowly stir all the ingredients together until well mixed, cover, and reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the pinto beans, and simmer an additional 10 minutes
- Remove from heat, and serve in bowls topped with shredded cheese, plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream.
Notes
Are You Ready To Try This Simple 3-Bean Chili?
This 3-Bean Chili is the ultimate comfort food—simple to make, hearty, and bursting with flavor. Whether you enjoy it on its own, with your favorite toppings, or paired with crusty bread, it’ll warm you through and through!
Perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a hungry crowd, this chili is sure to become a go-to favorite. Enjoy every savory, spicy spoonful!
