One Pan Dinners · Vegetarian

30 Minute Summer Vegetable and Bean Chili

This 30 Minute Summer Vegetable and Bean Chili recipe is delicious! Loaded with bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, corn and two kinds of beans, this chili gets a spicy kick from jalapenos. Top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese and…

  • Prep15 minutes
  • Cook25 minutes
  • Total40 minutes
  • Serves6
  • Calories193 kcal
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30 Minute Summer Vegetable and Bean Chili

This 30 Minute Summer Vegetable and Bean Chili recipe is delicious! Loaded with bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, corn and two kinds of beans, this chili gets a spicy kick from jalapenos. Top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese and cool sour cream for a quick and nutritious lunch or dinner.

A bowl of vegetable chili with beans.

When the weather is chilly, I love making a meaty chili like my Spicy Chili with Butternut Squash. But the summer months call for a lightened chili recipe. My vegetable bean chili takes only about 30 minutes to make and does not skimp on flavor!

Die hard carnivores will not even miss the meat in this chili. It is loaded with onions, garlic, peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, sweet corn, and black and kidney beans.

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Red, yellow and orange bell peppers.

the ingredients

  • olive oil
  • yellow onion
  • garlic
  • jalapeno
  • red bell pepper
  • yellow bell pepper
  • yellow squash
  • zucchini
  • corn
  • cumin
  • chili powder
  • smoked paprika
  • canned fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • kosher salt
  • pepper
  • canned black beans
  • canned kidney beans
  • cilantro
  • sour cream
  • cheddar cheese

what vegetables can you put in chili?

The recipe is very forgiving and can be adapted to the vegetables and beans on hand. If you favor eggplant over yellow squash, by all means add it instead. Peppers are available in red, green, orange, yellow and purple varieties.

Choose ones that you like to make the recipe unique. The recipe calls for corn on the cob. If it is out of season, substitute 1 ½ cups for frozen or canned corn instead. Swap out the kidney beans for cannellini beans to suit your tastes.

A close up of chili made with vegetables.

suggestions and recipe tips

  • Dice the onions, bell peppers, zucchini and yellow squash all in the same size so they cook evenly.
  • Cutting the corn off the cob can be a trickier proposition. The result can be many wayward kernels shooting around the kitchen. To keep the mess to a minimum, place the flat end of an ear of corn on the bottom of a large wide-mouthed bowl. With a sharp knife make long cuts down the side of the cob. The kernels will fall neatly to the bottom of the bowl and will be ready to add to the chili.
  • I like my vegetables to keep their shape when cooked. If you have the same taste as me, do not overcook the chili or the veggies will be mushy.

what toppings to serve with vegetable chili?

  • sour cream
  • shredded cheeses such as cheddar, Colby Jack, pepper jack or Manchego
  • chopped onions
  • chopped jalapenos
  • lime wedges
  • chopped avocado
  • fresh cilantro
  • hot sauce
vegetable chili with cheddar cheese

what to do with leftover chili?

Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Or freeze the chili for up to 6 months for a taste of summer on a cold and snowy winter evening.

This vegetable chili recipe is also delicious served in crunchy taco shells, over tortilla chips as nachos, on as a yummy enchilada filling.

just one more thing

Also check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for lots of fabulous foodie stories and videos, cooking tips, and recipes.

A bowl of vegetarian chili.

30 Minute Summer Vegetable and Bean Chili

This 30 Minute Summer Vegetable and Bean Chili recipe is delicious! Loaded with bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, corn and two kinds of beans, this chili gets a spicy kick from jalapenos. Top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese and cool sour cream for a quick and nutritious lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion (about 2 cups chopped)
  • 4 large cloves of garlic (chopped)
  • 1 medium jalapeno (finely diced)
  • 1 red pepper (diced)
  • 1 yellow pepper (diced)
  • 1 yellow squash (diced)
  • 1 zucchini (diced)
  • 2 ears of corn (removed from the cob or 1 ½ cups frozen)
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 2 cans (14.5 ounces each fire roasted dice tomatoes)
  • kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 can (15 ounce black beans, drained and rinsed)
  • 1 can (15 ounce red kidney beans, drained and rinsed)
  • A handful of fresh cilantro (chopped)
  • Sour cream (shredded cheddar cheese, chopped onions, hot sauce, and chopped cilantro for serving)

Instructions

  1. 1

    In a large stock pot over medium high heat, add the olive oil, onion, garlic, jalapeno, and red and yellow peppers. Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften and the onions are translucent.

  2. 2

    Add the yellow squash, zucchini, and corn and sauté for an additional 2 to 4 minutes.

  3. 3

    Add the cumin, chili powder, fire roasted diced tomatoes and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.

  4. 4

    Stir in the both types of beans and chopped cilantro. Heat through.

  5. 5

    Season to taste with kosher salt and pepper.

  6. 6

    Serve with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, hot sauce, chopped onions, and additional chopped cilantro.

Nutrition

  • Serving1 /6 of recipe
  • Calories193 kcal
  • Carbohydrates30 g
  • Protein8.5 g
  • Fat5.9 g
  • Saturated Fat0.8 g
  • Sodium158 mg
  • Fiber10 g
  • Sugar6.6 g