Lentils and meaty minced mushrooms stand in for ground beef in this plant-based spin on a Queen City treasure.

Its a reasonably healthful budget recipe with tons of leftovers.

Serve it over spaghetti for a dinner thatll stick to your ribs and leave you smiling.

Vegan Cincinnati Chili Served over a Platter of Pasta and Topped with Cheese and Onions

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

What Makes Cincinnati Chili Special?

In a word, meat and spices.

This version stacks up admirably against its meaty predecessors.

Vegan Cincinnati Chili Served over a Platter of Pasta and Topped with Cheese and Onions

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Youll also want to see to it your obligatory splash of Worcestershire sauce is veganmany brands contain anchovies.

For many, shredded cheese is an important topping (see more below).

The thin strands of cheese melt yieldingly into the chili, mitigating the heavy-handedness of the spices.

Vegan Cincinnati Chili Served over a Platter of Pasta and Topped with Cheese and Onions

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Now all we need is to develop a vegangoettarecipe and well have all our bases covered.

Check the label to check that its vegan.

For an easy substitute, use soy sauce spiked with a little molasses.

Vegan Cincinnati Chili Served over a Platter of Pasta and Topped with Cheese and Onions

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

To use plant-based ground meat, such as Beyond Beef or Impossible Burger, omit the mushrooms and lentils.

Use 24 ounces of plant-based meat crumbles, adding them in Step 2.

Be mindful not to go too far, or theyll turn to mush.

Spatula Used to Stir Tomato Paste in a Dutch Oven for Vegan Cincinnati Chili Recipe

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Set the mushrooms aside.

Heat a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

This should take 1 to 3 minutes.

Minced Mushrooms for Vegan Cincinnati Chili Boiling in a Dutch Oven over the Stove

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Add the water, which will help keep the tomato paste from scorching.

Stir well, scraping the bottom to free any stuck-on paste.

Mix them together into a sludge.

Vegan Cincinnati Chili Ingredients (Lentils, Tomato Sauce, etc.) Stirred into Dutch Oven

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.

How long this will take will depend on the key in and age of the lentils you are using.

Stir the chili often.

Immersion Blender Used to Pulse Vegan Cincinnati Chili in a Dutch Oven

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

You want the volume to reduce, but add water if needed so the lentils can cook through.

Simple Tip!

Add the vinegar and chocolate, if using.

Paleo Chocolate Mousse

Let sit for 10 minutes, then taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

Serve as desired: over spaghetti, over a Coney dog, or in a bowl.

Top with the combo of toppings that speaks to you.

Vegan Chicken Nuggets Sprinkled with Salt Flakes on a Newspaper with Two Bowls of Sauces

Vegan Cincinnati chili will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 1 year.

Pot of Vegan Mac and Cheese with a Wooden Spoon

Cooked green lentils in vegan sloppy joes ingredients

Vegan Cincinnati Chili Served over a Platter of Pasta and Topped with Cheese and Onions

The best vegan chocolate chip cookies with flaky salt on top on a baking sheet.

Pot of Vegan Cacio e Pepe with Some Noodles Wrapped around a Pair of Tongs Next to a Bowl of Black Pepper on a Small Plate and Two Forks on the Counter

Vegan chicken nugget taste test

Vegan ice cream taste test

Surprising ingredients not vegan

Trader Joe’s storefront

Vegan Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Jar of vegan caesar dressing

Black Bean Smash Burger on a Plate with French Fries, and in the Background, a Plate with More Burgers and a Tray with More Fries

Vegan spinach and tofu scramble in skillet with toast on side.

Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry served in a bowl with spinach and rice

Best vegan products

Whole Foods Store Front

Plant-Based Cookbooks

Isa Chandra Moskowitz

Nutritional yeast

Article image

Plated Creamy vegan queso recipe

Baking Sheet of Vegan Nachos (Nachos Topped with Salsa, Queso, Pickled Jalpenos, and Two Lime Wedges) with a Serving Missing

Pan of Super Creamy Vegan Pasta Topped with Parsley and Some Wrapped Around a Pair of Tongs. Next to the Pan, Two Bowls of Ingredients (One: Cashews and Two: Nutritional Yeast)

Platter of Silken Tofu with Sesame Soy Sauce Next to a Small Bowl with More Soy Sauce, Another Small Bowl with Sesame Sauce, a Spoon on a Napkin, and a Kitchen Towel

Halved Vegan Patty Melt with Pickles on a Plate over a Table Napkin

What does jackfruit taste like?

Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal on a Marble Counter Next to a Bowl with a Brownie and Quartered Strawberries

Copycat Sofritas in a Pan with a Wooden Spoon and Lime Wedges, Surrounded by a Bowl of Lime Wedges, a Glass of Water, and a Couple of Forks

The Mindful Spiritually of Ăn Chay

Hannah Che Vegan Chinese Kitchen