Who says chili has to have meat? Our top 3 vegetarian chili recipes to win a chili cookoff are full of veggies and so delicious, they’re contest contenders.
Okay, so we know what you’re thinking: chili is about meat. But your chili cookoff this year, what about trying something a little different? Eating veggies is getting cool again. And chili without meat can be even more creative and delicious as as its meat-filled counterpart.
Here at A Couple Cooks, Alex and I are not even vegetarian: we’re flexitarian. This means we eat a mostly plant based diet, but splurge on meat on occasion. And for us, we’d rather pile on the veggies in chili and save our meat quota for a big juicy burger. So here are the top three vegetarian chili recipes we’ve created that hit all the notes of the fall while being meatless. They’ve got big flavor, but are fully plant based. And even though we’ve called them vegetarian chili recipes, they’re actually all vegan chili recipes too—unless you decide to load them with sour cream and cheese. (Which we do.)
A good vegetarian or vegan chili recipe can be deceptively difficult to find. Alex and I have made many meatless chili recipes over the years, and we’ve found that vegetarian chili recipes need a whole lot of flavor going on. Since many people expect the heartiness of a meat chili, it’s got to be flavored to perfection. This Mango Black Bean Chili recipe is something totally unique, and an unexpected spin on the typical chili! Chunks of fresh mango add a subtle sweetness, and there’s a hint of allspice for a bit of complexity. A squeeze of lime takes this vegetarian chili over the top.
Take it from one of our readers, who said: “This Mango Black Bean Chili got rave reviews! It’s freaking delicious, high in vitamins and protein, lower in carbs and sugar, and literally took me 30 minutes to make (plus simmering and cleanup). Getting all three kids AND the grownups to agree on a healthy and easy meal is basically a miracle!”
This Classic Vegetarian Chili recipe is our take on a straight up chili recipe, without the meat. If a chili doesn’t have ground beef, Alex and I like to add a texture that mimics meat. Our Classic Vegetarian Chili uses bulgur wheat to some meaty texture. For maximum flavor, we used green chiles (or jalapeños) for some spice, a crazy amount of chili powder, and a hint of chipotle powder to add complexity. These tricks make this a vegetarian chili that’s hearty and not just “bean soup”.
This savory, hearty quinoa vegan chili is packed with protein and works for vegetarian, plant-based, and gluten-free eaters. Alex and I modeled this modeled after the vegetarian chili from a lunch date at a restaurant here in town (hey, Public Greens!). We wanted to keep it simple and flavorful, and incorporate tons of savory veggies. It’s light on the chili powder so the other flavors can shine; the secret ingredients are a bit of adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chili peppers in adobo (available at most groceries in the ethnic foods aisle), and a bit of white wine vinegar stirred in at the end for some brightness. If you love chili powder, the vegetarian chili above features a full 1/2 cup of chili powder, so try that one instead!
Looking for other vegetarian soups?This website is full of vegetarian soups and vegan soups! Here are a few other vegetarian soups we’d recommend:
Moroccan Spiced Cauliflower SoupItalian Vegetable & Gnocchi SoupCreamy Vegan Tomato Soup with StarsThis recipe is…These vegetarian chili recipes are vegetarian, vegan, plant based, dairy free, naturally sweet, and refined sugar free. For gluten free, use quinoa. For vegan, top with Vegan Nacho Cheese.
A Couple Cooks - Recipes for Healthy & Whole Living
This healthy breakfast meal prep recipe contains a turkey and egg white scramble alongside sheet pan sweet potato hash and is perfect to prep ahead of time to enjoy on those busy mornings. Say hello to easier, healthier, and quicker breakfasts every morning!
You know what I love about mornings? Breakfast food. And coffee. That’s about it. The list of things I don’t like is endless. But when you love breakfast food and you hate mornings, you have to find a middle ground. Meal prep breakfast is the perfect middle ground for me. It gets me the breakfast food I love so much, but it also allows me to sleep in.
I have 3 morning scenarios I want to talk to you about.
Scenario no. 1:
You snooze your alarm because you want to get 5 more minutes of sleep. Then another 5 minutes. And another 5 minutes.
Eventually, you wake up. And you panic. You have to get the kids ready for school, to make coffee, to make sure everybody has their lunch box ready and to make sure everybody leaves the house on time.
You have no time for breakfast.
Now your kids will have to eat something on their way to school. And you and your husband will have to find a way to survive until lunch. That usually means eating something that is not healthy.
But you really needed those 15 minutes of sleep. I know you did. I need them, too.
Scenario no. 2:
You wake up when the alarm rings. You make coffee, you make breakfast, you make sure your kids are ready for school. Everything is fine. Except… you feel tired and your day just started. Oh, sleeping in would’ve been better.
But it wouldn’t have been because skipping breakfast is not a good option. Like ever.
No worries. I’m not here to judge you. I’m here to give you a better alternative. Ok? Ok!
Now picture this…
Scenario no. 3:
You sleep in a little longer. You wake up fresh. You have time for everything including a healthy breakfast. How does this sound?
Too good to be true?
I’m telling you scenario no. 3 is possible. You’ll just have to learn how to make breakfast meal prep.
Are you intrigued?
Good. Because I have a healthy breakfast meal prep recipe you can prep ahead of time and enjoy the delicious result during busy mornings.
Learning how to meal prep breakfast is super easy. I promise.
Don’t worry about meal prep ideas because I’ve got you covered. I have one recipe in this post plus 3 recommendations at the end to load you up.
Feeling less stressed already? Filled with hope?
Perfect! That’s my goal.
Let me guess…You have no time to cook in the morning during busy weekdays, but you still want to enjoy a healthy breakfast?
I get you. I really do. That’s why I came up with some amazing breakfast ideas and meal prep breakfast recipes for you.
You don’t have to wait for the weekend to enjoy healthy breakfast meals. You also don’t have to constantly go through scenario no.2 and to be stressed from the moment you wake up.
The solution is meal prep.
Just make sure you have some time for to cook your make ahead breakfast during the weekends, when you actually have the time. We like to set aside 2-3 hours of time on the weekends for our meal prep. We get as much done as we can and that’s what we have for the rest of the week. It works gret during football games so we can hang out, cook, and watch football.
But, if I have to make time for meal prepping breakfast, how am I saving time? Isn’t it better to spend 20 minutes in the morning and just make breakfast from scratch?
Is this what you’re thinking?
Trust me, I always try to save time and be as efficient as possible so I wouldn’t recommend meal prep if meal prep would waste your time.
It takes far less time to prep your meals ahead of time than to cook every meal from scratch. Especially when that meal is breakfast. People are more tempted to skip breakfast than to skip dinner. This is one of the many reasons make ahead breakfasts are such a good idea. The food being ready to grab makes meal prep breakfast such a winner in the mornings.
How to healthy meal prep:
Plan your healthy breakfast recipes menu Make a list of breakfast recipes Make a shopping list Shop for healthy ingredients Meal prep breakfast – I recommend doing this during the weekends or whenever you have free time in your schedule — even an hour will work! Store your healthy breakfast meals in meal prep containers to keep them as fresh as possible.Simple, right?
Still not convinced? Let me give you an example, ok?
How to meal prep eggs:
Make sure you have all the ingredients on hand. For the egg whites scramble you need – egg whites, ham, spices, and spinach. Season the egg whites with salt and pepper and whisk together. Add the egg whites to a skillet. Add the rest of the ingredients. Cook. Remove from the heat and let the egg whites scramble cool. Move the egg whites scramble into meal prep containers. Store in the fridge.I like to enjoy the egg whites scramble with sweet potato hash. So, after I make the sweet potato hash, I add it next to the egg whites scramble in the meal prep containers.
This is it, peeps.
Delicious and healthy breakfast for every day of the week.
Now tell me this is not amazing.
If you plan to meal prep often, you will probably want to invest in good quality meal prep containers that will keep your food fresh in the fridge. Because, let me tell you, spoiled food, microwave meltdowns, and leaky lids are no joke.
I have these glass meal prep containers and I LOVE them. They’re durable, they’re re-heatable, they stack well, and they’re dishwasher safe.
Let’s have a quick glass vs. plastic meal prep analysis to make your job easier.
Plastic meal prep containers are…
Cheap; Lightweight; Great for eating on the go; Multiple sizes available; Recyclable.Glass meal prep containers are…
Pricey, but more economical long term; Not as good for eating-on-the-go; Easy to clean; Environmentally friendly; Easier to reheat.Where to buy meal prep containers:
Online. I got mine from Amazon. In most grocery stores, in the kitchen appliances section.
One of the greatest things about healthy meal prep breakfast is that you get to enjoy a healthy breakfast every day. However, your breakfast becomes boring if it looks the same every single day. Am I right? That means you need more breakfast ideas. So how about 3 breakfast meal prep ideas? Sounds good?
HEALTHY EGG MUFFIN CUPSI love muffins. And I would love to be able to turn every type of food into muffins. I’ll let you know if I find a way to do that but, in the meantime, try these Healthy Egg Muffin Cups.
These Healthy Egg Muffin Cups make mornings easier. Not only that but they are healthy, pretty, and kids love them. Also, you can store them in the fridge for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Get the recipe.
FROZEN BREAKFAST BURRITOSFrozen Breakfast Burritos – Another great make ahead breakfast. These burritos are high in protein, they contain fiber and all kinds of healthy ingredients.
They are also very filling and delicious. And they are very easy to make. You really have to add them to your breakfast meal prep ideas list. Get the recipe.
PUMPKIN PIE OVERNIGHT OATSLast but by any means not least healthy meal prep breakfast, we have Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats. This is one of those Fall-perfect breakfast recipes that is packed with amazing pumpkin flavors.
And, let me tell you, learning how to meal prep breakfast bowls is another favorite time-savior trick of mine. Get the recipe.
Say hello to easier, healthier, and quicker breakfasts every morning! This healthy breakfast meal prep recipe is perfect to prep ahead of time and enjoy the delicious results during those busy mornings.
Add diced thick-cut turkey and cook, tossing frequently, until it’s golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. (I buy my turkey meat from the deli counter and ask for them to slice a large 1/3 inch slice that I cut down into bite-size pieces. It’s perfect for omelets and scrambles.)
Add some minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic is fragrant. Now, add the fresh baby spinach, and cook until the spinach is mostly wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Pour your seasoned egg white mixture into the skillet and allow to cook, without stirring, until the mixture begins to set around the edges. Using a spatula, gently stir the eggs, forming large, soft curds. Continue cooking until the egg whites are cooked through, but still glossy, soft, and moist.Then, remove the pan from heat and allow to cool. Remember, the eggs will continue to cook even after removing from the heat so you don’t want them to look perfectly cooked all the way while the heat is still on.
To prep our breakfasts for the week, start by dividing the roasted sweet potato hash into the meal prep containers (I usually get about 5 servings of 1/2 cup of this).
On the other side of the meal prep containers, divide our egg white scramble into even portions.You can top the sweet potato hash with some sliced green onions, and then store this breakfast meal prep in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you’d like to add a little extra good fat to the breakfast, top it with some sliced fresh avocado once it’s heated. Maybe a little salsa for some spice?
You can top the sweet potato hash with some sliced green onions, and then store this breakfast meal prep in the fridge for up to 5 days, making it a great grab and go healthy breakfast option. Just pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes, and you’ve got yourself a protein-packed breakfasts which contains 20 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, 5 grams of fat, and just 217 calories. If you’d like to add a little extra good fat to the breakfast, top it with some sliced fresh avocado once it’s heated. Maybe a little salsa for some spice? So easy, so good, and so good for you!
This post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
The post Breakfast Meal Prep | Egg White Scramble + Sweet Potato Hash appeared first on A Sweet Pea Chef.
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