Easy Quorn Vegetarian Chilli (30 minutes)

Name: Easy Vegetarian Quorn Chilli - Ready in 30 minutes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil (organic, fairtrade); 1 onions (organic, diced); 2 cloves garlic (organic, peeled, crushed); 2 tsp mild chilli powder (organic); 2 tsp sweet smoked paprika (organic, fairtrade); 1 tsp ground cumin (organic, fairtrade); 3 tbsp tomato puree (organic); 350 g Quorn Mince; 100 ml vegetable stock (organic); 400 g chopped tomatoes (organic, use tinned); 1 tsp oregano (organic, fairtrade); 20 g dark chocolate or sugar (organic, fairtrade ); 400 g kidney beans (organic, fairtrade, use tinned drained and rinsed ); 1 dash black pepper (organic, fairtrade, freshly ground)

This easy Quorn Chilli recipe is a hearty, family-friendly version of a classic chilli con carne, made with Quorn mince instead of beef. It's high in protein, low in fat, budget-friendly and on the the table in just 30 minutes.

quorn chilli in bowl with rice and sliced avocado soured cream and avocado to side

Would you like to SAVE this Post?

I'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

I respect your privacy and you can opt out at any time.

Cooking with Quorn is a great sustainability swap and a simple way to reduce your meat intake. It's a perfect choice for meat-free Mondays, quick vegetarian dinners or freezer friendly batch cooking. As it's all cooked in one-pot, it also makes a simple meal for mid-week with minimal washing up!

Quorn mince can be used in almost all beef mince recipes and can be cooked straight from frozen. For more great Quorn comfort food recipes, check out Quorn Cottage Pie, Easy Quorn Vegetarian Bolognese or Quorn Lasagne. If you're after a great tasting vegetable-based chilli, try my Vegetarian Sweet Potato Chilli or 5 Bean Chilli sin carne, which is economical and healthy.

Jump to:

Ingredients
How to make Quorn Chilli step by step
Pro Tip
Slow cooker Quorn Chilli
How to maximise the flavour
How to serve Quorn Chilli 5 ways
The best Chilli toppings
Substitutions & Variations - make it yours
Pro Tip
Freezer-Friendly Batch Cooking
Pro Tip
Sustainability
Storage
FAQ's about this recipe
📖 Recipe
💬 Reviews

Ingredients

This vegetarian Chilli con Carne uses simple budget-friendly ingredients you probably already have.

Quorn Mince - high in protein, low in fat and cooks straight from frozen - no defrosting needed!
Kidney Beans - adds fibre, colour and texture. Swap for black or pinto beans if you like.
Spices - a mild to medium mix of chilli powder, paprika and cumin for warmth and depth. Adjust the chilli level to suit your taste.
Tomatoes - go for a good quality brand for the best flavour. Cheaper ones tend to add water, so reduce your stock slightly if using them.
Tomato Puree - gives body and richness
Vegetable Stock - use a gluten free or low sodium one if needed.
Dark Chocolate - (yes really!) - a few squares balance acidity, deepens flavour and is a nod to traditional Mexican chilli recipes.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make Quorn Chilli step by step

Step 1 - Saute the onion

Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Fry the onion for about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent.

Step 2 - Add garlic and spices

Stir in the garlic, chilli powder, paprika, cumin and tomato puree. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring to help release the flavour into the oil.

Step 3 - Add Quorn mince

Turn up the heat and stir in the Quorn mince. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes.

quorn chilli all ingredients added in casserole dish

Step 4 - Add everything else

Pour in the vegetable stock, tinned tomatoes, oregano, sugar (or dark chocolate), and kidney beans. Season with black pepper.

quorn chilli in bowl with rice topped with soured cream and tortilla chips

Step 5 - Simmer gently

Bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a splash more water or stock if it looks too thick.

Pro Tip

Have more time? cover with a lid and pop it in the oven at 160°C/325°F/gas mark 3 for up to an hour. The flavours will develop beautifully.

Slow cooker Quorn Chilli

Cooking Quorn Chilli in a slow cooker is very simple and handy too. Just add all the ingredients apart from the Quorn mince to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. For the last 15 minutes, add the Quorn mince from frozen. Stir, then serve.

How to maximise the flavour

A few simple steps will really bring out the flavour in this vegetarian chilli.

Toasting the spices and tomato puree in the oil for a few minutes helps release the full flavour.
Using a range of spices such as cumin, smoked paprika and chilli adds depth.
Adding unsweetened dark chocolate adds richness
Extra heat - add a little extra chilli for more heat. Do this a little at a time.
Other flavours - a pinch of cinnamon or a shot of espresso adds more depth of flavour. Reduce the amount of stock slightly if you add a shot of espresso.

For another rich, deep-flavoured vegetarian chilli, check out this Vegetarian Sweet Potato Chilli.

How to serve Quorn Chilli 5 ways

This family-friendly Quorn Chilli is very versatile. Try it :-

Over fluffy rice for a quick mid-week meal.
Stuffed into a jacket potato.
With nachos and melted cheese for a fun Friday night.
Rolled into soft tortillas or tacos.
Spooned over baked sweet potatoes with avocado.

Why not create a DIY Chilli bar - set out rice, wraps, toppings and let everyone build their own bowl.

The best Chilli toppings

Toppings make the meal. Mix and match some of these options.

Soured cream or natural yoghurt (dairy-free if vegan)
Grated cheese - choose a strong cheese such as cheddar or a vegan cheese alternative.
Salsa, guacamole or sliced avocado
Fresh coriander (cilantro) and a squeeze of lime. Lime juice helps brighten the flavours.
Tortilla Chips - add a bit of crunch.
Shredded lettuce - add this to wraps or serve over the top of your chilli.

overhead shot of quorn chilli served with white rice with sides of salsa soured cream avocado and wraps

Substitutions & Variations - make it yours

Vegan version - Swap Quorn mince for a vegan mince such as THIS isn't Beef Plant-Based Mince, Meatless Farm Beef Mince, Linda McCartney Vegan Vegemince or Vivera Plant based Mince (UK). Impossible Beef, or Gardein Plant-Based Ground Beef (US).
Gluten Free : Check your stock cubes are gluten-free.
Extra Veg : adding more vegetables to dishes is healthy and economical. Mushrooms go well in chilli as do red or yellow bell peppers. You could also add celery or diced carrots.
Spices : keep it mild for kids, add more spice for adults if you wish. Add a little at a time until you get the right level for you.

Pro Tip

Add extra beans to stretch the recipe further without changing the flavour - ideal for batch cooking or feeding a crowd.

Freezer-Friendly Batch Cooking

Cooking for later? This freezer-friendly Quorn Chilli is perfect for meal prep.

Cool quickly after cooking, then portion into containers.
Freeze for up to 1 month
Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat until piping hot.
You can safely freeze it even if your Quorn mince was frozen originally.

Pro Tip

When doubling or tripling the recipe, don't double the liquids. Add stock gradually so your chilli doesn't turn watery. You will need extra liquid, but not double or triple. You want to keep your chilli a nice thick consistency.

Sustainability

This Quorn Chilli is a real sustainablity win. Quorn has a much lower carbon footprint than mince as it uses 90% less land, water, and carbon emissions than animal proteins. As a comparison, 1kg of Quorn produces just 0.5kg of CO2 gases. 1kg of beef, produces 32kg of CO2 gases.

Many of the ingredients including all the spices, kidney beans, sugar, chocolate can also be bought as Fairtrade items. Choosing Fairtrade products makes a huge difference in the lives of the farmers and producers. The benefits go much further. The Fairtrade organisation works hard to promote sustainable farming practice and environmental protection. Check out my most popular Fairtrade recipes for more ideas on cooking with Fairtrade products.

Storage

Fridge : store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Freezer : freeze for up to 1 month, even if your Quorn was originally frozen.
Reheat : defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat until piping hot. Only reheat it once.

FAQ's about this recipe

Why add dark chocolate or cocoa to chilli?

It balances acidity and brings our the warmth of the spices. You don't taste the chocolate, just a richer flavour.

Is Quorn mince gluten-free?

Yes quorn mince is gluten free. It contains a gluten free barley malt extract.

Does Quorn mince need to be defrosted?

No, one of the great things about Quorn mince is that it can be cooked straight from frozen.

⭐Before you begin! Please leave a review and rating if you made this recipe. I so appreciate it and it helps me be able to continue providing you with free recipes.