Vegan Campfire Chili
This easy to make chili packs a hearty and spicy punch that is sure to warm you up on a cool night!
The name “Campfire Chili” actually came about because my original plan was to serve it for dinner while we were camping recently but… rainy weather cut our stay short and we ended up coming home early.
Oh well. At least we did have a nice time making s’mores the night before.
On a a more positive note, dinner was already prepped and ready to go!
This recipe calls for a chili seasoning mix, which should be readily available in most supermarkets but I prefer making my own. The quantities here will give you enough for around five batches of chili:
Homemade Chili Seasoning
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
To a small mixing bowl, add all ingredients and stir well.
Store extra seasoning in an air tight container.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 - 14oz. package vegan beef crumbles
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 - 15oz. can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup fresh salsa
- 2 tablespoons chili seasoning (see recipe in post, above)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
- To a large saucepan over medium high heat, add olive oil. When oil is hot, add vegan beef crumbles and yellow onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until crumbles are heated through and onion is softened and fragrant.
- Add dark red kidney beans, tomato sauce, fresh salsa, chili seasoning mix, ground black pepper, and garlic salt. Stir until all ingredients are combined.
- Reduce heat to low. Cover pot and simmer 1 hour. Serve warm.
This looks similar to my chili recipe, especially the chili seasoning. I don’t even know the last time I bought a packet from the store, I’ve been making my own for years. PS s’mores are easily the best part of camping!
We like it spicy and the store bought stuff just doesn’t bring the heat the way homemade can! 😉
We love trying new chili recipes at our house. We also go to chili cook offs for fun in the fall. I will make this and see what the family thinks. It looks great!
Isn’t this time of year the best? I feel like there is so much more to do in the fall than any other time of year!
Wow! This sounds wonderful. I would have never thought to use salsa in a chili, but what a great idea! We still have a lot of tomatoes to use up from our garden this summer, so I may have to make some salsa to make this chili =)
Thank you! I feel like fresh salsa is the “secret ingredient” here! 😉
We love all kinds of chili in this house, so I’m positive this would be a big hit! I really want a small firepit in the backyard, so perhaps this would be the first thing I could make when we get it!
It’s definitely fire pit weather in the evenings around here! 🙂
I’m loving beans so much these days! Have to be honest here, never been a fan of camping, but I’d like to have the s’mores, thank you very much!:D
Ha! I’m not a fan of camping either! The things we will endure for our kids though! 😉
Chili is a staple and I just love the different chili recipes that are being shared. This is one recipe that I would love to try especially this season.
Absolutely a fall classic!
Im not a great cooker but I love chili, so I will give a try to this recipe for sure. Ill may surprise my family if it turns out as delicious as your pictures shows!
You would have to really try to mess this one up! It’s pretty fool proof! 🙂
this looks so hearty and perfect for cooler temperatures. i love a good chili, especially with a little bit of a kick!
Yes, we do too! Thank you!
This looks amazing. I need to try this because it’s gotten cold and fall like here.
There used to be regular chili competitions in my home town but I have never made it myself. As in the case of the competition judges the chose the winner based on taste (they were very spicy), texture and appearance. From the looks of your Vegan Campfire Chili seems to be a winner in all categories.
Thank you so much! My husband thinks I should enter it in our church’s annual cookoff. Maybe next year! 🙂
This does look like delicious chili. I know that my daughter and I love chili. I am sure it would make for great campfire food.
Definitely will warm you up!
I just shared a chili recipe last week! Tis the season, right?! And campfires are the best, so an excellent pairing in my book!!
Yes! Thank you!
Looks good and so chunky for a vegan chili. Yum
It is definitely hearty and quite filling!
My cousin is vegan so I am def sharing this recipe with her. I think she would really like it!
You don’t have to vegan to love this one! I promise you won’t miss the meat!
I love chili and this is a recipe I’ve never attempted! I am going to add this to our “to-make” list.
Yay! It’s so easy! 🙂
I love chili, but oddly never had a homemade chili lol. And this being vegan makes it so much better! Thanks for sharing 😀 Xoxo
Never had homemade chili?! You must try it – so much better than the store bought stuff!
Wow – I haven’t tried vegan chilli but geez it looks just like it’s meaty sister. I will have to give this a try ASAP because it sounds so tasty
Thank you! This chili is quite hearty and you absolutely will not miss the meat!
One of the things I enjoy the most on the colder weather is chili so good and comforting
Yes! Chili is a cold weather staple in this house! 🙂
This chili looks like it would taste absolutely amazing! I love to make a big pot especially with the weather cooling.
Thank you! Cold weather is settling in here and we’re loving it! 🙂
I’ve been looking for a good chili seasoning recipe. I will give this a try. You can’t beat a good bowl of chili:)
I like to make extra seasoning mix to have on hand in the spice cabinet.
This looks yummy!! We eat looooottttssss of chili in my house. My go to chili recipe looks similar to this, although it also includes 1 c dark beer and cinnamon sticks! Mmmm….
I would think dark beer would be a nice addition to this one, too. 🙂
YUM! I have never made vegan chili! But we love chili and in fact we had it a few nights ago! Yours sounds amazing. I’ll have to try it!
Thank you! Even the meat eaters in my family love this chili!
This is great! I am looking to make the switch to vegan and easy recipes are a must.
Absolutely!
Chili is always a Fall favorite I my house but I love this recipe adding a bit of spice!
This one has quite a kick! 😉
This looks very delicious! My family loves chili and especially a homemade recipe! They taste so much better than a canned version. I am looking forward to trying out your recipe!
Thank you! I agree!
This chili looks delicious! We love to have chili when it gets cold out. I’ll have to try this recipe next time!
Thank you! Enjoy!
I have eaten chili only two-three times in my life, I like it, but I’m not supposed yo eat spiced food so it’s not exactly on my list of everyday dishes. I wish I could eat it more often. The pictures look great.
This is definitely a spicy one! Although you could absolutely scale back on the spices and salsa… this recipe is very forgiving!
This sounds awesome. I have not eaten much chili in my entire life but I am going to give it a try. 🙂
This chili looks soo good! Perfect for a cool fall evening
Yes!! Thank you!
Everything cooked over the campfire is the best. This is on my list to do!!
I’m not a vegan but this sounds delicious! Chili is my fave!
I’ve never liked beans (with the exception of baked beans) or camping. And I don’t believe I’ve ever had anything vegan. I’m sure there are many who will enjoy this recipe!