Vegan Slow Cooker Chili! With beans and sweet potatoes, it's easy, hearty, and big on flavour. Throw everything into your slow cooker and let it do all of the work!
PREP TIME: 10 minutesminutes
COOK TIME: 8 hourshours
TOTAL TIME: 8 hourshours10 minutesminutes
Servings: 8servings
Ingredients
1½ cups (300grams)dried beans , OR 3 x 14-16oz cans of beans (about 4½ cups). DO NOT use dried kidney beans in this recipe.
1 x 28oz (796 ml)cancrushed tomatoes, (about 3 cups)
1largeonion, chopped finely
1largesweet potato, peeled and cubed
4large clovesgarlic, minced
2bay leaves
1tablespoonItalian mixed herbs, or a teaspoon each of thyme, rosemary and oregano (or similar)
1 to 2teaspoondried red chilli pepper flakes, adjust to your spice tolerance
3tablespoons chili powder, (American style - see notes if using UK/European chili powder)
2teaspoonsground cumin
¼teaspoonground cinnamon
2teaspoonscocoa powder, or 2 squares of good quality dark chocolate
1tablespoonsugar
2 cups (480 mls)water, reduce to 1 cup (240mls) if using canned/fully cooked beans.
2teaspoonsfine sea salt
1teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
If using dried beans soak them overnight before proceeding.
Add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker (mine is 6 quarts) and stir them together well.
If using soaked dried beans, set the slow cooker to low and cook for about 8 hours or high for about 4 to 5 hours. If using canned/fully cooked beans set to low and cook for 5 to 6 hours or high for about 3½ to 4 hours.
Check the beans are cooked through and tender before serving.
If at any time it gets too thick add a little boiling water from a kettle to thin as desired.
NOTES
Important note RE the chili powder - The chili powder used in this recipe is North American style. If you are in the UK or Europe DO NOT use 4 tablespoons. UK chili powder is 100% chili and is spicy and hot. The chili powder in the US and Canada is very different. It is mild and contains a mix of spices. Use a max of 1 teaspoon (dependent on your spice tolerance) and omit the chili flakes. For info about why you can't use dried kidney beans see the FAQs.