Veggie Chili: Five 5-star Options

Chili. What's not to like? A one-pot meal, high-protein nutrients, comfort food, easy cleanup, and it makes an excellent leftover component for a Texas tradition, Frito pie, and not to mention, veggie chili dogs for baseball viewing parties.

Veggie chili can tantalize your taste buds, or be an incredible let down. Whether your preference is a bean-y chili, faux-meat chili, a speedy chili, or a simmered-all-day chili, there is something for everyone's needs.

1. Lightlife Smart Chili

I'm a huge fan of the LightLife products. The veggie chili market is very competitive, so it didn't exactly ace my critical taste buds test, but I still consider it one of the better options, esp if you're in a rush!

Scant portions, but hearty and satisfying.

Not as spicy as I prefer, but "full-bodied" as they say for wine.

An excellent speedy chili option.

Faux meat.

2. Morningstar Meal Starters

Feeling like donning the apron today? Don't worry. You only have to dress to impress. Morningstar Meal starters makes it easy to make an all day simmered chili from "scratch" without the meat prep and thaw that you would normally endure with real meat. Find any recipe that calls for beef and substitute accordingly. I use it for my favorite Crock Pot Taco Soup.

Crock Pot Taco Soup

1 can of corn

1 can of black beans

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of pinto beans

1/2 a bag on Morningstar Beef crumbles

1/2 a packet of dry ranch dressing mix

1/2 a packet of taco seasoning mix

Set Crock Pot on Low all day. (If you drain the cans, then add water to the pot!)

3. Amy's Spicy Chili

Not a fan of any can (contrary to my recipe above), but this is a great NOW option...as long as you have an errand boy in the house to go make the grocery run NOW.

This is great for chili dogs, frito pie, or just plain chili. Scant portion. Not very spicy actually, so don't do this route if you're looking for something with a kick. Great for kids though. More bean-y than I prefer.

4. No fake meat homemade chili

Okay so you want to wear the apron but you actually want to get into character? Ambitious, aren't we? Why would you do that? Well, one think we veg heads miss out on in the kitchen is the fun of deglazing the pan of all the "meat flavor". But I did find an excellent recipe where we can have that fun AND we get to use BEER to do it!! Tried and true, see the other reviews. This chili is sure to be a big hit and serve plenty. Arrange all the toppings alongside the big chili pot for a big cookout, chili bar finish.

5. Fantastic Vegetarian Chili

And yes it is! My favorite among all of these. Hard to find, but so worth it when you do. But don't forget to grab the two ingredients you'll need before you leave the grocery store, kidney beans and diced tomatoes.

It cooks super fast - almost to a fault, if you are hoping to empty the dishwasher while waiting...

Chili with a kick, serves plenty, meaty texture, some bean-y-ness, but not too much, and will satisfy the biggest brawniest carnivore in the room.