Hearty, vegetarian and vegan 3-bean chili made with quinoa and butternut squash.  This comforting veggie chili is perfect for your slow cooker or crockpot. 

Every month the families at my girls' school contribute to a staff appreciation lunch. I know the parents truly do appreciate our teachers and love to honor them with a special lunch. We send our babies off in the mornings and know they are being loved and educated for seven hours of the day. One of our teachers is often found in the classroom preparing on weekends, and spending lunchtimes in the classroom with a few children who like to stay in. Providing a warm, home cooked meal is the least we can do. One of the things I like most about cooking is that homemade food makes such a wonderful gift that nourishes body and soul. 

The lunch theme this month was chilis and soups. To keep the chilis warm, of course, slow cookers were necessary. So I made a pot of my favorite vegetarian/vegan chili with lots of veggies like sweet butternut squash, 3 types of beans, and quinoa. My family loves this slow cooker veggie chili because it's easy to spice up or down. I make it on the mild side and Yummy Hubby and I spice ours up with hot sauce. This veggie chili is an easy one-pot meal that everyone needs to have for busy nights. It provides plenty of vitamins from the colorful vegetables, and complete protein from the beans and quinoa. 

 Let the slow cooker do the cooking and when you're ready to eat, top the chili with your favorite toppings. What are your favorite toppings? A few of my favorites are avocado, cilantro, and a little spicy crunch from either thinly sliced radishes or diced red onion.

 I hope you add this veggie slow cooker chili with quinoa, beans, and butternut squash to your weekly dinner rotation!

Slow Cooker Vegan Chili with Quinoa and Butternut Squash

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By yummy mummy kitchen
Published 01/18/2017

This easy slow cooker veggie chili is loaded with healthy ingredients like beans, quinoa, and butternut squash. It's vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free!

Ingredients

• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced into coins
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 cups butternut squash cubes
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 (28 oz.) can diced fire roasted tomatoes
• 2 (4.5 oz.) cans diced green chilies
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• ½ cup quinoa
• 3 cans beans (kidney, black, garbanzo, pinto, etc.)
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 3 dashes hot sauce, to taste, plus more for serving
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• fresh cilantro, for garnish
• thinly sliced radishes or diced red onion, for garnish
• 1-2 avocados, for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients through salt in the slow cooker. Set to low for 6 hours.
2. Ladle into bowls and garnish with your favorite toppings.

Yield: Serves about 8
Prep Time: 15 mins.

Cook time: 6 hrs.
Total time: 6 hrs. 15 mins.
Tags: chili, slow cooker, crockpot, easy, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dinner