Spring break starts on Monday, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. This winter has just dragged on and on. Every time I think spring and warmer temperatures are finally here, we get another round of snow. Nooo!
I can’t do anything about our stubborn weather, but we’ve got some fun activities lined up for spring break anyway. We’re planning to get out to see some friends, do some day trips around the city, hopefully sneak in a picnic lunch (if it ever dries out enough!), make some spring-themed crafts, and maybe bake a little too!
When it’s cold and damp outside, a big bowl of hearty chili is just what Mom ordered. I love that while we’re busy having fun, chili can sit and simmer on the back of the stove. Plus chili makes great leftovers for the next day. Who doesn’t love a big bowl of hearty homemade chili?
We don’t eat a lot of beans around here though. Instead of traditional kidney beans, I use sweet potatoes, carrots, peppers, and zucchini. Lots of flavour, vitamins, and minerals, without the lectins.
These are the veggies I like to use, but the beauty of a recipe like this is in its adaptability. Feel free to experiment with other veggies in your chili. Root vegetables like turnips, rutabagas, and parsnips are wonderful in this dish. Cauliflower works well too. Feeling a little adventurous? Try some kohlrabi or asparagus!
Just because we leave out the beans, don’t think this chili isn’t filling. It’s full of hearty chunks of fresh vegetables and all the comforting flavours you expect from homemade chili. Because there are no legumes, gluten, or sugar, this recipe is also paleo-friendly and Whole30.
My no bean chili is always a crowd pleaser in our house, especially when I whip up a pan of gluten-free cheater cornbread to serve on the side!
No Bean Paleo Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 large onion cubed
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 398ml cans tomato sauce
- 1 156ml tin tomato paste
- 2 medium sweet potatoes cubed
- 3 large carrots sliced
- 2 to matoes diced
- 2 red/yellow/orange peppers cubed
- 1/2 zucchini cubed
- 3 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp chipotle chili powder can substitute chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once shimmering, add onion and cook until translucent.
- Add ground beef and garlic to pot and cook until meat is browned. Drain off any excess liquid.
- Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, sweet potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and spices.
- Cook on medium-low for 30 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Turn heat down and add peppers and zucchini. Simmer until all vegetables are soft.
What a great blend of seasonings! I love chili and ginger, and the addition of all the veggies makes this extra good.
I’m always looking for a bean free chili option, this one looks great! We do eat alot of beans in our house so as a result I like to look for alternatives where I can!
This looks delicious! I love the idea of sweet potatoes in there!
Omgosh yes!! Why in the world wont Winter just go away lol?!?! This chili sounds amazing though!!
this looks like a great must try.
yum this looks tasty!
This sounds yummy! It’s been so cold out here lately. The perfect weather for chili!
Thanks for the recipe it’s different and i can;t wait to try it !
Looks delicious and hearty! I love ginger in Chili!
My kids are not big fans of legumes so they would likely enjoy this beanless version of chili, especially my spice-loving daughter.
This sounds delicious! My husband would really love this much more than tradition chili. He really doesn’t care for the beans.
There are some lovely ingredients and wonderful spices in this recipe.I bet it’s full of flavor!
00I think it is a great idea to add veggies instead of beans to your chili. With all this hamburg, I think we have enough protein. I am saving the recipe. Thank you.
Looks good. I like the veges you chose. Have you ever tried this with asparagus?
I made this last night for my 16 yo twins and husband – and they loved it. So easy and perfect. Thanks for sharing.
I so enjoy your site and your recipes. Would you please consider adding a print option so we can enjoy your recipes a little more easily. Thank you.
Hmm, there is a Print button when you’re viewing the desktop version of the recipe, but I do see we’re missing one on the mobile version. Thanks for the heads up, I’ll see what I can do!
I think I will make this chili only I will also have beans. But I am not much of a meat eater so it should equal. Besides beans I will add chick peas and hominy
I love this version of no bean chili which incorporates a lot of good for you veggies. My family loves chili, they just get tired of the chili & beans version. I’ll be adding this to our monthly rotation of menus, Thanks for the tip!
I love to see a recipe like this since I don’t eat beans either. I think I would add rutabaga as well.
mmmmm this looks really good! I love chili so pretty sure I would love this!
This looks delicious and I must pass this on to my friend who has kids that love chili but won`t eat beans.It`s perfect!Of course I will be trying it too.
Have never made a chilli without beans. But this not only looks but sounds delicious. Cannot wait to give it a try.
Any idea how to turn this into a crockpot recipe?
Absolutely wonderful! I am in love with this recipe and I love your photography too. Thumbs up on this one!
Looks yummy!You list garlic in the ingredients list, but I don’t see where you add it to the recipe. I would guess that you add it to the partially sautéed onions?Thanks!
Harold Burton
I made spaghetti squash for the first time last night and LOVED it! I started eating gluten free recently, and my gluten-eating BF was craving pasta I tried spaghetti squash. He tried a bit of mine, and liked it – so it looks like i’ll be searching out more spaghetti squash recipes.
This recipe is top notch & I can’t believe I made something this flavorful! Thank you so much — I’m a novice cooker & am looking for great slow cooker recipes… the sweet potatoes are setting this stew off & the flavors are amazing!
Thank you for sharing these awesome crock pot recipes. My family and I tend to eat the same thing every week due to the fact that both parents work full-time jobs and by the time baby is picked up from preschool we are all exhausted. These crock pot recipes give me a better idea of ways to incorporate new meals. The food will be done by the time we get home and not spending an hour trying to cook after we finally make it home from work.
Holly Hooper
This is pretty similar to the way I make my alfredo, and it’s probably my favorite dinner that I have ever posted! I haven’t done it without scraping the cooked squash though–I will definitely have to give it a try.