20 Best Healthy Chili Recipes for Weight Loss — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy way to lose weight, chili is a great option. Chili is a hearty and flavorful dish that can be made with a variety of ingredients, making it a great way to get creative with your meals. Eating chili can help you feel full and satisfied, while also providing you with essential nutrients.

The good news is that there are plenty of healthy chili recipes out there that can help you reach your weight loss goals. In this article, we’ll be looking at 20 of the best healthy chili recipes for weight loss. From vegetarian chili to spicy beef chili, there’s something for everyone. So, let’s get started!

20 Best Healthy Chili Recipes for Weight Loss

Chili is a great way to get a hearty, filling meal without breaking the calorie bank. It’s also a great way to get a lot of flavor without a lot of fat. Here are 20 of the best healthy chili recipes for weight loss that you can make at home.

1. Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

This slow cooker turkey chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with lean turkey, black beans, and plenty of vegetables. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

2. Vegetarian Chili

This vegetarian chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with vegetables, black beans, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

3. White Bean Chili

This white bean chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with white beans, vegetables, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

4. Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

This slow cooker chicken chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with lean chicken, black beans, and plenty of vegetables. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

5. Black Bean Chili

This black bean chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with black beans, vegetables, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

6. Turkey Chili with Quinoa

This turkey chili with quinoa is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with lean turkey, quinoa, and plenty of vegetables. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

7. Vegetarian Chili with Sweet Potatoes

This vegetarian chili with sweet potatoes is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with vegetables, sweet potatoes, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

8. Slow Cooker Beef Chili

This slow cooker beef chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with lean beef, black beans, and plenty of vegetables. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

9. Vegetarian Chili with Quinoa

This vegetarian chili with quinoa is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with vegetables, quinoa, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

10. Slow Cooker White Bean Chili

This slow cooker white bean chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with white beans, vegetables, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

11. Turkey Chili with Sweet Potatoes

This turkey chili with sweet potatoes is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with lean turkey, sweet potatoes, and plenty of vegetables. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

12. Vegetarian Chili with Black Beans

This vegetarian chili with black beans is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with vegetables, black beans, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

13. Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

This slow cooker vegetarian chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with vegetables, black beans, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

14. Turkey Chili with Black Beans

This turkey chili with black beans is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with lean turkey, black beans, and plenty of vegetables. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

15. Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili

This slow cooker beef and bean chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with lean beef, black beans, and plenty of vegetables. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

16. Vegetarian Chili with Corn

This vegetarian chili with corn is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with vegetables, corn, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

17. Slow Cooker Turkey and Bean Chili

This slow cooker turkey and bean chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with lean turkey, black beans, and plenty of vegetables. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

18. Vegetarian Chili with Quinoa and Sweet Potatoes

This vegetarian chili with quinoa and sweet potatoes is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with vegetables, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

19. Slow Cooker Chicken and Bean Chili

This slow cooker chicken and bean chili is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with lean chicken, black beans, and plenty of vegetables. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

20. Vegetarian Chili with Lentils

This vegetarian chili with lentils is a great way to get a healthy, low-calorie meal. It’s packed with vegetables, lentils, and plenty of spices. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be ready in just a few hours.

These 20 healthy chili recipes for weight loss are a great way to get a hearty, filling meal without breaking the calorie bank. They’re packed with flavor and nutrition, and they’re easy to make. So, what are you waiting for? Get cooking!

As the temperatures continue to decrease, what’s better than coming home to a satisfying bowl of chili? Not much, we’d say. The fulfilling combination of meat, beans, peppers, herbs, and spices packs a hearty serving of fiber and protein, helping you feel fuller for longer. Plus, with a foundation that’s easy to build upon and customize, our list of healthy chili recipes is sure to include at least one bowl you’ll love.

So if you’re looking for some chili recipes that can aid you in your weight loss efforts, here are some of our favorites.

And if you’d prefer to go out for chili, check out: The Best Chili in Every State.

Serious gluten-free chili
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Though we’ve never been shy about professing our undying affection for chili, it’s not without its dangers: namely, soaring sodium counts and reliance on fatty ground beef. Go lean by using ground turkey and build flavor with spices, beer, and a bit of chocolate.

Get our recipe for Turkey Chili.

Healthy crockpot chilli
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Our Crock-Pot chili recipe has big flavors in spades: smoky chipotle pepper, hoppy IPA, and plenty of cumin and chili powder to tie the whole thing together. Chili and corn have a natural affinity for each other, so we like serving this with a wedge of cornbread or a stack of warm tortillas.

Get our recipe for Smoky Crock-Pot Chili.

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pumpkin chicken chili served in white pots
Jason Donnelly

In this pumpkin chili recipe, we combine all the classic chili elements—beans, peppers, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, and chili powder to name a few—along with the chicken and pumpkin in a slow cooker for a few hours. You’ll come home to a flavor-packed chili that is savory and brings a little kick you can ramp up by adding in some hot sauce.

Get our recipe for Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chicken Chili.

Healthy turkey chili
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Texans and New Mexicans—both of whom lay claim to the advent of chili—disagree on most matters when it comes to this divisive dish. Beans or no beans? Tomatoes? Chunks of chuck or ground? One truth all serious chili heads can agree on, though, is the fundamental importance of a good chili powder. That means skipping the bottled supermarket stuff and making your own secret spice powder. This is a beginner powder, requiring nothing more than toasting two different dried chiles, then pulverizing them in a coffee grinder. Use leftovers to rub on steaks, spike dips, and dust on slices of mango.

Get our recipe for Easy Chili and DIY Chili Powder.

Crock pot vegetarian chili recipe with cheese and cornbread for the table
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Just because a meal doesn’t have meat in it doesn’t mean it can’t be a hearty one! This Crock-Pot vegetarian chili is stocked with all sorts of filling foods you’ll love mixing together in the slow cooker.

Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Vegetarian Chili.

wendy's copycat chili in three bowls on a marble counter with cheese and sour cream
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Thanks to a clear list of ingredients on the Wendy’s website, it was easy to put together this recipe. According to the list, Wendy’s chili has a chili base, tomatoes, chili beans, pink beans, kidney beans, onions, celery, green peppers, ground beef, chili pepper, garlic powder, and spices.

Get our recipe for Copycat Wendy’s Chili.

RELATED: 8 Secrets Wendy’s Doesn’t Want You to Know

spoon holding up chili from a bowl
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

You can make one of the easiest healthy chili recipes right in your Instant Pot! Plus, this recipe is perfect for anyone attempting to be on a low-carb diet.

Get our recipe for Instant Pot Chili.

pumpkin mole chili bowls with spoons
Blaine Moats

This fall recipe combines a full can of pumpkin along with classic chili ingredients like onion, ground beef, tomatoes, and canned beans. There are all the flavors and seasonings of traditional chili, along with the sweet flavor of pumpkin. And thanks to a couple of teaspoons of cocoa powder and a can of diced green chiles, this chili also packs in the flavors of Mexican mole sauce.

Get our recipe for Pumpkin Mole Chili.

green turkey chili with white beans
Courtesy of Against All Grain

The Anaheim chilies and Poblano peppers add some extra tang and are sure to satisfy lovers of all things spicy. With only 359 calories per serving and 42.5 grams of lean protein, this flavorful dish won’t leave your stomach grumbling for more. Skip the added salt and swap regular chicken broth for organic low-sodium broth for the perfect lunch.

Get the recipe from Against All Grain.

RELATED: 21 Easy Lunch Ideas Made With 3 Ingredients or Less

slow cooker salsa verde chicken chili
Courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen

This super-easy-to-make chili recipe is sure to delight the entire family, and all you have to do is add all the ingredients to a crockpot and then wait! Nope, no additional cooking required. With only half a jalapeño pepper and one jar of salsa verde, this chili is mild but flavorful.

Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

chili chicken soup
Courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen

This hearty meal’s got chili powder-rubbed chicken, zesty lime, and fiery sriracha that will leave us yearning for a trip to Spain. Ditch the extra salt and top your dish with creamy avocado and flavorful herbs like cilantro. This chili’s whopping 42 grams of protein (thanks to the poultry) are sure to deem it one of the tastiest healthy chicken recipes.

Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

white chicken chili
Courtesy of Averie Cooks

Fall calls for warm, hearty soups—and what better way to welcome the new season with a generous portion of this chili that’s packed with fiber and protein? This dish is also high in vitamin B6, which will help maintain your blood sugar. Not to mention, the fragrant Vidalia onions, piquant jalapeño, and chili peppers marry to create the perfect sweet-spicy blend.

Get the recipe from Averie Cooks.

RELATED: One Major Effect Eating Fiber Has on Your Liver, New Study Says

roasted sweet potato black bean chili
Courtesy of Cooking Classy

Adding sweet potato makes this meatless chili a vegetarian win. It’s got 91% of your daily value of vitamin C, which makes it perfect for combating those nasty seasonal colds. Plus, vitamin C can also help boost your mood and banish stress hormones that contribute to packing on those extra pounds of unwanted belly fat.

Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.

southwestern chili
Courtesy of Cooking Classy

Speckled with smoky paprika and cocoa powder, this robust beef chili has loads of body, color, and flavor. Fresh salsa and lime add an extra kick to this already delightful dish. Plus, it’s packed with 118% of your daily value of anemia-fighting iron, which is essential for enzyme and hormone production. It’s a bit high in the calorie, carb, and sodium counts, so stick to just one bowl!

Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.

RELATED: 19 Best Low-Sodium Fast Food Orders, According to Dietitians

chili casserole
Courtesy of Cravings Of A Lunatic

Nothing screams “comfort” more than a casserole. Although you can use any one of these chili recipes to create this delightful dish, we used Amy’s Organic Low-Sodium Chili. We also subbed whole milk for skim and only used a half-cup of low-fat cheese for a healthy spin-off that still tastes like one of your favorite cheat meals.

Get the recipe from Cravings Of A Lunatic.

slow cooker cream cheese chicken chili
Courtesy of Creme de la Crumb

This ultra-creamy stew’s got a harmonious blend of spices, smooth white beans, and protein-packed chicken breast—we don’t think chili can get any better than this. Plus, it’s super-rich yet still light.

Get the recipe from Crème de la Crumb.

espresso chocolate beef bean chili
Courtesy of An Edible Mosaic

This stew, loaded with complex flavors like espresso and cocoa powders (yup, you heard us correctly) may leave you too satisfied even for dessert. These aromatic additions, along with pure honey drizzles, add a whole new realm to this beefy stew. Bonus: This scrumptious concoction can be ready in barely 30 minutes.

Get the recipe from An Edible Mosaic.

quiona chili
Courtesy of Damn Delicious

Quinoa + chili = match made in food heaven. The quinoa maintains its texture while marinating in all the savory veggies and spices. Don’t forget to toss in some corn kernels for a sweet surprise. This nutritious vegetarian pick is one of our favorite quinoa recipes yet!

Get the recipe from Damn Delicious.

southwest skillet chicken chili
Courtesy of Fearless Homemaker

Sub regular pasta for whole-grain bowties or cavatappi for extra fiber and texture in this delectable dish. The lean chicken breast adds an extra protein punch, plus selenium, a trace mineral that acts as an antioxidant and protects us from free radicals. So, don’t fret those cool-weather blues; this chili’s got you covered.

Get the recipe from Fearless Homemaker.

slow cooker chicken fajita chili
Courtesy of Foodie Crush

Forget Taco Tuesday and create this delectable chicken fajita chili instead. The hearty beans and rainbow peppers add a healthy dose of fiber, while the kickin’ cumin and chili powder will surely benefit from a topping of cubed creamy avo. We couldn’t think of a better way to give our wallets a break from Chipotle.

Get the recipe from Foodie Crush.

Read more:

We Tasted 9 Canned Chilis, and This Is the Best One!

The Best & Worst Chicken Soups on the Shelves—Ranked!

7 Canned Soups to Always Leave on Grocery Store Shelves