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    Home » Recipes » Favorites

    Ground Beef Chili Without Tomatoes

    Published: Feb 22, 2023 by Lauren · This post may contain affiliate links · 37 Comments

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    Ground Beef Chili Without Tomatoes - This is our family's favorite allergy-friendly chili recipe, NO tomatoes needed! Packed full of veggies, protein, and flavor.

    Chili in a white bowl topped with parmesan and parsley.

    While there may be differing opinions about whether beans should be in chili, tomatoes are typically a staple.

    However, with my daughter Jade's myriad food sensitivities, I've created this tomato-free version in which we truly never miss the tomatoes!

    I like to add in a dash of turmeric, which may seem like an odd addition, but it tastes great and adds some anti-inflammatory action.

    To bump up the nutrition even more, I sneak in some carrot and zucchini. The zucchini adds a bit of bulk, and you never even taste it.

    It's filling, hearty, and delicious, and it's an easy recipe to substitute with what you have on hand.

    I'll often double the recipe and reheat leftovers throughout the week for easy lunches or dinners for the kids.

    Spoonful of chili with white and black beans.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Ingredients, such as beef, vegetables, and spices, laid out on a wood table.

    Ground beef - I've used ground turkey with success, but I usually add a little olive oil, as it is less fatty.

    Yellow onion - White or red onion will also work.

    Green bell pepper - This is pretty essential for flavor! You can use red, if you like, but it imparts a bit sweeter taste.

    Garlic - Garlic powder may work in a pinch, but I haven't tried it.

    Carrot - This brings both nutrition and flavor, though it can be omitted if you're concerned about the sweetness.

    Zucchini - Adds bulk and nutrition, but it can also be omitted without issue.

    Spices (turmeric, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt) - While unusual, I like to add turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties and taste. If you're feeling fancy, you can try to make your own fresh chili powder!

    Water - Broth can be used for extra flavor. A good vegetable broth tastes best.

    Beans - I've used just about any bean you can think of in this recipe, but my favorite combo is black and garbanzo. Kidney beans lend a true chili taste, which is what I've included in the recipe. Pinto beans are also great! One of my tricks is to include the bean juice from the can into the chili.

    Herbs - Adding a handful of either parsley or cilantro brings a nice freshness to the dish!

    How to make chili without tomatoes

    Honestly, this is one of the easiest recipes, as you pretty much just throw everything into a large pot and let it simmer.

    My typical sequence of steps include first, sauteing the beef with the veggies. I break up the meat and cook the vegetables a bit to bring out their flavor.

    Then, I add the spices, stirring them throughout.

    • Ground beef and vegetables in a large steel pot.
    • Meat and chili powder in a pot with various vegetables.

    Finally, I stir in the water and beans with the bean juice.

    Bring it all to a low boil, then lower it to a simmer. As with most chili recipes, this tastes best if you let it cook for (at least) 30 minutes.

    Simmering meat and beans in a large pot.

    Tasty ways to serve chili

    Chili is fun, in that, you can add so many different toppings and truly create your own unique meal. Some of our favorites include:

    • Various cheeses, including parmesan, cheddar, and pepperjack.
    • Sour cream, Greek yogurt, or plain yogurt
    • Scallions and/or more herbs, like parsley and cilantro
    • Avocado or guacamole
    • Salsa, though that would negate the whole tomato-free thing. 🙂

    The kids also love a handful of crunchy tortilla chips with their chili.

    Top down view of a bowl of chili with parmesan on top.

    Try some of my other recipes with beans

    Instant Pot Charro Beans

    Vegan Refried Beans

    Tahini-Free Hummus

    Chili in a white bowl topped with parmesan and parsley.
    Print Recipe
    4.41 from 49 votes

    Ground Beef Chili Without Tomatoes

    Our favorite allergy-friendly chili recipe, NO tomatoes needed!
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time50 minutes mins
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Grain-free, Healthy, Sugar-free, Tomato-free
    Servings: 8 bowls
    Calories: 228kcal
    Author: Lauren Goslin

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • ½ yellow onion chopped
    • ½ green pepper chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 small carrot chopped
    • 1 small zucchini chopped fine
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric
    • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt plus more to taste
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 15-ounce can kidney beans (red or white) with bean juice
    • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas or black beans with bean juice
    • ¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley chopped

    Instructions

    • Add the ground beef to a large, heated pot and begin to brown it.
    • Stir in onion, bell peppers, and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
    • Add in the remaining veggies and spices (carrot, zucchini, turmeric, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt) and cook about 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften.
    • Pour in the water and both cans of beans (with their juices) and bring the mix to a boil.
    • Lower the heat and simmer the chili (uncovered) for 30-45 minutes, until it achieves your desired thickness.
    • Stir in the parsley or cilantro about a minute or two you are ready to serve!

    Notes

    Nutrition facts based on using chickpeas and kidney beans.
    Weight Watchers points: 5

    Nutrition

    Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.2g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 4.4g | Fiber: 7.8g | Sugar: 1.2g

    If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!

    Shared with: Full Plate Thursday

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    Filed Under: Favorites, Lunch & Dinner

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Milo

      November 06, 2022 at 12:49 pm

      My favorite chili of all time! I can't eat tomatoes anymore, but I'd pick this over any chili I've had with tomatoes. I'm having a quiet Thanksgiving for two this year and we've happily decided this will be our Thanksgiving turkey dinner.

      Reply
      • Lauren

        November 06, 2022 at 12:56 pm

        Thanks so much, Milo! That's so neat for me to read. You made my day. 🙂

        Reply
      • Begum

        February 22, 2023 at 11:37 am

        Great!
        I cannot have tomatoes.
        I will try this recipe without the ground meat.
        ❤️🌹

        Reply
    2. Michelle

      February 11, 2022 at 1:26 pm

      Hi! Can’t wait to try this.
      Do you know how long in Slow Cooker

      Reply
    3. April Harris

      August 08, 2021 at 7:46 am

      I know a lot of people who really aren't keen on tomatoes, so this recipe will really come in handy for relaxed entertaining when they visit! Thank you for sharing and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party Community, Lauren!

      Reply
    4. Yavvie

      March 04, 2021 at 9:27 am

      Omg this was so good! Didn't miss the tomatoes at all.
      I skipped turmeric, used kidney and black beans and tossed it all into the slow cooker after browning the mince for couple hours. Perfect for my allergic little one and picky older one.

      Reply
    5. Margaret White

      February 02, 2021 at 11:52 am

      Love this chili, but now would like to use my slow cooker to make it. How should I adapt the recipe?
      Marg

      Reply
      • Leanne

        February 04, 2021 at 6:21 pm

        I’m very sorry but my attempt at this recipe was a complete failure beginning to end. I wanted a no tomato recipe but should have omitted carrots I used half amount and it still made it too sweet and should have used ground turkey bc the ground beef was rubbery and had tough bits of fat maybe bc I used 80/20 thought it would work just drain the fat. No more ground beef for my chili I’ll either use turkey or just veggies no carrots though.

        Reply
    6. Yvonne

      December 01, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      After not having made chili for two years due to tomatoes triggering my husband's acid reflux, I just couldn't go another fall/winter season without it. I was determined ed to find a good "no-mato" chili recipe that would satisfy just as well as the real thing. This recipe was one of the first I stumbled upon. The silver lining in my sweet husband's sensitivity is that We have found your killer chili recipe! I echo the previous commenter: this one beats them ALL in my book (tomato or no-mato). My husband loves the heartiness of it, and the seasonings are perfect. I used kidney and black beans, and topped with avocado slices. Thanks for sharing!!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        December 03, 2020 at 5:15 pm

        Thank you for your review, Yvonne, I'm so happy you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    7. Anne Cooper

      October 28, 2020 at 7:50 am

      After reeling from a visit to the allergist which listed 14 food items I was allergic to, I was on a mission to find flavor and spice without tomatoes. After an internet search, I stumbled upon this recipe and I am here to tell you that this is by far the BEST chili recipe I have eaten even WITH tomatoes. It's hearty, delicious, flavorful and chocked FULL of "hidden veggies". Thank you so much for this! This recipe is in frequent rotation at my house. I wish I could give it 10 stars!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        November 01, 2020 at 12:29 pm

        Thanks, Anne! You made my day! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Marcia

      October 27, 2020 at 1:19 pm

      Lauren,
      I found your website on accident while looking for a tomato-free chili and this was exactly what I was looking for! YUM! Definitely will be making this again!!
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Lauren

        October 27, 2020 at 5:59 pm

        Thanks for your comments and ratings, Marcia, so glad you found me! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Heather

      July 23, 2020 at 9:20 am

      I recently found out I can't have tomatoes anymore so this recipe was a godsend, and absolutely delicious!

      Reply
    10. Lorna Burch

      June 26, 2020 at 3:25 pm

      If you close your eyes, you would think there was tomatoes in this! I felt it needed a lil more seasoning so I added in a lil of chili seasoning packet. I used two cans of organic white kidney beans and yellow and red sweet bell peppers instead of green pepper. Will definitely make again!

      Reply
    11. Velvet

      February 01, 2020 at 6:44 pm

      This recipe is so good. I got adventurous and added a Habanera chili pepper, as well. Further, because I was afraid of drying it out on the stove top, I finished it off in the crockpot. Thx for sharing.

      Reply
    12. Amber

      December 06, 2019 at 5:18 pm

      I make this chili at least once a month for my tomato-free fam! Such a unique flavor compared to traditional chili and a great way to get in a bit of tumeric into our diet. We absolutely love it as frito pie! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Lauren

        December 07, 2019 at 9:09 am

        Thanks for the comment, Amber! I'm so happy you and your family like it. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Cheryl

      January 30, 2019 at 5:20 pm

      This is now a staple in our house! So tastey and nutritous! I have a sensitivity to tomatoes and peppers as well, so instead of green peppers I double the onion. We love onions anyways lol. Plus to make things a little easier, I just use a chili spice packet instead of measuring out. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        January 31, 2019 at 3:06 pm

        So happy to hear that, Cheryl! Thanks for the comment and rating. 🙂

        Reply
    14. Mary K

      January 29, 2019 at 3:39 pm

      We loved this recipe. I like things spicier so I doubled the spices. I love that it is so flavorful without the tomato - you hardly notice.

      Reply
      • Lauren

        January 30, 2019 at 11:59 am

        I'm happy you enjoyed it, Mary! Thanks for the comment. 🙂

        Reply
    15. Stephanie Mrse

      September 27, 2018 at 8:51 am

      I cannot wait to try this. I love chili but my daughter is allergic to tomatoes. Thank you!

      Reply
    16. Lizzie

      May 21, 2018 at 6:33 pm

      Hi! It says to put cumin in the direction but not on the ingredients list. What do you suggest?

      Reply
      • Lauren

        May 21, 2018 at 7:16 pm

        Hi there,

        Sorry about that, it should read one teaspoon of cumin. 🙂

        Reply
    17. Arianne

      February 11, 2018 at 7:52 pm

      So glad to have found this recipe! I tailored it a little bit to what I can eat.. I recently had to stop eating tomatoes and peppers (which I love both of those foods). I decided to add in Portobello mushrooms. I loved having a southwestern bean soup for lunch and was wondering what I was going to replace that with. I'm happy to say that it will be replaced with this!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        February 12, 2018 at 9:31 am

        That's great Arianne, I'm so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂

        Reply
    18. Krystal

      October 24, 2017 at 1:42 pm

      Thank you for posting a tomato free meal!! Our youngest has a tomato and dairy allergy. I can never find recipes that dont call for one or the other. So I usually fall back on not so healthy ideas like chicken fingers or fishsicks all the time. Do you by chance have more tomato free recipes

      Reply
      • Lauren

        October 24, 2017 at 3:08 pm

        Hi Krystal,

        Here are a few favorites with my kids (tomato-free!):
        1. https://www.oatmealwithafork.com/easy-and-economical-one-pot-chicken-and-rice/
        2. https://www.oatmealwithafork.com/cheesy-cauliflower-mushroom-gratin/
        3. https://www.oatmealwithafork.com/easy-arroz-con-pollo/

        Hope that helps a bit!

        Reply
    19. Jeff

      October 27, 2016 at 1:38 pm

      Doesn't say when to put Cilantro in. I added at sea bing time

      Reply
    20. Matt Robinson

      May 14, 2014 at 10:44 pm

      Lauren, this is seriously one of the best chili recipes I have seen. So great! Packed with protein, which I love, and the flavors sound amazing. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        May 15, 2014 at 9:44 am

        Thanks so much Matt! It is husband-approved, so hopefully that's a good sign if you ever try it! 🙂

        Reply
    21. Izzy @ she likes food

      May 13, 2014 at 10:16 am

      I was hoping you were going to post your tomato-less chilli recipe! I love making chili and I really enjoy getting ideas from other people's chilli recipes because I find that chilli is one of those recipes that everyone makes a little bit differently. I love all the veggies you put in yours 🙂

      Reply
    22. Mike@TheIronYou

      May 12, 2014 at 2:10 pm

      The mixture of spices is indeed perfect and I love how you were able to meet all of your family members' need with just one (awesome) veggie chili recipe.
      Great job Lauren. really great job!

      Reply
    23. Christine@ Apple of My Eye

      May 12, 2014 at 7:04 am

      Hooray for finding a recipe that takes care of everyone's needs! It must be a huge struggle to create recipes that your whole family can eat with so many different dietary restrictions/needs. This look delicious! 🙂

      Reply
      • Lauren

        May 12, 2014 at 7:57 am

        Thanks Christine! 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi there, I'm Lauren Goslin, and I've been a food blogger for over ten years. My goal with this blog is to show you healthy, lower sugar recipes that my family and I enjoy.

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