Chili: compare the 3 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Vegan Three-Bean VegetarianThe only one that fits vegan, going by the ingredient lines.
- Dairy-free Classic Beef & Bean and Three-Bean VegetarianThe ones that fit dairy-free, going by the ingredient lines.
Side by side
| Classic Beef & Bean | White Chicken | Three-Bean Vegetarian | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total time | 1 hr 30 min | 55 min | 1 hr |
| Prep | 15 min | 15 min | 15 min |
| Level | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Steps | 6 | 8 | 7 |
| Serves | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Key ingredients | ground beef, crushed tomatoes and kidney beans | chicken broth, boneless skinless chicken breasts o… and cannellini or great northern beans | crushed tomatoes, kidney beans and vegetable broth |
| Only in this one | ground beef and beef broth | diced green chiles, chicken broth, boneless skinless chicken breasts o… and cannellini or great northern beans | red bell pepper, jalapeno, sweet potato and black beans |
| Dietary | |||
| Calories | 450 | 390 | 340 |
| Protein | 28 g | 37 g | 16 g |
| Carbs | 28 g | 33 g | 59 g |
| Fat | 26 g | 13 g | 7 g |
| Cleanup | 3/5 3 things to wash | 4/5 2 things to wash | 4/5 2 things to wash |
| Kid helper | No | No | No |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.