• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
A Girl Worth Saving

A Girl Worth Saving

Healthy Recipes

  • Recipe Index
  • Product Reviews
  • Recipe Roundups
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact A Girl Worth Saving
  • Shop

Best No Tomato Chili (Full of Flavor)

August 16, 2013 · Kelly Bejelly · 30 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Reddit
  • Yummly
Looking for a chili without tomatoes? This no tomato chili is savory and hearty and filling.  This easy recipe make the perfect lunch or dinner.

This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate policy.

Last Updated on November 28, 2020

Looking for a chili without tomatoes? This no tomato chili is savory and hearty and filling. This easy recipe make the perfect lunch or dinner.

chili without tomatoes

Mr. Bejelly doesn’t do well with cooked tomato products (crazy heartburn and stomach acid that keeps him up at night).

Also, after avoiding them for so long, I don’t tolerate them as well myself.

NO TOMATO CHILI

For this very reason, I’ve been slowly recreating some of our favorite recipes and making them tomato free.

For weeks, he’s been asking for chili without tomatoes and honestly, I didn’t think it was possible. There is just nothing like that tart taste of tomato in chili but thankfully I was wrong.

Chili without tomatoes Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
  • 3 large Poblano chilies, roughly 7″ long, roasted and diced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 lb of grass-fed beef
  • 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup of brewed low acid coffee
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped.
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet add the cooking oil, onions and poblano peppers and cook until the onions are browned.
  2. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
  3. Add the sweet potato, carrots, spices, coffee and water and simmer on medium-low for 30- 35 minutes.
  4. Enjoy!
NO TOMATO CHILI

So, what can I subsitute for tomatoes in chili?

Wanted to try to get that rich full of flavor affect without tomatoes. I immediately thought of coffee. It’s rich and somewhat bitter. It would add just the right punch to the recipe.

I also added some fresh roasted poblanos for texture and flavor and really used a lot of spices to recreate the rich flavor of chili without tomatoes.

Pair this no tomato chili recipe with my gluten free cornbread recipe for a complete dinner.

The best part about this recipe is that I love is the fact that Mr. Bejelly slept peacefully thought the night after eating two bowls of this chili without tomatoes.

chili without tomatoes
Continue to Content
NO TOMATO CHILI
Yield: 4

Best No Tomato Chili (Full of Flavor)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

This chili uses coffee and cocoa powder to create a savory no tomato chili.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
  • 3 large Poblano chilies, roughly 7" long, roasted and diced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 lb of grass-fed beef
  • 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup of brewed low acid coffee
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped.
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet add the cooking oil, onions and poblano peppers and cook until the onions are browned.
  2. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
  3. Add the sweet potato, carrots, spices, coffee and water and simmer on medium-low for 30- 35 minutes.
  4. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 441Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 746mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 33g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kelly Bejelly
Cuisine: American / Category: Main Course
Looking for a chili without tomatoes? This no tomato chili is savory and hearty and filling.  This easy recipe make the perfect lunch or dinner.

Related posts:

The Best 10 Whole 30 Desserts You'll Ever Eat
Copycat Hormel Chili
Jane's Hamburger Steak with Brown Gravy (Paleo, Whole30)
Slow Cooker Kalua Pork (Keto, Whole30, AIP)
Slow Cooker Shredded Pork
Easy Coconut Chicken Recipe (Keto, AIP, Whole30)
Chicken Parmesan Burger
Rolled Pork Roast

Beef, Main Course, Whole30 Recipes

Previous Post: « I Lost 17.5″ in 6 weeks with T-Tapp
Next Post: Strawberry Milk »

About Kelly Bejelly

Kelly Bejelly is a Bestselling Cookbook Author who loves recreating recipes and making them Gluten-free!

Check out my print cookbook Paleo Eats

NEVER MISS A POST

Get a Free 1 week Paleo Meal Plan when you sign up!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Annetta says

    August 16, 2013 at 2:58 pm

    This looks great!! Can’t wait to try it out

    Reply
  2. Salixisme says

    August 17, 2013 at 7:43 am

    Oh my goodness does this look and sound good… genius idea adding the coffee! I think I might try adding that even to regular chilli that does contain tomatoes!

    Reply
  3. Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? says

    August 17, 2013 at 10:18 am

    Hmmm..I never would have thought of coffee. What an interesting idea.

    Reply
  4. Anne says

    August 18, 2013 at 6:40 am

    Looks delicious! I like the idea of adding sweet potatoes to chili.

    Reply
  5. Mum's the word says

    August 18, 2013 at 8:29 am

    this is really interesting!! coffee and cocoa!!

    Reply
  6. Rachel says

    August 18, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    I have heard of a lot of people adding coffee to chili. And peanut butter. I am a fan of tomatoes. I love them and eat them plain all the time.

    Reply
  7. Jennifer H says

    August 18, 2013 at 4:46 pm

    Wow, that’s an interesting recipe! Never though of sub’ing coffee for tomatoes.

    Reply
  8. Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says

    August 18, 2013 at 6:36 pm

    No tomatoes, but coffee and sweet potatoes? Now this I HAVE to try!

    Reply
  9. Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says

    August 18, 2013 at 11:20 pm

    That’s one good looking chili and I know I’m going to have to make this real soon!

    Reply
  10. debra p says

    August 18, 2013 at 11:57 pm

    That’s really creative and a great solution. It also looks completely delicious. I love chili.

    Reply
  11. Heather Brandt says

    August 20, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    Any idea of an alternate veggie to sweet potatoes to try in this?

    Reply
    • Kelly Bejelly says

      August 20, 2013 at 1:59 pm

      Any squash would work well as a replacement 🙂

      Reply
  12. Kiersten @ OMV says

    August 21, 2013 at 7:09 am

    These photos are gorgeous! I love that dark background. Using coffee is a stroke of genius. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Leigh says

    September 7, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Can I just omit the coffee, or should I replace something else in it’s place?

    Reply
    • Kelly Bejelly says

      September 7, 2013 at 6:11 pm

      You can omit it if you want. I would use more cocoa powder if I did.

      Reply
  14. teale says

    October 25, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    I have the same problem with tomatoes that your husband has, it is so frustrating. I love so many things that are tomato based. Do you avoid tomatoes in all of your cooking? Will I find all of these on pinterest?

    Reply
    • Kelly Bejelly says

      October 25, 2013 at 11:11 pm

      Hi Teale, I don’t avoid tomato in all of my recipes. Some times i will just add a dash of baking soda to the meal 10 minutes before I am finished with it. All of my recipes are in the Favorite Paleo recipes board.

      Reply
  15. Kathy says

    February 11, 2014 at 1:44 pm

    I love your recipes! I had to go gluten free and corn free and find that I feel better without any grain, so I can’t wait to make your recipes! I also wanted to point out that vinegar is a great acid reducer. Use it as a chaser before or after a meal. I try to have a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar every day. In fact, I did not realize how bad my tummy would hurt until I went gluten free. I knew from the family (celiac disease runs in the family) that I might be sensitive to some of the vinegars, so I stopped taking the cider vinegar. But I am not sensitive to my fav vinegar, apple cider vinegar. I hope this helps! Vinegar helps with a lot of things, besides the tummy. Thanks again for posting and I look forward to more awesome recipes 🙂 Your a God sent to me.

    Reply
    • Kelly Bejelly says

      February 11, 2014 at 7:04 pm

      Kathy I am a huge fan of apple cider vinegar and regularly have it on ice with some mineral water. Thanks so much for your sweet words hun and I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  16. Paul says

    October 22, 2014 at 10:35 am

    Hi, Kelly — We’re trying your recipe as the most interesting in the no-tomato category. But I’ll admit I was surprised when I looked through the recipe and discovered it’s also a no-beaner. I guess there must be other chili recipes without beans, but I associate that ingredient with the dish and will add a 13-bean combo. Can’t imagine they’ll hurt your original recipe.

    Did you omit beans for dietary reasons, too? (To greatly reduce their infamous gassiness, we bring the beans to a boil and drain off the white, foamy raffinose-laden water two or three times; takes extra time, but saves a lot of discomfort for both the chili-consumers and their friends and neighbors!)

    Reply
    • Kelly Bejelly says

      October 22, 2014 at 11:29 am

      Hi Paul! I don’t eat beans (legumes are a no no on the Paleo diet :)) I hope you enjoyed it hun!

      Reply
  17. Steve says

    December 21, 2014 at 6:56 am

    We made this amazing meal last night, and it was delicious! Our only criticism was that after several bites we noticed a slight bitter undertone probably from the coffee. Has anyone experienced this? What about making this without coffee and maybe with beef stock as a replacement?

    Reply
    • Kelly Bejelly says

      December 21, 2014 at 3:50 pm

      You could just skip it and add more cacao hun.

      Reply
      • huy awed says

        September 27, 2017 at 9:16 am

        You think more cocao will make it less bitter? I don’t. But I understand the reason behind your comment.

        Reply
  18. Aretha Alexander says

    January 27, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    I will have to give this a try. Since I have transitioned to a Keto diet I have to watch my carbs.

    Reply
  19. James Brown says

    April 3, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Just tried this fantastic chilli earlier this evening! We left it simmering for more like an hour, probably too long but the coffee/cocoa combination in the sauce is really something.

    Reply
    • Kelly Bejelly says

      May 18, 2015 at 7:55 am

      So glad you enjoyed it James!

      Reply
  20. Leslie says

    August 27, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    I’ve recently had to give up grains and inflammatory foods and found this recipe. Made it tonight and it was so SO good, it’s definitely a keeper for this household! Thanks so much 🙂

    Reply
  21. Justine wilson says

    January 9, 2021 at 7:52 am

    Hiya, I’ve made this and it’s lovely, just a bit too spicy for my kids. Is there something I can add to the batch I have already made to make it less spicy?

    Reply
    • Kelly Bejelly says

      January 13, 2021 at 10:25 am

      If you do dairy, sour cream can really cut the heat.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Kelly. I've been cooking and creating recipes at A Girl Worth Saving for the last 9 years. I focus on simple, healthy recipes that everyone will love. Read More…

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
paleo eats cookbook cover with details on how to buy it

Popular Posts

  • The Best 10 Whole 30 Desserts You’ll Ever Eat
  • Quick 20-minute Moo Shu Chicken (use leftover chicken)
  • Ginger Chicken
  • Dry Rub Pork Spare Ribs

rocky mountain essential oils not mlm text
best infrared sauna with text overlay
best celery juicer

Footer

SEARCH THIS SITE

NEVER MISS A POST

Get a Free 1 week Paleo Meal Plan when you sign up!

  • Contact Me
  • Black Friday Kitchen Deals

Copyright Bejelly LLC 2020· Privacy Policy | Site Build and Design by eMrkts

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.