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Lunch

Vegetarian

137 kcal

70 min

Vegetable Chili

Oct 2, 2026

Vegetable Chili: a USDA child-care recipe for preschool menu planning. Original yield: 6 servings.

Preschool

4 g

Fat

20 g

Carbs

7 g

Sugar

396 mg

Sodium

5 g

Protein

137 kcal

Calories

Instructions

Total time

70 min

Step 1

Heat oil in a large stock pot uncovered over medium–high heat.

Step 2

Add onions, bell peppers, and jalapenos. Sauté uncovered for 5 minutes or until tender. Stir well.

Step 3

Add chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, ancho chili powder, onion powder, hot sauce (optional), brown sugar, and tomatoes. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes over low–medium heat. Stir well.

Step 4

Add kidney beans, bulgur wheat, vegetable broth,and water. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes over low–medium heat. Stir well.

Step 5

Critical Control Point: Heat to 140 °F or higher for at least 15 seconds.

Step 6

Pour vegetable chili into large soup tureen or large bowl.

Step 7

Critical Control Point: Hold for hot service at 140 °F.

Step 8

Using a No. 40 scoop, portion 1 Tbsp ⅓ tsp sour cream into individual soufflé cups. Serve with chili.

Step 9

Serve ¾ cup (portion with ½ cup and ¼ cup measuring cups or 6 fl oz spoodle).

Ingredients (6 servings)

Ingredients (original recipe yield)

Canola oil

1 tsp or ¼ oz

*Fresh onions, diced

½ cup or 3 oz

*Fresh green bell peppers, diced

½ cup or 2 oz

*Fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded, diced

⅛ cup or ¼ oz

Chili powder

¼ cup

Ground cumin

⅛ tsp

Garlic powder

½ tsp

Ancho chili powder

2¼ tsp or ¼ oz

Mexican Seasoning Mix (see Notes)

2¼ tsp or ¼ oz

Onion powder

¼ tsp

Red hot sauce (optional)

⅛ tsp

Brown sugar

2 tsp or ½ oz

Canned no-salt-added crushed tomatoes, undrained

1½ cups or 12¼ oz

Canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained

½ cup or 5 oz

Canned low-sodium kidney beans, drained, rinsed

1½ cups or 11 oz

*Dry kidney beans, cooked (see Notes)

1½ cups or 11 oz

Bulgur wheat, dry

⅓ cup or 2 oz

Low-sodium vegetable broth

¼ cup or 2 oz

Water

⅔ cup or 6 oz

Low-fat sour cream

¾ cup or 4 oz

Allergy information

Potential allergens to check: Milk, Wheat, Gluten-containing cereals. Ingredient-based screening, not a certified allergen analysis. Check every packaged ingredient, substitution and cross-contact risk against the child's allergy plan.

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