Swapping beef for beans in my chili recipe reduced my carbon footprint

Oliver Mason · 2026-02-28T09:50:54.705981+00:00

I tried using black beans instead of ground beef. It saves a lot of water and land use, plus it's cheaper. My family didn't even notice the difference.

seanc736mo ago

Lentils are another sneaky good swap if you want that meaty texture without the beef. They hold up really well in a long simmer. Honestly, the big win is how much cheaper my grocery bill is every time I make a pot now. Pro tip, mash a small part of the beans with a fork to thicken the chili up nicely. I always make a double batch and freeze half, because it tastes even better the next day. Took my own family a solid three meals before someone finally asked if it was actually meat.

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violagarcia6mo ago

felixm12 nailed it, my bean chili always fools everyone and saves money too.

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felixm126mo ago

It's funny how these little swaps, like @seanc73's lentil trick, end up being way easier than the big eco changes we stress about.

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chen.olivia5mo ago

Felixm12 is right, but my chili needs that little bit of beef for flavor.

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