Willie Nelson’s Favorite Chili is Vegan

Legendary musician will feature “Willie’s Vegan Chili” at an upcoming potluck dinner at his Texas ranch.


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Legendary singer/songwriter Willie Nelson recently told Food & Wine Magazine that his favorite chili recipe is vegan. Nelson was introduced to the recipe by James Beard Award-winning chef Michel Nischan after the latter sent two different chili meals—one vegan and one with beef—to Nelson and his wife (who the musician says follows a vegan diet). Nelson raved about the vegan option—which utilizes a Mexican-style approach to toasting, rehydrating, puréeing, and then slow cooking a mixture of chilies, nutritional yeast, and beans—stating, “Oh my God, this is the best [expletive] chili we’ve ever tasted.” Nelson is partnering with Nischan to host a potluck dinner on March 17 at Nelson’s Texas ranch, wherein the 200 attendees will be treated to a sampling of Nischan’s beloved vegan chili and a private performance by Nelson.