Spring is here, and so is the 15th annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off — and it’s bigger, bolder, and in a brand-new venue! Six incredible Minnesota chefs will compete to earn the title of Best Chili — And you get to decide who wins!
What Is the Vegan Chili Cook-Off?
For 15 years, Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) has hosted the Vegan Chili Cook-Off. The event brings some of the best chili recipes to the Twin Cities, featuring local professional chefs and restaurateurs. Attendees to the Cook-Off get to sample all of the chilis and help us to pick the winner by voting on their favorites.
One of CAA’s largest annual events, the Vegan Chili Cook-Off draws huge crowds and is full of fun and excitement. Where else can you sample so many of the Twin Cities’ best chilis all in one place?! Not to mention the sense of community you’ll experience being around so many like-minded people. It’s one of the best things to do in the Twin Cities!
Mark Your Calendar for the 2026 Vegan Chili Cook-Off
This year’s Cook-Off happens on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. The competition moves to a new location at the North Star Ballroom in the Saint Paul Student Center at UMN. The address is 2017 Buford Ave, Saint Paul.
For only $10, adults can get in and sample all of the chilis. Sign up for a volunteer position and get in for free! Kids and students also get free admission.
Meet the 2026 Competitors
Many competitors have accepted the challenge and presented their best chili recipe over the years. Each year, only one winner reigns supreme and earns the bragging rights of the year’s best vegan chili.
For 2026, we are so excited to announce an absolutely incredible lineup. Six local favorites have accepted the challenge and will be bringing their most delicious plant-based chili to the competition for us this year. Check out the amazing participants:
Each of these competitors are known for providing some of the best vegan food in the Twin Cities. We encourage everyone to go try out their full menu offerings because we are obsessed with all of them. These restaurants and chefs know how to do plant-based cooking right! Check them out before or after the competition for some great eats! But to sample their chili recipes, you’ll have to come to CAA’s Vegan Chili Cook-Off. These chili recipes will only be available at this event!
Big thanks to Trader Joe’s for donating chips to enjoy along with your chili!
How Does the Chili Cook-Off Work?
Chili Cook-Off attendees will make their way through the line, collecting samples of each contestant’s chili. Feel free to sit and enjoy the deliciousness! When you’re ready, you can use your smartphone (or the voting tablet at the check-in table) to rate each chili on a scale from 1-10.
Your votes help decide the winner! The contestant with the highest average rating at the end of the evening walks away with the grand prize that includes cash and a trophy!
But this event is more than just sampling the best chilis. In addition to all the great eats, the event will also feature:
- Raffle prizes including snacks, gift cards, and other special items to win
- Easy actions you can take for animals
- Opportunities to connect with Compassionate Action for Animals and the UMN student organization Compassionate Action for Animals @ the UMN
- A donation box for vegan food and hygiene items — get a raffle ticket when you make a donation of any size
- Great background music
- Games and activities for kids
Come and join us for an afternoon of fun and yummy eating!
Take Action for Animals — Right There at the Event
The Chili Cook-Off goes beyond just a great meal. Both CAA and CAA @ the UMN will be tabling at the event with simple, meaningful actions you can take for animals. When you stop by the CAA table, you can take a Veg Pledge, write to your representatives about animal issues, find out more about our work for animals, and so much more.
Are you a university student curious about animal advocacy? Stop by the CAA @ the UMN table to learn more about what the group is up to and how you can get involved! Whether you’re interested in making posters or making vegan tacos, there’s room for you in the group.
The CAA table will also be hosting a donation drop-off for vegan food items and hygiene products. If you’d like to contribute to the community, bring your nonperishable donations along to the event. As a thank you for your contribution, you can pick up a raffle ticket for a chance at the event’s prizes!
Volunteers Needed
The Vegan Chili Cook-Off doesn’t happen without the generous help of our community. We’re looking for volunteers to assist with transport, setup, and supply management before and during the event. If you’d like to lend a hand (and score free entry while you’re at it!), sign up to volunteer now! We’d love to have your help to make this event a smashing success.
Why a Vegan Cook-Off?
At CAA, we believe that animals have the right to live natural lives free from human harm and control. The billions of animals raised for food each year never get to experience natural lives or the ability to engage in natural behaviors. Choosing a vegan diet is a simple, direct, and powerful way to express our care for the rest of creation.
And the reasons to embrace plant-based eating go even beyond animals.
Research links vegan and plant-rich diets to significantly reduced risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes — two of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Eating plants isn’t just good for animals — it’s good for all of us.
Meat and dairy production use an incredible amount of land and water, and emit far more greenhouse gases than plant-based foods. Every plant-based meal — including the Vegan Chili Cook-Off — is a step towards a more sustainable world.
Whether you care about farmed animals, are looking for healthy eating, addressing climate change, or just looking for some good eating, we look forward to seeing you at the Cook-Off!
An Inclusive and Family-Friendly Afternoon for All
The Vegan Chili Cook-Off is for everyone! Regardless of your age, race, immigration status, or vegan/omnivore status, you’re welcome to join us at this event.
The event is very family/kid-friendly too. Our kids’ area will be stocked with coloring books, Rubik’s Cubes, and other fun activities.
Got allergies? All competitors are asked to label any common allergens in their recipes (soy, wheat/gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame). All of the chili recipes are vegan friendly, meaning they contain no dairy, egg, shellfish, or fish ingredients.
Join Us at the 2026 Vegan Chili Cook-Off!
We hope to see you at this year’s event. It is sure to be one not to miss! Come and check out these amazing competitors for yourself and see just how delicious plant-based chili can be!
This event is organized by Compassionate Action for Animals @ the UMN, the student organization at the University of Minnesota. A very special thank-you to Ronan and Guinevere, who have been absolutely essential in pulling everything together, from advertising to floor plans.
See you there!
