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Easy Turkey Sweet Potato Chili Recipe

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This cozy turkey sweet potato chili is the perfect balance of hearty, healthy, and incredibly flavorful. It’s a forgiving, easy-to-scale crowd-pleaser that tastes even better the next day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 pounds lean ground turkey (93/7)
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1/2-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder (mild blend)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste (start with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper)
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for topping, optional)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for topping, optional)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for topping, optional)
  • Sliced avocado (for topping, optional)
  • Lime wedges (for topping, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the Veggies: Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and cube the sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces.
  2. Brown the Turkey: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink (8-10 minutes). Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  3. Sauté the Aromatics: In the same pot, cook the diced onion for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Bloom the Spices: Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle powder (if using), and oregano. Stir constantly for 30-60 seconds.
  5. Add Liquids and Canned Goods: Pour in fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Scrape up browned bits from the bottom. Return the browned turkey to the pot.
  6. Add Sweet Potatoes and Peppers: Stir in cubed sweet potatoes and diced bell peppers. Ensure they are submerged in liquid.
  7. Simmer: Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-40 minutes until sweet potatoes are fork-tender and chili has thickened. Stir occasionally.
  8. Add Beans: Stir in drained black beans and pinto beans. Simmer for 5 minutes to heat through.
  9. Taste and Adjust: Taste the chili and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or a squeeze of lime juice as needed.
  10. Rest and Serve: Turn off heat and let chili rest for 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with desired garnishes.

Notes

This chili gets better with time; make it a day ahead for deeper flavor. For a vegetarian version, skip the turkey and double the beans, using vegetable broth. To thicken, mash some sweet potatoes against the pot or use a cornstarch slurry. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey chili, sweet potato chili, healthy chili, game day chili, easy chili recipe, crowd-pleaser chili, gluten-free chili, dairy-free chili

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/easy-turkey-sweet-potato-chili-recipe/