Turkey Sweet Potato Chili

Crock chili with diced sweet potato, black beans, and warm spices

• Prep: 25 min
• Cook: 300 min
• Serves 8
• Difficulty: easy

Ground turkey simmers with sweet potato cubes, black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, and chili spices until thick and fragrant.

Why crews like it: Familiar chili night with a lighter twist. Sweet potato adds body and keeps the pot gluten-free and filling.

Ingredients

• 2.5 lb lean ground turkey
• 2 lb sweet potatoes
• 3 cans black beans
• 2 cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 large yellow onion
• 1 whole red bell pepper
• 6 cloves garlic cloves
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1.5 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1.5 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

1. Brown turkey and aromatics: Brown turkey with onion and bell pepper in a skillet 10–12 minutes until turkey is crumbly and vegetables soften with lightly golden edges.
2. Bloom spices: Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, and paprika. Cook 2 minutes until spices smell toasted and coat the turkey evenly.
3. Transfer to crock: Scrape mixture into slow cooker. Add sweet potato, beans, tomatoes, broth, and salt. Stir until combined and potatoes submerged.
4. Slow cook until tender: Cook on low 5–6 hours until sweet potato pierces easily with a fork but still holds cube shape, not falling apart.
5. Adjust and serve: Taste and adjust salt. Chili should be thick enough to mound on a spoon without running off immediately.

Tonight's spread

• Cornbread baked in a 9x13 pan.
• Greek yogurt and hot sauce at the line.

Hall tips

• Do not stir aggressively—broken sweet potato thickens too much and turns paste-like.
• Top with avocado and cilantro for fresh contrast to long-simmered flavors.
• Swap half sweet potato for butternut squash in fall without changing cook time.

Meal prep

Dice sweet potato uniform ½-inch so pieces cook evenly. Brown turkey before adding to crock. Station: Brown turkey in skillet first—raw turkey in crock makes greasy, bland chili. Station: Add sweet potato in last 2 hours on high if starting from cold crock. Station: Hold on warm with lid slightly vented so potatoes do not turn to mush.

Leftovers

• Chili baked over tater tots with cheese for a quick casserole.
• Freeze portions for backup meals—reheat with extra broth.

• 8-quart slow cooker
• Large skillet

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