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    Home » Mains

    Sweet Potato Chili

    Published: Feb 6, 2023 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    This one-pot sweet potato chili is a tasty, spicy, creamy, and wholesome chili idea for a delicious family dinner.

    It's also excellent for meal prep and pairs well with nachos, tortillas, and your favorite toppings - we love to serve it with sour cream, guacamole, lime, and fresh cilantro.

    sweet potato chili with parsley and white spoon
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Tips
    • Questions
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • More Sweet Potato Recipes
    • More One-Pot Recipes
    • Recipe

    Check out our best easy dinner recipe collection!

    We were blown away by the creaminess and flavors of this simple one-pot sweet potato chili. It quickly became one of our favorite make-ahead dinners as it keeps in the fridge for days.

    To make it, we use simple everyday ingredients. We start with a flavor base with oil, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and cumin.

    Fry those ingredients together for a few minutes makes the whole difference, adding a ton of flavors and depth.

    We then add diced sweet potatoes, chili powder, green peppers, tomatoes, beans, and vegetable broth and let it simmer for about 45 minutes until the potatoes are so tender they almost melt in the chili.

    Then if you have it in your pantry, add a teaspoon or two of chipotle powder for an extra kick. This adds a wonderful smokey and spicy tang that takes this sweet potato chili to the next level.

    Serve with sliced avocado, jalapenos, cilantro, vegan sour cream, lime, and some hot sauce. It's delicious with tortillas and nachos or on boiled whole-grain rice.

    Sweet potato chili with sour cream and jalapenos

    Ingredients

    sweet potato chili ingredients

    Olive oil

    Use olive oil or extra virgin olive oil to make the flavor base, and gently fry celery, onion, and carrot.

    Substitute avocado oil, coconut oil, or any other vegetable oil for olive oil.

    Onion, celery, carrot

    Onion, celery, and carrot gently fried in the olive oil produce sweet and acidic flavors that will make your sweet potato chili full of taste.

    Garlic

    Garlic adds a beautiful aroma, and we recommend using fresh garlic cloves for this recipe. You can grate it, use a garlic masher, or finely chop it with a knife.

    Cumin

    Cumin and sweet potatoes are delicious together, so we like to add one to two teaspoons of ground cumin to this chili. Add more or less based on your taste.

    Sweet potatoes

    We use orange sweet potatoes, without peal. However, sweet potato peal is safe to eat, and if you want to, you can add the sweet potatoes with the peel on.

    If so, scrub the sweet potato well before adding it to the chili.

    Green pepper

    Green bell pepper adds a mildly acidic flavor that we love in chili.

    Substitute red or yellow bell peppers for green ones.

    Corn

    We like to use canned corn because it's easiest to find in our supermarket; however, you can also use frozen corn.

    Tomatoes

    We use canned diced tomatoes.

    Substitute fire-roasted tomatoes or crushed tomatoes for diced ones.

    Beans

    We use red kidney beans for our sweet potato chili. We go for canned ones to make this recipe in less than one hour.

    However, if you prefer, you can use dry beans that you previously soaked for 12 hours in water, then boiled until tender - 1 to 2 hours.

    Substitute black beans or pinto beans for red kidney beans. You can also use two or more bean varieties in the same chili.

    Vegetable broth

    Vegetable broth is our liquid of choice for this recipe. We prefer it to chicken stock to keep the recipe meat-free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans in our family.

    Salt and pepper

    Go for sea salt or kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

    Chili powder

    It wouldn't be chili without some heat. We use chili powder for that. Add more or less based on your preferences.

    Chipotle powder

    This is our secret ingredient, and it's optional.

    For us, this is a pantry staple and an excellent ingredient that makes this dish so much better.

    It adds warmth and spice with smokey notes that fit the recipe well. We love it, and please let us know what you think if you try it.

    You can substitute chipotle powder with adobo sauce or add some cayenne pepper and smoked paprika combined.

    Serve with

    Sliced avocado, cilantro, lime, vegan sour cream, guacamole, jalapeños, hot sauce, tortillas, nachos, shredded cheese or vegan cheese, crumbled feta cheese, or dairy-free feta.

    Note: this chili recipe is vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and dairy free. We don't add ground beef, ground turkey, or pork.

    If you wish to do so, fry the meats in a separate pan with a drizzle of olive oil until they start to brown (about 10 - 15 minutes), then add them to the chili with the rest of the ingredients.

    sweet potato chili in a dutch oven

    Instructions

    Warm up the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven. Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery and fry gently on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables start to sweat. Stir often.

    This step builds a ton of flavor, so try not to rush it.

    onion celery and carrot in a pot

    Add grated garlic, diced green bell pepper, and cumin, and fry for two more minutes, stirring often.

    flavor base with carrot, celery and onion

    In the meantime, peel and chop the sweet potato into bite-size dice of about ¾ inch (2cm).

    sweet potato cubes and hands

    Add diced sweet potatoes, canned tomatoes, beans (drained and rinsed), vegetable broth, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and, optionally, chipotle powder.

    diced tomato, kidney beans and sweet potato in a pot

    Stir and simmer on medium-low heat for about 45 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are very tender. Add frozen or canned corn at the 35-minute mark.

    Stir occasionally to prevent the chili from sticking to the pot.

    Note: we love it when the kidney beans get super soft and creamy. If you like them with more bite, add them towards the end with the corn.

    sweet potato chili simmering

    Taste and adjust for salt and spices, then let it cool down for at least 10 minutes before serving it with lime juice squeezed on top and freshly chopped cilantro.

    Sweet potato chili with cilantro

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve with your family's favorite toppings; here are some excellent with sweet potato chili:

    • Guacamole or slices of avocado.
    • Sour cream or a dollop of non-dairy yogurt.
    • Homemade croutons or easy air fryer croutons.
    • Queso or tomato salsa in small separate bowls.
    • Tortillas or nachos.
    • Fresh lime juice, cilantro, and sriracha or hot sauce.
    Sweet potato chili with nachos and hand

    Serve with fresh greens such as:

    • Simple side salad (leafy green, cherry tomatoes, celery, red onion).
    • Red cabbage slaw (red cabbage, green apples, carrot, walnuts, maple syrup).
    • Shaved Brussels sprouts salad (Brussels sprouts, dried cranberries, walnuts, lemon).
    • Green bean salad with tomatoes (green beans, shallots, mustard, maple syrup).
    • Tomato salad (heirloom tomatoes, red onion, olive oil).
    • shaved brussels sprouts salad
      Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
    • red cabbage slaw with apple and walnuts
      Red Cabbage Slaw
    • simple side salad
      Side Salad
    • tomato salad served on a platter with crusty bread
      Tomato Salad

    Tips

    Flavor base

    Give enough time for the onion, celery, and carrots to sweat gently for about 10 minutes, then add garlic and cumin and fry them for two more minutes.

    This step will make a ton of difference in the final taste of your sweet potato chili.

    Let it simmer more than you think

    A great sweet potato chili needs at least 45 minutes of simmering because that's the time it takes for the sweet potatoes to cook thoroughly and almost melt in the pot, making your chili recipe wonderfully creamy.

    Also, the tomatoes and the spices meld together during this time, and the excess moisture from the veggies evaporates, giving you a rich, creamy, and flavorful chili.

    Questions

    What can I put in chili instead of beans?

    You can substitute chickpeas or green and brown lentils for beans. They are still nutritious and work perfectly in a chili recipe.

    How do you add flavor to a bland chili?

    First things first, ensure you added enough salt. Home cooks often don't add enough salt to their dishes, so go ahead and add a pinch if your chili is lacking in flavor.

    Then, adjust the spices. For example, we love adding a teaspoon or two of chipotle powder to add a smokey and spicy taste. If you don't have that, try smoked paprika and more chili powder, or experiment with cumin, dried oregano, and cinnamon.

    Finally, get creative with the toppings. Try lime juice, cilantro, hot sauce, nachos, sour cream, yogurt, shredded cheese, or vegan alternatives.

    Sweet potato chili with sour cream

    Make Ahead & Storage

    Make ahead: sweet potato chili is excellent to make in advance and for meal prep because it keeps well in the fridge for days, and its flavor gets richer as the chili sits in the fridge.

    Refrigerator: let the chili cool down at room temperature, then transfer it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

    Freezer: let it cool down completely, then transfer it into a freezer-friendly container and freeze it for up to 6 months.

    Thaw: you can defrost in the fridge over several hours, or you can use the thawing function of your microwave.

    Reheat: warm the leftovers in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes or in a pot on the stovetop for about 5 minutes. Only reheat the portions you are going to eat.

    More Sweet Potato Recipes

    Get easy and healthy dinner ideas from these sweet potato reader favorites:

    • Stuffed sweet potato (sweet potato, chickpea salad, black bean salad, or couscous salad).
    • Sweet potato curry (sweet potato, coconut milk, diced tomatoes, ginger, garlic, curry)
    • Easy chickpea stew (onion, celery, carrot, chickpeas, cumin, sweet potato, canned tomato).
    • Sweet potato gnocchi (microwave sweet potato, flour, salt, water).
    • Sweet potato hash (kidney beans, green bell pepper, scallions, sweet potato).
    • microwave sweet potato
      Microwave Sweet Potato
    • Sweet potato curry with rice
      Sweet Potato Curry
    • Chickpea Stew with naan bread
      Chickpea Stew
    • sweet potato gnocchi with butter and sage
      Sweet Potato Gnocchi

    More One-Pot Recipes

    Fuss-free and meal-prep-friendly ideas are guaranteed with these wholesome and tasty one-pot recipes:

    • Lentil curry (red lentils, ginger, garlic, coconut milk, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth).
    • Chana masala (chickpeas, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander).
    • Vegetable soup (cauliflower, green beans, white beans, potato, spinach).
    • Lentil pasta (brown lentils, ditalini pasta, cherry tomatoes, rosemary, bay leaves).
    • Pasta e Ceci (chickpeas, pasta, carrot, onion, celery, diced tomatoes, rosemary).
    • lentil curry with basmati rice
      Lentil Curry
    • Chana masala in a bowl with rice
      Chana Masala
    • vegetable soup in a white bowl
      Vegetable Soup
    • pasta and chickpeas with spoon
      Pasta with Chickpea (Pasta e Ceci)

    For many more 30-minute meal ideas, check out our 30-minute meal category page.

    Recipe

    Sweet potato chili with parsley

    Sweet Potato Chili

    Author: Nico
    This one-pot sweet potato chili is a tasty, spicy, creamy, and wholesome chili idea for a delicious family dinner.
    It's also excellent for meal prep and pairs well with nachos, tortillas, and your favorite toppings - we love it with sour cream, guacamole, lime, and fresh cilantro.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 2 votes
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 55 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican-Inspired
    Servings 6 - 8 people
    Calories 399 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 large onion
    • 1 large carrot
    • 1 stalk celery
    • 4 cloves garlic
    • 1½ teaspoons cumin or more to taste
    • 1 green bell pepper
    • 1½ pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into ¾ inch (2cm) dice
    • 3 cans (15-ounce each) diced tomatoes
    • 3 cans (15-ounce each) kidney beans
    • 2 cups vegetable broth
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder or more to taste
    • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder optional
    • 1½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ cup corn
    • limes & cilantro for serving*

    Instructions
     

    • Warm up the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven. Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery.
      Fry on medium-low heat for 10 minutes till the veggies start to sweat. Stir often.
      onion celery and carrot in a pot
    • Add grated garlic, diced green bell pepper, and cumin, and fry for two more minutes, stirring often.
      flavor base with carrot, celery and onion
    • In the meantime, peel and chop the sweet potatoes into bite-size dice of about ¾ inch (2cm).
      sweet potato cubes and hands
    • Add diced sweet potatoes, canned tomatoes, drained and rinsed beans, veg broth, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and chipotle powder to the pot.
      diced tomato, kidney beans and sweet potato in a pot
    • Stir and simmer for 45 minutes, or until the potatoes are very tender.
      Add the corn at the 35-minute mark.
      Stir occasionally to prevent the chili from sticking to the pot..
      sweet potato chili simmering
    • Taste and adjust for salt and spices, then let it cool down 10 minutes before serving with lime juice and cilantro.
      Sweet potato chili with cilantro
    • We love it with lime, cilantro, vegan sour cream, sliced avocado, jalapeños, and hot sauce.
      Sweet potato chili with sour cream and jalapenos

    Video Recipe

    One-Pot Sweet Potato Chili

    Notes

    Nutritional information is an estimate for one serving of sweet potato chili out of six servings, without toppings.
    SERVE WITH
    Make sure to top the chili with freshly squeezed lime juice and chopped cilantro.
    You can add other toppings such as: sour cream or vegan sour cream, guacamole or sliced avocado, hot sauce or sriracha, pickled jalapeños, shredded cheddar or vegan cheese, crushed nachos.
    Serve with nachos, tortillas, or boiled whole grain rice.
    SUBSTITUTIONS
    - Olive oil: substitute avocado oil, coconut oil, or other vegetable oil.
    - Green pepper: substitute yellow or red bell pepper.
    - Corn: feel free to use frozen or canned corn.
    - Kidney beans: substitute black beans, pinto beans, or a mix of both for kidney beans.
    - Vegetable broth: substitute water for veg broth.
    - Chipotle powder: substitute with smoked paprika and cayenne pepper, or with adobo sauce from a can on chipotle in adobo.
    MAKE AHEAD & STORAGE
    - Make ahead: sweet potato chili is excellent to make in advance and for meal prep because it keeps well in the fridge for days, and its flavor gets richer as the chili sits in the fridge.
    - Refrigerator: let the chili cool down at room temperature, then transfer it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
    - Freezer: let it cool down completely, then transfer it into a freezer-friendly container and freeze it for up to 6 months.
    - Thaw: you can defrost in the fridge over several hours, or you can use the thawing function of your microwave.
    - Reheat: warm the leftovers in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes or in a pot on the stovetop for about 5 minutes. Only reheat the portions you are going to eat.
     

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Sweet Potato Chili
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 399 Calories from Fat 72
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 8g12%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 1456mg42%
    Carbohydrates 69g23%
    Dietary Fiber 17g71%
    Sugar 13g14%
    Protein 16g32%
    Vitamin A 18670IU373%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 43mg52%
    Vitamin E 3mg20%
    Vitamin K 29µg28%
    Calcium 158mg16%
    Folate 208µg52%
    Iron 7mg39%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 121mg30%
    Zinc 2mg13%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked this sweet potato chili, you might also enjoy the following:

    • sweet potato recipes including mains and desserts
      25 Best Sweet Potato Recipes
    • Easy curries
      10 Easy Curry Recipes
    • best soup recipes with toppings
      20 Best Soup Recipes (with Toppings)
    • Vegetable sides with salad and mashed veggies
      40 Best Vegetable Sides
    « 35 Best Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
    Carciofi alla Romana (Roman style artichokes) »

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

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