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    Home » Recipes

    Turkey Sweet Potato Chili

    Published: Jan 8, 2019 / Updated: Feb 4, 2023 / 64 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This turkey sweet potato chili recipe is healthy, cozy, comforting, and easy to cook. It makes great leftovers for meal prep!

    close-up of white bowl of healthy turkey sweet potato chili topped with avocado

    Comfort food is what's needed this time of year. And after all the indulgence of December, I'm trying to get some healthy(ish) recipes on here again. Balance is good.

    This healthy turkey chili recipe can be made as spicy (or mild) as you wish. I added some cayenne pepper since I knew my husband would be eating most of the leftovers. If I was going to be eating the bulk of this, I would probably have left it out or just added a pinch.

    two white bowls with turkey sweet potato chili

    It's not a big deal if you have more/less sweet potato or turkey than I suggest in the recipe... it's all good. I didn't weigh the sweet potato, and I totally realize that what I may consider a "medium-to-large" sweet potato may be vastly different than someone else, but that's ok. This chili is very forgiving.

    One thing I probably would do next time I make this is to cut the sweet potatoes a bit smaller. You can see from the photos that they're in fairly large chunks. I found that I boiled most of the liquid out while I spent like 30 minutes simmering it until the sweet potatoes were tender. I decided that more liquid would probably be a good idea anyway, so I increased my original 1/2 cup of chicken broth/stock to a full cup.

    If you do prefer your chili on the drier side, use only 1/2 cup of the broth and you can always add more later on in the cooking process if you find that it is indeed too dry.

    close-up of turkey sweet potato chili in a white bowl with a spoon

    Are you a big chili fan? You may also like my slow cooker turkey chili, this turkey white bean chili, my turkey pumpkin chili, or my Instant Pot turkey chili if you like this recipe. If you like poultry, you may like my white chicken chili. Prefer beef? Try my quick and easy beef chili.

    I hope this skinny turkey chili will hit the spot for you.

    Turkey sweet potato chili toppings

    • Shredded cheddar cheese
    • Avocado
    • Chopped cilantro
    • Greek yogurt or sour cream
    • Tortilla strips/chips
    • Scallions

    ...or whatever floats your boat. Or nothing. There is no right or wrong way to top chili IMO.

    white bowl with healthy sweet potato ground turkey chili topped with avocado

    Will you give this sweet potato turkey chili a try?

    Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about this recipe.

    This healthy turkey sweet potato chili will soon become a new family favorite. Make it as spicy (or mild) as you like, and top it with cheddar, avocado, sour cream/Greek yogurt and/or anything else you can think of for a delicious and comforting meal. Perfect for meal prep!

    Turkey Sweet Potato Chili

    This turkey sweet potato chili recipe is healthy, cozy, comforting, and easy to cook. It makes great leftovers for meal prep!
    4.96 from 22 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 45 mins
    Total Time 55 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 271 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1/2 medium onion chopped
    • 1 medium-to-large sweet potato peeled & diced
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 pound lean ground turkey
    • 2 tablespoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
    • 1 (28 fluid ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes with juices
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 1 (14 fluid ounce) can red kidney beans drained
    • Salt & pepper to taste

    Toppings (optional):

    • Cheddar cheese grated, to taste
    • Cilantro chopped
    • Avocado diced
    • Sour cream or Greek yogurt to taste
    • Scallions chopped, to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Prep your sweet potato and onion.
    • Add the oil to a large soup pot and sauté the onion over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
    • Add the garlic and turkey to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the turkey turns white on the outside.
    • Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Give it a good stir.
    • Add the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, kidney beans, and sweet potatoes.
    • Increase the heat and bring the chili to a boil. Once it's bubbling, reduce the heat to medium and cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar. Let it cook for 15-25 minutes or until the sweet potatoes have softened (depends how big you cut the pieces). I like to give it an occasional stir. 
    • Season with extra salt & pepper if needed and garnish with desired toppings.

    Notes

    • You can use hot paprika or smoked paprika instead of regular paprika if you wish.
    • If you prefer a more dry chili, reduce the chicken broth to 1/2 cup. I originally made it with 1/2 cup and found it a little dry since I cut the sweet potato pieces quite large and it took them a long time to cook, so the liquid bubbled away.
    • This chili is pretty forgiving... you can add more or less turkey and more or less sweet potato... it's all good. I encourage you to adjust the spices to your taste as well. 
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
       

    Nutrition

    Calories: 271kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 26gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 455mgPotassium: 714mgFiber: 8gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 6921IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword healthy turkey chili, turkey sweet potato chili
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Tuscan Sausage Pasta
    Sausage, Kale, and Gnocchi Soup »

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    1. RD says

      February 4, 2023 at 8:54 AM

      Is it a dry bean or can beans.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 4, 2023 at 12:08 PM

        It says right in the recipe card that it's canned beans.

        Reply
    2. Cindy Vargo says

      May 31, 2022 at 2:27 PM

      5 stars
      I’m trying to eat anti inflammatory and happened upon this Turkey Sweet Potato Chili recipe! So glad I did!
      Love it! Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 31, 2022 at 2:29 PM

        Excellent! I'm so glad it was a hit for you! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Michele says

      April 18, 2022 at 2:27 PM

      4 stars
      When it snows in the middle of April, you need a recipe like this to cheer everyone up! Delicious!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 18, 2022 at 4:32 PM

        Yes! Here too, ugh! Glad it was a hit! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Dawn says

      March 6, 2022 at 7:30 PM

      5 stars
      I made this but subbed for chicken breast I cut up small and used pinto beans. Everyone loved it. I have made other recipes from you. They were delicious too
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 6, 2022 at 9:08 PM

        I'm so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂 You're very welcome, Dawn!

        Reply
    5. Julie says

      January 26, 2022 at 9:29 AM

      5 stars
      This was absolutely amazing! Very flavorful, filling, and healthy. There was a spicy kick to it, but even my teenagers loved it! This will be a constant in our house. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 26, 2022 at 9:47 AM

        That's so great to hear, Julie! 😀 Thanks for your review!

        Reply
    6. Dar says

      December 20, 2021 at 5:56 PM

      5 stars
      My granddaughter recently fix this for dinner for four of us and it was wonderful. Very flavorful, tasty and filling. I will be making this myself soon. She used black beans rather than kidney and added a can of diced green peppers. It was delicious.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 21, 2021 at 9:41 AM

        I'm so glad you all enjoyed it, Dar!! 🙂 Appreciate you taking the time to write me a review. Happy holidays!

        Reply
    7. Tony Bagato says

      December 1, 2021 at 8:15 AM

      What is the serving size for 6 servings?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 1, 2021 at 10:04 AM

        1/6 of the recipe. I don't have any details beyond that... I am not a trained nutritionist, and that's the info my nutrition calculator is able to provide.

        Reply
    8. Natalia says

      November 6, 2021 at 6:38 PM

      I love this chili. Fast and very tasty. I used black beans and I add a little bit more of cumin.Thank you for this great recipe.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 6, 2021 at 6:40 PM

        You're very welcome!! 😀

        Reply
    9. Jennifer says

      October 4, 2021 at 5:27 AM

      5 stars
      Delicious recipe! My daughter made this chili for me and I scrapped the bowl it was so yummy. Very nutritious as well!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 4, 2021 at 9:51 AM

        So happy it was a hit! 😀

        Reply
    10. Kelly says

      May 18, 2021 at 4:09 PM

      This recipe looks delicious! Can you freeze it?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 18, 2021 at 4:34 PM

        Yes... that will be fine. 🙂 Hope you like it!

        Reply
    11. Marijka Jefferson says

      April 27, 2021 at 7:35 PM

      5 stars
      Second time making this chili. I was worried it might be too spicy, but my family loved it. Plus it is quick and easy.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 27, 2021 at 9:07 PM

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂

        Reply
    12. Katie P says

      February 2, 2021 at 8:58 PM

      5 stars
      I love this recipe!! Similar to a recipe a personal trainer gave to me year ago! The only difference is that in the old recipe they added 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon. So i added that and did black beans instead of kidney beans! 10/10 love it!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 3, 2021 at 9:31 AM

        Wonderful! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. Love the cinnamon idea.

        Reply
    13. Mary Courts says

      January 20, 2021 at 1:12 PM

      5 stars
      This was a great recipe! I love the sweet, smoky, spicy combo! Will make again.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 21, 2021 at 9:32 AM

        Fab!! Thanks for taking the time to review the recipe, Mary.

        Reply
    14. Melodie Morris says

      December 20, 2020 at 10:18 PM

      5 stars
      Love this!!!!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 21, 2020 at 10:19 AM

        Thank you!! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Patsy says

      November 1, 2020 at 8:44 PM

      5 stars
      Absolutely loved your recipe 😋!!!
      I immediately shared it with all of my peeps:)
      Thanks so much for sharing.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 2, 2020 at 8:41 AM

        Wonderful!! Appreciate you sharing it, Patsy! 🙂

        Reply
    16. Katie @ Katiebird Bakes says

      October 16, 2020 at 8:26 PM

      5 stars
      This was amazing! Perfectly spiced. I added a bit more chicken broth than called for because I like chili on the saucy side - otherwise made as directed and it was fabulous. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 17, 2020 at 9:25 AM

        I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Katie! Thanks for taking the time to comment.

        Reply
    17. Ashley says

      October 12, 2020 at 2:27 PM

      UGH! Burnt the bottom of my pan so badly on this recipe - bummed!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 12, 2020 at 2:36 PM

        That's not good! 🙁

        Reply
    18. Caroline Pinto says

      September 28, 2020 at 1:34 AM

      Could I omit the beans? Possibly substitute for something else. Beans don’t settle well with me, unfortunately!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 28, 2020 at 8:44 AM

        Hi! I think that would be fine. Offhand I'm not entirely sure what I'd sub instead... you could probably just bulk it up with some extra veggies maybe? Carrots? Add in some broccoli towards the end maybe?

        Reply
    19. Alex says

      March 9, 2020 at 7:36 AM

      Hi!

      All I have on pinto beans right now to work with, thjnk that would work?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 9, 2020 at 8:24 AM

        Like canned ones? That should be fine.

        Reply
    20. Sarah says

      February 5, 2020 at 7:08 PM

      5 stars
      Loved your recipe! I snuck in diced carrots to "beef" it up with more veggies 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 5, 2020 at 7:17 PM

        Awesome!! So glad you liked it! 😀

        Reply
    21. Kimberly Martin says

      January 30, 2020 at 9:37 AM

      5 stars
      Delicious!! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 30, 2020 at 9:55 AM

        You're welcome! 🙂

        Reply
    22. Lacey solis says

      January 23, 2020 at 2:01 PM

      Could you use black beams instead of kidney beans?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 23, 2020 at 3:37 PM

        Sure!

        Reply
    23. Carly Jane says

      January 5, 2020 at 12:51 PM

      5 stars
      I have made this recipe probably 5 times since finding it 6 months ago. It is amazing!! My boyfriend and I eat it like crazy. It usually will only last about 2 days in our house because we eat it for lunch and dinner. It’s the perfect combo of sweet and savory and so easy to make and modify. I usually put more meat in it to try to make it last a little longer. Thanks so much!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 5, 2020 at 1:10 PM

        I'm so glad you two enjoy it so much!! Thanks for leaving me a comment! 🙂

        Reply
    24. Kathy K says

      November 13, 2019 at 2:43 PM

      5 stars
      It was AMAZING! I had a hint of brown sugar at the end 😉 Trying to find the nutritional info on this dish - any ideas?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 13, 2019 at 3:36 PM

        So glad you enjoyed it, Kathy!! I don't currently have nutritional info on this recipe, unfortunately. Maybe plug the values of the exact ingredients you used into something like My Fitness Pal? Calories will vary depending on size of the sweet potatoes etc.

        Reply
    25. Kristen says

      September 23, 2019 at 2:15 PM

      5 stars
      Made this for a meal prep and even on day one it tastes great! (Chilli always tastes better on day 2-3 IMO). I used ground beef because I had some on hand already, and added a tich more broth than 1 cup. I really like the element of adding the sweet potatoes, I think I will continue to make chilli’s like this from now on!
      I made rice to go with it my meal preps as well just so I could spread the chilli out for longer.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 23, 2019 at 7:56 PM

        I am so happy you liked it! 🙂

        Reply
    26. Tamara Green says

      June 5, 2019 at 5:15 PM

      5 stars
      My son always "hated" sweet potatoes until now. This is a new family favorite. The spicing is perfect (I leave out the cayenne). It's delicious, healthy, and so darn easy - all in one pot.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 6, 2019 at 9:12 AM

        That's awesome!! I am so happy your son likes it 🙂

        Reply
    27. Melody says

      May 27, 2019 at 2:17 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe is so good and so easy. The first time I only made it with one 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes, and I forgot the onions but it still turned out amazing. This time I followed the recipe exactly. I haven't tried it yet but judging from how tasty it smells I think it'll be perfect. She's right that this chili is forgiving and you can really make it your own. I also don't use the super lean turkey (I use 85/15) and I just drain it a bit and it's wonderful.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 27, 2019 at 6:10 PM

        I am so happy that you like it, Melody!! 🙂

        Reply
      • Courtanee Marvin says

        July 6, 2020 at 4:58 PM

        I also only used a 14oz can of tomatoes lol. I used some extra water with tomato paste that I had on hand. I think I liked it better as I dont really like the texture of stewed tomatoes.

        Reply
        • Natasha says

          July 7, 2020 at 8:24 AM

          No worries! I'm glad you were able to make it work for you.

          Reply
    28. Brontë says

      February 4, 2019 at 10:36 PM

      5 stars
      I made this tonight for my boyfriend and I, and it was delicious! I used a crock pot and added the Cayenne pepper you suggested. So good!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 4, 2019 at 10:53 PM

        Yay! So glad to hear you two liked it 🙂

        Reply
    29. Jackie says

      January 21, 2019 at 8:08 PM

      5 stars
      I made this tonight & it’s great!! Everything you love about chili without the heaviness.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 22, 2019 at 7:24 PM

        That's wonderful! Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    30. Kim says

      January 13, 2019 at 1:33 PM

      Do you have any suggestions as a substitute for the tomatoes? I have developed a strong intolerance to tomatoes and miss Chili - this one looks good, was wondering if more broth or puréed sweet potato might work?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 13, 2019 at 1:49 PM

        That's unfortunate! 🙁 I think your suggestions would definitely work. Also, what about red peppers or even zucchini? I've also seen beer added for liquid and flavor, or a dash of apple cider vinegar or some tomatillos for the sourness that the tomatoes provide.

        Reply
        • Suzy says

          February 12, 2023 at 7:50 AM

          5 stars
          A little full-bodied beer is a super addition to most any chili!
          Surely someone will be willing to drink the rest!

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            February 12, 2023 at 11:47 AM

            Totally!

            Reply

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