Introducing Turkey Sweet Potato Chili! I love regular chili, but I’m telling you, I’m loving this ground turkey, no bean, sweet potato version even more!
Turkey Sweet Potato Chili is a fun and healthier twist to traditional chili, but it still retains that slightly spicy, tomato-y flavors and hearty textures that we all know and love.
Love chilis? Don’t forge to also check out my Texas Red Chili, White Chicken Chili and Healthy Turkey Chili recipes!
Turkey Chili with Sweet Potatoes
This ground turkey sweet potato chili recipe is very similar to my Healthy Turkey Chili, but loaded with lots of yummy sweet potato chunks and has a slightly sweeter twist to it. The slight sweetness in the broth goes perfectly with those wonderful sweet potatoes.
Having a fervent passionate love for all things sweet potato, it is no surprise that I am loving this sweet potato version of turkey chili so dang much.
Sweet Potato Turkey Chili is a chunky, cozy soup filled with ground turkey, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes (well duh…), then garnished with avocados, cheese, and cilantro.
My opinion about garnishes is that they are just as important as the chili itself. So whenever I am having a bowl of any chili, you better believe it is loaded with toppings.
If you aren’t a garnish person, it’s okay we can still be friends! 😉
Add lots of garnish, add no garnish at all, or somewhere in between…it’s all yummy, and you should enjoy this sweet potato turkey chili however way you want!
Turkey Sweet Potato Chili is a hearty, cozy meal to enjoy in this beautiful Fall weather that is slowly but surely coming upon us.
Ingredients for this turkey sweet potato chili
- Ground turkey: I like to use lean ground turkey, but ground chicken works great for this as well.
- Sweet potatoes: Use 1 large, or 2 small sweet potato(es). Cut into cubes about 1-inch wide. If sweet potatoes are too big, it takes longer to soften them.
- Onion: White or sweet onions both work.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic brings the best flavor. Mince or chop up the garlic cloves.
- Canned tomatoes: Using both canned petite diced tomatoes and canned tomato sauce. Canned whole tomatoes can be used instead of diced tomatoes.
- Chicken broth: Adds savory depth to the broth.
- Spices: We are using chili powder, smoked paprika, and ground cumin to bring on lots of delicious flavors.
- Frozen corn: Canned or fresh corn work as well.
- Sugar, salt, and black pepper: A pinch of kosher salt and a touch of sugar helps open up all the flavors of the chili!
- Olive oil: For sautéing the garlic and onion.
Let’s make this one-pot Turkey Sweet Potato Chili
This ground turkey sweet potato chili comes together in one pot in about 30 minutes, so it’s an easy meal that anyone can put together even on a busy evening!
Step 1: Sauté the garlic and onion
Heat a large pot or a dutch oven that is at least 5 qt, then add 1 tbsp olive oil. Add minced garlic and diced onion and sauté on medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant.
This is an important step to bring out the flavors of the garlic and onion.
Step 2: Brown the turkey
Add ground turkey to the pot. Season with salt and black pepper, then sauté until the turkey is no longer pink.
Step 3: Add the tomatoes, broth, and sweet potatoes
Add canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth.
Next, add cubed sweet potatoes and stir to combine. Add chili powder, ground cumin, and smoked paprika, and bring the chili to a boil.
Cover with a lid, reduce to medium heat, and let it simmer so the chili thickens and the flavors come together.
It’s done when the sweet potatoes are soft and can be pierced easily with a fork – about 15 minutes or so.
Step 4: Add the corn
I wait until the chili is almost done before adding frozen corn because it doesn’t take long to cook – we’re basically just heating it up.
Add the corn, bring the heat to medium-high, and cook for another few minutes until the chili is bubbling and comes back to a boil.
When it is done, taste (always, always taste your food) and adjust salt and black pepper as desired. If your ground turkey sweet potato chili taste bland, a little bit of salt can really open up the flavors.
Step 5: Serve
Divide the chili into bowls and garnish with all or some of your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Variations and Substiution
There are so many ways to make turkey sweet potato chili. Here are some variation suggestions. Feel free make this chili your own by jazzing it up with the ideas below:
- Bell peppers: Red, green, or orange all work well.
- Beans: Stir in a can of black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, or any kind you like.
- Different protein: Use ground beef, ground pork, or ground chicken in place of ground turkey, if desired.
- Make it creamier: Stir in a few tablespoons of cream cheese, a dollop of Greek yogurt, or a spoonful of sour cream right before serving for a richer, creamier bowl of chili.
Keep in mind that if you add a lot of additional ingredients you will need to add more liquid and spices to balance out the flavors and thickness of the Turkey Sweet Potato Chili as well. So adjust accordingly!
Garnishes
When Turkey Sweet Potato Chili is done, garnish with some or all of the below!
- Cilantro: Something about cilantro in sweet potato chili just rounds out the flavor so well!
- Shredded cheese: Cheddar is our go-to.
- Avocado: Adds a cool, creamy contrast.
- Tortilla chips or corn chips: For crunch.
- Jalapeños: For extra heat.
- Sour cream: Cools things down.
- Green onions or scallions: A sprinkle adds a fresh, mild bite.
- Cornbread: On the side, for scooping.
Tips and Tricks
A few tips for making Turkey Sweet Potato Chili:
- Cube the sweet potatoes evenly: Aim for about 1-inch cubes. If they are cut too large, they’ll take much longer to soften.
- Brown the turkey well: Letting it pick up a little color, not just cooking it through, adds extra depth of flavor.
- Sauté the garlic and onion first: This blooms their flavor before anything else goes into the pot – don’t rush or skip this step.
- Use a dutch oven if you have one: It tend to hold heat more evenly!
- Cover with a lid while it simmers: It helps the sweet potatoes cook through faster.
- Adjust the heat to your liking: Add cayenne powder, jalapeños or a bit more chili powder if you like things spicier.
- Let it sit if you can: The flavors deepen even more after resting – even more so if made a day or two ahead. That’s also why chili tastes so much better the day after!
- Don’t skip the salt: It’s there to open up flavor, not just add saltiness. Taste once the chili is fully cooked, and if it’s not as flavorful as you like, try adding a dash or two more. You’ll be surprised what a little salt can do!
- Balance your garnishes: Pair something creamy (avocado, sour cream) with something fresh (cilantro, green onions) and something crunchy (tortilla chips) for the best bite.
Make Ahead, Storage, and Reheating
Make ahead: This dish makes great meal prep because it stores really well. In fact, I’d argue it tastes even better after sitting for a few days, once the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika have fully permeated the soup.
I’m definitely one of those people who loves leftover chili and looks forward to it – especially when it’s as tasty as this one.
Storage: Store sweet potato chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Whenever I make this chili I typically double it and store one batch in the freezer for busy weeks – it freezes for up to 2 months. There’s nothing quite like warm homemade comfort food that’s already done and only needs to be microwaved on a busy weeknight.
Reheating: If frozen, bring the chili to the refrigerator to fully defrost for 24 hours before reheating. Warm it up on the stovetop over medium heat, or microwave individual portions until heated through.
Serving Turkey Sweet Potato Chili
Here are some delicious way to serve with it:
- Skillet Cornbread
- Tortilla chips
- Bread or rolls – or a fancier bread such as Honey Butter Rolls
- Salad such as Fall Harvest Salad
- Potato skins – a fun snack to go along it for game day
- Top onto hot dogs and make it a chili cheese dog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Start by browning ground turkey on a skillet. Then add ground turkey, along with all the ingredients into a slow cooker. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4-5 hours.
You can adapt it – use the sauté function for the garlic, onion, and turkey, then add the remaining ingredients and pressure cook. Times vary by model, so we’d recommend testing with your machine’s chili or soup setting, then finishing with the corn stirred in afterward.
Ground chicken taste so similar I can’t tell a difference! Ground beef can work too.
This recipe skips beans in favor of sweet potatoes, but plenty of readers have loved stirring in a can of black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans for extra heartiness.
Yes! A can of diced green chilies is a popular addition among readers and adds a nice extra layer of flavor and heat.
Stir in a few tablespoons of cream cheese, a dollop of Greek yogurt, or a spoonful of sour cream right before serving for a richer, creamier bowl.
Swap the ground turkey for extra beans or a plant-based ground substitute, and use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth.
If it’s too thin, let it simmer uncovered a bit longer to reduce. If it’s too thick, stir in a splash more chicken broth until it reaches the consistency you like.
After many, many hot days this summer, I am so ready to make a big bowl of this cozy Sweet Potato Turkey Chili, put on my comfy sweater, and kick off Fall season. Wanna join me?? 😄
ENJOYED THIS RECIPE? Tell us what you think by leaving a rating and review below! 🤍
Other Soup and Stew Recipes
- Chili Mac and Cheese
- Creamy Potato Bacon Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup
- Ground Beef Vegetable Soup
- Turkey Stew
- Beef Stew
- Ravioli Tomato Beef Soup
- Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
- Simple Tomato Soup
- Navy Bean Soup
Turkey Sweet Potato Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 sweet onion diced
- 5-7 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lbs ground turkey
- 28 oz petite diced tomatoes canned
- 16 oz tomato sauce canned
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 large sweet potato 1-inch cubed (~12 oz)
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 cup frozen corn
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Garnish
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1/3 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 avocado sliced
Instructions
- In a large pot, add olive oil, diced onions and minced garlic. Saute under medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Add ground turkey to pot, break up the ground turkey if it is clump together. Sprinkle one or two pinches of salt and pepper to turkey. Cook until turkey is almost done (no longer red/pink).
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, diced sweet potatoes, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin and sugar to pot. Bring to a boil, then lower to medium heat, and cook for another 15 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are soft and can easily be pierced with a fork.
- Add frozen corn. Bring heat to medium high, cook for another few minutes until liquid comes to a boil again. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
- Serve by dividing chili into a few bowls, and garnish with all or some of the garnish ingredients! We recommend garnishing with at least one or two of them. Enjoy!
So good, added some green chillies, and additional half cup of water to make it more liquidy. Loved this one recipe!
I like the idea for adding green chillies! YUM! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
absolutely delicious! I did add a can of drained cannelleni beans, since chili has to have beans😉
Haha that’s totally fair 😉 So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Delicious! I added a can of green chilies it was sweet and spicy! Will definitely make again!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing the addition of green chilies – that’s a great idea!
It was good, but I made adjustments! I added green chilies and black beans which I liked, but it still tasted tomatoey for me. A lot more spice/seasoning should be used. I ended up putting hot sauce on mine since I don’t like when it tastes like tomato sauce.
Hot sauce, green chilies and black beans sounds like a delicious add! Thanks for sharing.