Cooking
Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
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Turkey and sweet potato chili is the perfect combination of heartiness and healthy and is surprisingly easy to toss together. But no worries, you’d never guess from the taste that it’s anything but indulgent as heck.

This turkey sweet potato chili is a pot of stick-to-your-ribs goodness that’s also good for you. The combination of ground turkey and cannellini beans in a lightly spiced sweet potato purée tastes like indulgent comfort food but there’s no guilt here.–Angie Zoobkoff
Why our testers loved this
Our testers are singing the praises of this comforting turkey chili with sweet potatoes. They love that the directions are “clear and easy to follow,” and that it doesn’t require babysitting all day. They all were surprised and pleased by the depth of flavor that the sweet potato puree adds to this quick chili.
Notes on ingredients
- Sweet Potato–This gets pureed to add flavor to the chili. To ensure that the sweet potato cooks through, don’t cut the pieces any larger than 3/4-inch (18 mm). You can also use butternut squash in place of the sweet potato.
- Cayenne–The recipe calls for a pinch of cayenne, but if you prefer a spicy chili, go ahead and add a little more. Taste the finished sweet potato puree and adjust the heat level until it suits you.
- Ground Turkey–Aim for a 93/7 turkey blend to keep the chili healthy, while still adding a little fat and flavor.
- Sweet Paprika–Feel free to use smoked or hot paprika here, if you prefer.
- Cannellini Beans–If you’re not a fan of beans, or don’t tolerate them well, you can leave them out, or substitute with a different grain, such as quinoa, bulgur, or barley. You may need to adjust your cooking time a bit.
- Toppings–Any of your favorite chili toppings work well here, including sour cream, cheese, chopped scallions, cilantro, tortilla chips, and hot sauce.
Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili FAQs
Is chili considered a soup or a stew?
Lots of folks consider chili to be in its own food group, but it’s technically a type of Tex-Mex stew. It’s generally too thick and hearty to be considered a soup.
I don’t have a food processor. What can I use instead?
The recipe calls for a food processor to make the sweet potato puree. Our testers found that a blender, whether regular or immersion, worked just as well here.
Helpful tips
- If your chili is too thick after simmering, or after being refrigerated, thin it with additional vegetable or chicken stock, or water.
- As written, this recipe is suitable for gluten-free or dairy-free diets, excluding any sour cream or cheese toppings.
- The cooked chili can be refrigerated for up to 4 days, or frozen for up to 6 months. Divvy it into individual containers for an easy meal-prep lunch or dinner.
☞ If you make this recipe, or any dish on LC, consider leaving a review, a star rating, and your best photo in the comments below. I love hearing from you.–David
Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili

Turkey and sweet potato chili is the perfect combination of heartiness and healthy. But no worries, you’d never guess from the taste that it’s anything but indulgent as heck.
Make the turkey chili
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In a large saucepan set over a medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the sweet potato and garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the cayenne and 1 teaspoon each coriander, cumin, and paprika. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, tossing the sweet potato in the pan to coat it evenly in the spices.
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Pour in the stock. The sweet potatoes should be covered with liquid. If necessary, add enough water to barely cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook until the sweet potato is soft, 10 to 20 minutes. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes.
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Carefully transfer the sweet potato mixture to a food processor and blitz to a smooth purée. (Alternately, you can use an immersion blender in the pot to purée the mixture, then transfer to a bowl.)
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Return the empty saucepan to medium heat and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the red onion and sauté until the onion begins to soften, about 4 minutes.
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Add the turkey and 1 teaspoon each coriander, cumin, and paprika and cook, using a wooden spoon to break the turkey into small pieces, until browned, 4 to 7 minutes.
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Stir in the sweet potato purée, cannellini beans, and vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper, adding extra cayenne if you like things spicy. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 5 minutes, adding a splash of water if the sauce becomes too dry.
For serving
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Spoon the chili into bowls and serve with sour cream, coriander leaves, fresh lime, and corn chips for a Mexican vibe.
- Sweet potato size–Cut your pieces of sweet potato no larger than 3/4-inch. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will cook during step 2.
- Storage–Leftover chili can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 6 months. Divvy into individual containers for easy meal-prep meals. Rewarm in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat.
- Thinning–If the chili is too thick, thin it with extra vegetable or chicken stock, or water.
- Dietary needs–The chili is gluten-free and dairy-free, as long as no sour cream or cheese is added as a topping.
Serving: 1portionCalories: 406kcal (20%)Carbohydrates: 39g (13%)Protein: 40g (80%)Fat: 11g (17%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mg (24%)Sodium: 507mg (22%)Potassium: 835mg (24%)Fiber: 9g (38%)Sugar: 6g (7%)Vitamin A: 10606IU (212%)Vitamin C: 5mg (6%)Calcium: 120mg (12%)Iron: 5mg (28%)
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We’d love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
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