The Best Hearty & Healthy Turkey Sweet Potato Chili (Slow Cooker!)
A healthy and hearty chili recipe made with lean ground turkey and sweet potatoes in a slow cooker. The dish features a homemade chili seasoning blend with smoked paprika and cumin. The ground turkey is first browned with a portion of the seasoning to build flavor, then combined in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker with diced sweet potato, tomatoes, corn, kidney beans, and other vegetables. The chili is slow-cooked for several hours until the flavors have melded and the sweet potatoes are tender.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (on high)
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- For the Seasoning Blend:
- 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- For the Chili:
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 pounds 92-97% lean ground turkey
- 2 (14-ounce) cans petite diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (7- or 8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups (480ml) reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced (about 2 cups)
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 large green bell pepper, diced
- 1 (14-ounce) can corn, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 small jalapeño, minced (seeds removed)
- Optional toppings: chopped cilantro, green onion, shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado slices
Instructions
- Make the Seasoning Blend: In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. Set aside.
- Brown the Turkey: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook for about 4 minutes, then add 2 Tablespoons of the prepared seasoning blend. Continue to cook and break up the meat for another 4–5 minutes, until it is completely cooked through.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the cooked turkey to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add all the remaining chili ingredients: diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, chicken broth, sweet potato, onion, bell pepper, corn, kidney beans, jalapeño, and the rest of the seasoning blend.
- Stir everything together until well combined.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 7 hours or on the HIGH setting for 4 hours.
- Serve the chili warm, with optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, or avocado.
Notes
- Browning the ground turkey with some of the seasoning before adding it to the slow cooker is a key step that develops a deeper, richer flavor.
- This recipe is great for meal prep, as it makes a large batch and leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- To control the spice level, you can remove the seeds from the jalapeño for less heat.
Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/turkey-sweet-potato-chili/