Slow Cooker (or not) Lentil and Sweet Potato Chili
with avocados / sour cream / tortilla chips
Smarts: This recipe could be made in the Instant Pot. For tips, join the Cook Smarts Instant Pot Facebook Group.
Ingredients
- Sweet potatoes - 1 lb, diced
- Onions, medium - 1, diced
- Garlic - 3 cloves, chopped
- Lentils, pre-cooked - 2 cups (look for vacuum-packed or canned)
- Cumin - 2 tsp
- Paprika - 2 tsp
- Chili powder - 2 tsp
- Salt - 1 tsp
- Beans, kidney (14 oz / 397 g) - 1 can, drained and rinsed
- Oil, cooking - 1 Tbsp
- Tomatoes, crushed (14 oz / 397 g) - 1 can
- Tomatoes, diced and preferably fire-roasted (14 oz / 397 g) - 1 can
- Stock, any type - 1 1/2 cups
- Green onions - 2, chopped, green and white parts combined
- Avocados - 1, cubed
- Hot sauce (opt) - to taste
- Sour cream - for serving
- Tortilla chips (opt) - for serving
Nutrition Facts
Prep
- Sweet potatoes / Onions / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Season lentils - Combine lentils with cumin, paprika, chili powder, and salt. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
- Beans - Drain and rinse beans.
- If cooking chili in the slow cooker: Heat a skillet with oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and lentils and saute until spices are fragrant, ~2 minutes. Transfer lentils to slow cooker and add sweet potatoes, beans, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and stock. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
- Green onions / Avocados - Prep as directed.
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Make
- If cooking chili on the stovetop: Heat a Dutch oven with oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and lentils and saute until spices are fragrant, ~2 minutes. Add in sweet potatoes, beans, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until sweet potatoes are tender, ~20 minutes.
- When chili is finished cooking, taste and season with some salt and pepper. Add some hot sauce if you’d like it spicier.
- Serve chili with green onions, avocados, and sour cream for topping. Enjoy with tortilla chips on the side for dipping or crumbled over top.
Nutrition Facts
Reviews
Ratings
Most Helpful
Made this twice, once with the turkey and once with lentils, and I actually like it better with lentils! And not too spicy. Kids liked the sweet potatoes and beans from it, but they are not partial to tomato based things. The 8 serving does not fit in my IP!
1 Helpful63 reviews
I used all crushed tomatoes and added two cans of kidney beans, but otherwise made as is. It was delicious! Would definitely make again with these same modifications.
0 HelpfulI enjoyed this dish, with a different flavor than I’m used to in chili. I thought it got better and better with every bite! Topped with sriracha.
0 HelpfulI made this with beef instead of turkey (didnt have it) and diced tomatoes instead of crushed tomatoes (also didnt have those) and I added an extra tsp of chili powder. Slow cooked it and it was yummy!
0 HelpfulI made this in our InstaPot. Substituted one 15oz can of drained and rinsed black beans for the kidney beans. Cooked on the soup setting for 5 minutes on high power, because all you have to do is soften up the sweet potatoes. Served with Tostitos Scoops. - Timothy
0 HelpfulExcellent. Easy to make. Loved by young (2yrs) and "old" my husband 66. Second time to make this as my daughter (a mom) Loved it!
0 Helpful