Slow Cooker (or not) Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
with avocados / sour cream / tortilla chips
This turkey chili is lower in calories than its beef-based counterparts but still offers that cozy, hearty substance you're looking for in chili. Make it in the slow cooker for that simmered-all-day flavor or on the stovetop if you're short on time. This is a classic Cook Smarts meal that was last featured in 2019.
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
- Turkey, ground and lean - 1 lb
- 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
Choose Cooking Method
Prep
- Sweet potatoes / Onions / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Season turkey - Combine turkey with cumin, paprika, chili powder, and salt. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
- Beans - Drain and rinse beans.
- Heat a skillet with oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and turkey. Saute until turkey is browned, breaking it apart as it cooks, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer turkey to slow cooker and add sweet potatoes, beans, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and stock. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
- Green onions / Avocados - Prep as directed.
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Make
- 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.
Prep
- Sweet potatoes / Onions / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Season turkey - Combine turkey with cumin, paprika, chili powder, and salt. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
- Beans - Drain and rinse beans.
- Green onions / Avocados - Prep as directed.
Unlock this meal along with hundreds of smart meal plans and never stress about "What's for dinner?" again
Try for freeLearn More
Make
- Heat a Dutch oven with oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and turkey. Saute until turkey is browned, breaking it apart as it cooks, 5 to 7 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
Delicious and easy to throw together. My only issue was the size of my crock pot. I made the recipe for 8 servings because I love leftover chili and could only fit about 1/3 of the broth in without overflowing.
1 Helpful29 reviews
I skipped the garlic and used ancho pepper instead of chili powder. I loved it, no one else in the family did.
0 HelpfulTakes a fair amount of prep work in the morning, but involves almost no effort in the evening! And it's definitely a tasty meal.
0 HelpfulI have made this several times over and it has been great each time. I put the sweet potatoes in during the last hour so they don't get mushy or I roast them. this is on my shortlist of crockpot meals.
0 Helpful