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
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.
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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
19 reviews
This was so good! We did the stovetop version, no changes, and it got rave reviews from the group. Upped the seasoning a bit but we often do that :) Delicious and will definitely make again this fall/winter!
0 HelpfulI actual eat sort of like paleo (low carb, high protein) but don’t eat sweet potatoes and DO eat beans, so I made this according to the recipe but added two cans of beans (I used northern beans and pinto beans) and roasted the sweet potatoes on the side for the rest of the family. This was delicious! My two boys (2 and 6) devoured it as well. I can’t wait to have leftovers for lunch tomorrow!!
0 HelpfulDelicious. I made mine in my Dutch oven instead of the slow cooker and it was easily a 30 minute meal that my whole family loved, including my toddler!
0 Helpfulmade in slow cooker (instant pot, slow cooker setting). was not cooking at all on low. (Granted I added extra water and uncooked lentils, but the sweet potatoes were still super hard). I cranked it to high, and let go another 2 hrs, and still raw! Finally turned to Sautee and simmered it (in instant pot still) for 30 min and it cooked and thickened.
0 Helpful