This simple sweet potato and turkey chili is exactly what you need on chilly nights! Hearty, cozy, and made in one pot. It's healthy, smoky-sweet, and the perfect weeknight dinner for fall and winter.
When I'm craving cozy meets simple on a weeknight (or honestly, any night), this turkey and sweet potato chili is the recipe I turn to.
A lot of chili recipes have long ingredient lists (even my own ground beef chili recipe!), but I sometimes I need a streamlined version. Just the essentials, without losing that bold, satisfying flavor.
This version skips the beans (though you can add a can if you want!) and focuses on what makes a great chili shine: tender sweet potatoes, perfectly seasoned ground turkey, and plenty of spices for big flavor.
It serves four hungry people, or 1-2 people with a couple of cozy leftovers, without being too much. Of course, you can easily double it if you're feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week.
This wholesome turkey chili checks all the boxes for an easy weeknight meal! Simple ingredients, minimal cleanup, and max cozy vibes. Check out my easy fall recipes for more like this!
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Ground turkey: Don't go too lean here. 92-93% lean is the sweet spot for juicy, flavorful meat.
- Sweet potatoes: Peeled or unpeeled, up to you. Either way, they'll turn soft, sweet, and creamy in the chili.
- Fire-roasted tomatoes: Diced or crushed both work. If you can't find fire-roasted, regular diced tomatoes are fine too! But fire-roasted is the way to go if you can.
- Spices: Chili powder, cumin, and chipotle (or cayenne or smoked paprika if that's what you have).
Extra sweet potatoes? Use them up with my favorite smoky, saucy black bean stuffed sweet potatoes, or switch up the flavors with some silky smooth spiced sweet potato and carrot soup.
Ingredient Swaps & Variations
- Add black beans or kidney beans for extra fiber and texture.
- Boost flavor with a dash of cinnamon or a sprinkle of brown sugar for sweet-and-smoky depth.
- Add heat with a diced jalapeño or cayenne.
- If you have it on hand, try subbing in some cubed butternut squash for sweet potato! Save even more time by prepping roasted butternut squash cubes in advance that you can toss in, already cooked (and very flavorful).
Pro Tip: If you ever want to level up your spice game, buy whole cumin seeds and grind them yourself with a mortar and pestle. Freshly ground cumin is a total game changer.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1: Sauté onion and ground turkey in olive oil over medium heat.
- Step 2: Add spices and tomato paste, and sauté for a few minutes to bring out the flavors. Add sweet potato cubes, and sauté for 5-7 minutes to help soften and absorb flavors.
- Step 3: Stir diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, and broth. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Step 4: Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until sweet potatoes are completely soft. Serve in bowls with your favorite toppings!
Recipe Shortcut: If you made some roasted sweet potato cubes earlier in the week and have one or two cups left, you can toss leftovers right in with this chili to save time!
Toppings & Serving Ideas
Toppings are the best part! Here's what we regularly top ours with, and it's so good:
- Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Sliced avocado
- Fresh cilantro & green onion
- Shredded cheddar or crumbled cotija cheese
- Squeezes of fresh lime
- Tortilla chips
This is a full meal in and of itself, but if you have time and want add more veggies or sides, try a simple green salad, rice, quinoa, or roasted veggies.
Not sure if this is a Midwest thing, but we grew up with elbow noodles in our chili. So if you want, you could do that too!
Sustainability Tips
- Buy local: If you can buy any of the veggies locally, whether from a CSA, farmers market, or co-op, it'll go a long way to reduce carbon emissions from food transportation (and get you the freshest food!).
- Freeze leftovers: If you feel like you can't finish all of your leftovers, no need to toss! This turkey and sweet potato chili freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
Turkey & Sweet Potato Chili FAQs
Yes! Brown the turkey first, then combine everything and cook on low 6-7 hours or high 3-4. Bonus: If you have a Ninja Foodi 10-in-1, you can brown right in the same pot. Fewer dishes!
Store leftovers in airtight containers for 4-5 days in the fridge, or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating (stovetop or microwave).
They just need more time! Cut them smaller or simmer longer with the lid on.
Yes, and it tastes even better after a night in the fridge.
More Cozy Recipes You'll Love
Made this turkey chili with sweet potatoes? Leave a star rating 🌟, drop a comment, or tag me on Instagram and Pinterest. Want more simple dinner recipes? Join my email list for fresh ideas right in your inbox!
📖 Recipe
One Pot Sweet Potato & Turkey Chili for Cozy Nights
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
A nourishing sweet potato turkey chili recipe that comes together easily! Perfect for keep it simple, cozy, and protein-packed any night of the week.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 pound ground turkey (92-93% lean)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 3 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 large or 2 smaller sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed small (about 1.5 cups)
- 1 14-ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1 14-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
Instructions
- Brown onion + turkey. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, and sauté onions until softened and fragrant. Add ground turkey and sauté with onions until browned, breaking apart as you go.
- Spices + sweet potatoes. Add tomato paste, salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, and chipotle powder. Sauté for 2-3 minutes to bring out the flavors. Add sweet potato cubes and sauté for 5-7 more minutes to help soften them and absorb flavors.
- Tomatoes + broth. Add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, and Worcestershire. Stir to combine, bring everything to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
- Simmer. Cover the pot and let chili simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are completely cooked through. Serve in bowls with your favorite toppings!
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
- Storage + freezing instructions. To store leftover turkey chili, allow it to cool completely and transfer to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to five days. To freeze, transfer that container to a freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge the night before you plan to enjoy, and reheat the next day!
- Topping suggestions: Sour cream, Greek yogurt, cilantro, avocado, green onion, cheddar or cotija, tortilla chips, and pepitas are all SO good.
- Squash. Sub in butternut squash cubes for sweet potatoes for something different, or to use up what you have in your kitchen.
- Slow cooker. Brown turkey, then place all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Soup, stew
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 339
- Sugar: 13.4 g
- Sodium: 1186 mg
- Fat: 13.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 29.8 g
- Fiber: 7.7 g
- Protein: 25.7 g
- Cholesterol: 79.5 mg
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