Would You Love a New Sweet Potato Chili Recipe?

Fall is here! and when cooler temperatures arrive…sweet potato chili is a favorite. True comfort food. There is nothing like a bowl of chili when the season changes; but, sweet potatoes will take a plain, turkey chili in my case, recipe over the top! I have included my traditional recipe for you to try. But, if you have a recipe? try adding sweet potatoes! It will amaze you.

This sweet potato chili recipe is a favorite for a family dinner or for meal prepping or adding in individual containers for the freezer. Although the sweet potatoes add an element of comfort food from fall though the winter months, we enjoy it any time of the year!

My husband loves turkey chili and that’s where this recipe began. I have had a tradition of tossing in a bit of cinnamon to give it a hint of a version of Cincinnati Chili. With the sweet potatoes added, it seems to fit this recipe well. If it’s not your favorite, just leave it out.

You know my favorite pot to cook this recipe in is my Lodge Cast Iron Ceramic Dutch Oven. Right? That’s my go to. ( Just an aside…gift someone who loves to cook one of these and you will be their favorite! Just saying!)

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Prepping always makes things better for me…making sure I have all the ingredients before I start. Are you like that?!!

So, I simply begin with a tablespoon or two of olive oil tossed into that pot to prevent the ground turkey and onions from sticking.

One trick I have learned is to add the chili powder, as well as, salt and pepper to the meat and onions as they cook so that they have a great flavor.

Don’t skip that step!

My mother in law had a favorite chili powder that was the only one she used. Are you like that? Well, I, too, have become a chili seasoning snob. Mine is a Savory Spice favorite–Peruvian Chile Lime Seasoning. It is life changing! I can’t get enough of it. Because I love it so much, I will sprinkle a generous amount on the turkey as it browns and then add another tablespoon or so when the chili is put together. Your taste in the amount you add! Total aside–remember those cute spice jars that I put my dried herbs into? Yep, found them here. Choose your heat level…

No judgment here! This isn’t a really spicy hot version. So, feel free to add red pepper flakes or hot sauce if that’s your preference.

Because we usually have a houseful of guests or simply love to make more for the freezer, I begin with 2 lbs. of turkey. We aren’t fans of kidney beans or a lot of beans, so feel free to adjust that, as well.

Everyone has their own method for chili.

Some people add spaghetti. Some add macaroni. I have even seen chocolate added. And, a culinary class I took in Chicago included coffee grounds and alligator. Wasn’t my favorite!

I do appreciate the thickening quality of pasta, so when my kids were little I began looking for small pasta, like tiny stars or alphabet letters, that would thicken but not include hot chili inside to burn or splatter like noodles or fling sauce everywhere like spaghetti. Tiny pasta is still my go to!

With this sweet potato chili, feel free to add more sweet potatoes, if needed. I peel and cut them into bite sized pieces. Again, to take this up a notch, I always add a bit of cinnamon to enhance the flavor.

My husband always loves a bit of cheddar or Monterey jack cheese and a bit of sour cream on top. But for me, a little cilantro or parsley always refines it.

I hope you’ll try this version of Sweet Potato Chili. A favorite comfort food. And if turkey chili isn’t your fav? Just switch to beef or bison or even ground chicken. Make the decision of what your family loves. We even love this with cornbread! Feel free to make it your own. The most important part is that comfort and conversation with loved ones and friends occurs around this.

We all need a whole lot of that right now. Enjoy!