This Black Bean and Sweet Potato Turkey Chili is hearty, colorful, and packed with flavor from sweet potatoes, black beans, and a hint of warm spice. A little pumpkin and cocoa powder add richness that makes it taste like it simmered all day. This recipe is definitely a little different than the other chili recipes on our site. You might be surprised by some of the ingredients, but don’t be scared. We’re friends, remember? Tender sweet potatoes actually pair really well with black beans, and this chili might be super low in calories but it’s crazy high in protein, flavor, and heartiness. Chock full of veggies and perfect for topping, this is a great fall slow-cooker meal that will make your house smell awesome.
There’s so many good things in there, and when you get them all in one bite it’s a great mix of both flavors and textures.
Ingredients Needed
- olive oil
- onion – any color
- garlic
- bell pepper – I definitely prefer sweet peppers (red, yellow, or orange) but if they’re just too pricey, or unavailable, go ahead and use a green bell pepper.
- jalapeño
- turkey breast
- mushrooms – I don’t love mushrooms, so if you’re like me…rest assured, you probably won’t even know they’re in here.
- cumin
- kosher salt
- pepper
- oregano
- chili powder
- smoked paprika
- sweet potatoes – you can also buy pre-chopped sweet potatoes in many produce departments.
- canned tomatoes
- black beans
- beef broth
- canned pumpkin puree – make sure you’re not using pumpkin pie filling! It may seem strange, but pumpkin puree adds a velvety texture and gives the chili body and richness. Plus it packs in lots of good-for-you vitamins and the flavor blends really well with the sweetness of the sweet potatoes.
- cinnamon
- unsweetened cocoa powder – this isn’t an uncommon ingredient in chili, but still one you don’t see very often. The trick is not overdoing it, and I put in just enough that it gives flavor, but not enough to overwhelm it.
- your favorite chili toppings: sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped cilantro or green onion, and fresh lime juice for serving optional, for serving
- large slow cooker – you’ll need a big slow cooker to fit all of the ingredients. If you only have a small one, see if you can borrow a bigger one from a friend for a day. This is a great one!
How to Make Black Bean & Sweet Potato Turkey Chili
This is a simple overview of the recipe, you’ll find a full printable recipe below!
- Sauté onion, garlic, bell pepper, and jalapeño until tender; transfer to the slow cooker. This step might feel unnecessary, but you’ll get deeper flavor, better texture, and overall better dishes when you follow full instructions that call for cooking things before tossing them in the slow-cooker.
- Brown turkey and mushrooms with spices until cooked through, then add to the slow cooker. What happens is the mushrooms take on the flavors and seasonings of the meat (in this case, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, chili powder, salt and pepper) and since they cook along with it they just sort of disguise themselves in there. Since they have a soft texture, you don’t really notice them in the final product, but it makes it seems like there’s more meat than there is. In this case, it was more a matter of bulking up the chili and adding secret veggies.
- Stir in sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beans, broth, pumpkin, cinnamon, and cocoa powder.
- Cook until the sweet potatoes are tender (about 4 – 6 hours on high, or 8 – 10 on low).
- Let rest uncovered for a few minutes to thicken, then season to taste.
- Serve with your favorite toppings like sour cream, avocado, or lime.
Storage & Other Tips
- Equipment Note: this recipe makes a ton, and you’ll need a big slow cooker, otherwise you won’t have room for all of the ingredients. If you only have a small slow cooker, you’ll want to see if you can borrow a bigger one from a friend for a day!
- Storage: allow the chili to cool slightly, then transfer into airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3 – 4 days. It will be a bit thicker and dense after refrigerating, so feel free to thin it back down with a splash of broth.
- Freezing: this recipe freezes really well. Store it in a freezer-safe zip-top bag for 3 – 4 months. When ready to serve, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat it gently over low heat, adding a bit of broth to bring back that hearty consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Well, I don’t see why not, but you’ll really be missing out. Sweet potatoes add a natural sweetness and body to the chili that regular potatoes just won’t replicate. The recipe really is built around their texture and flavor. If you decide to try it, let us know how it goes in the comments.
Sautéing the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and jalapeño first adds depth and better structure. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a watery, flavorless mess!
The chili is done when the sweet potatoes are tender. If it’s still thin, you can remove the lid and cook it a bit longer to let excess liquid evaporate.
Absolutely. The recipe uses jalapeño and warmed spices. You can reduce or omit the jalapeño for milder heat, or add more chili powder for an extra kick.
Toppings like sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped cilantro, fresh lime juice, or cheese work nicely to balance the flavors and add richness.
Black Bean and Sweet Potato Turkey Chili
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 1 onion, medium diced (any color)
- 4 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1-2 jalapenos minced
- 20 ounces turkey breast ground
- 8 ounces mushrooms minced (about 2 heaping cups)
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoons pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 ½ lbs sweet potatoes peeled and diced into ½ inch cubes
- 1 28 ounce can tomatoes not drained
- 2 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 32 ounces beef broth one box/carton
- 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree make sure you're not using pumpkin pie filling!
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped cilantro or green onion, and fresh lime juice for serving optional, for serving
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add 1 ½ teaspoons olive oil and add onion, garlic, bell pepper, and jalapenos. Saute for about 5 minutes, until veggies are tender and fragrant. Add to slow cooker.
- In same skillet, heat remaining 1 ½ teaspoons olive oil. Add turkey and mushrooms and stir to combine. Sprinkle in cumin, salt, pepper, oregano, chili powder and smoked paprika. Continue cooking until turkey is cooked through. (note: the meat will taste very seasoned when done. Keep in mind these seasonings are not to flavor just the meat, they will season the entire pot of chili, so they are intentionally strong!) Add turkey mixture to slow cooker.
- Add sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beans, broth, pumpkin, cinnamon, and cocoa powder to slow cooker and stir til combine. Place lid on pot and cook for 4-6 hours on high, or 8-10 on low. Slow-cookers vary greatly in temperature and cooking times, but really, the important thing to note is if the sweet potatoes are tender.
- When done, turn off heat and let chili sit with lid off for 10-15 minutes to thicken. Season with additional salt to taste before serving. If desired, serve with sour cream, sliced avocados, and a small squirt of fresh lime juice, and any other toppings desired.
Notes
- *”Sweet potatoes” and “yams” are often sold interchangeably depending on what part of the country you live in. Just buy whichever one is orange!
- It freezes beautifully, so I like to make the recipe and then freeze half for another night. You can certainly halve the recipe as well, which I recommend if you have a small slow cooker.
- Nutritional information was calculated without the use of toppings.
Questions & Reviews
Made this for my daughters birthday dinner and it was fabulous. I let it simmer on the stovetop for 4 hours instead of the crockpot. Thank you for sharing.
YUM! YUM! YUM! YUM! Finally made this and it was goooood. I made it vegetarian by exiting the meat and adding another can of beans. It turned out great! Another staple in our house, now! Thank you!
So delicious! I made this last night along with your sweet chile cheese cornbread perfect! I love the secret ingredients knowing that my family is getting all of those wonderful varieties of veggies thank you again! You are my go to site for new recipes and you have never failed to impress!
I made this for my birthday lunch (yes, I cooked my own bday meal). It was wonderful and everyone loved it, even my 2 year old! I actually made it in 1 1/2 hours start to table. It was super easy, fast and tasted great even though it only got to simmer for an hour. It’s your 1st recipe I’ve tried as I haven’t been following your blog long but I will certainly be trying more! Cheers!
Made this tonight and it was fantastic!!! My super-picky hubby even ate it happily!!! Thanks for a great, healthy meal-yum!!!
Question: Since it is cooking so long in a slow cooker, could you add dry beans after a quick soak to cook in the crock-pot, or would that change the flavor or texture because you couldn’t rinse them? Would a pressure cooker work instead of the crockpot for speed? (and really, because my pressure cooker is much larger than my crockpot). Thanks for all the great recipes!! Love them!!!
made this last night – sooo delicious!
I made this last night for dinner and it was a huge hit, even with my kids. I’ll be making it again for Halloween! Thanks for the great recipes!
This is PERFECT for Halloween! I wanted to make something special and this will also warm us all up after being in the cold. Such amazing autumn flavors! I think it will go well with our homemade butterbeer and pumpkin choclate chip cookies. I am so excited! 😀
You’ve saved me! I have to bring dinner to a friend who has just had a baby and I was stressing about what to bring. They are “foodies” and don’t eat red meat … so my stand-by lasagna was not going to work this time! I can’t wait to make this tomorrow … both for them and for us! Thank you!