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turkey black bean chili in a white bowl

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Turkey Chili

5 from 43 votes
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 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.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings16 servings

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.

Nutrition

Serving: 16g, Calories: 150kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 0.4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.004g, Cholesterol: 19mg, Sodium: 787mg, Potassium: 656mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 10941IU, Vitamin C: 19mg, Calcium: 67mg, Iron: 3mg
Course: Main Courses, Soups, Stews
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Black Bean and Sweet Potato Turkey Chili
Calories: 150kcal
Author: Sara Wells
Cost: $10
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