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Best Kid-Friendly Smoky Turkey Chili with Sweet Potatoes

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A hearty, smoky turkey chili with sweet potatoes that’s naturally creamy and kid-friendly. Perfect for busy weeknights, this one-pot meal comes together in about 45 minutes and pleases the whole family.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ pounds ground turkey (93% lean)
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed into ½-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 can (15 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder (mild blend)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for serving, optional)
  • Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (for serving, optional)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for serving, optional)
  • Diced avocado (for serving, optional)
  • Tortilla chips or crusty bread (for serving, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, cube the sweet potatoes into ½-inch pieces, and dice the bell pepper. Drain and rinse the beans. Measure out your spices into a small bowl.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once it shimmers (about 1 minute), add the diced onion. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent.
  3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the ground turkey to the pot. Break it up with a wooden spoon into crumbles. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the turkey is no longer pink and has some browning.
  5. Add the sweet potatoes and bell pepper. Stir everything together and cook for 2 minutes.
  6. Sprinkle the spice blend (smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne if using, salt, and pepper) over the turkey and veggies. Stir well and cook for 1 minute.
  7. Pour in the fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Stir everything together, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits.
  8. Add the drained black beans and pinto beans. Stir to combine. Bring the chili to a gentle boil (about 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat).
  9. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar. Let it simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are tender.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more salt if needed, a pinch more smoked paprika, or a squeeze of lime juice.
  11. Let the chili rest off the heat for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For best flavor, make a day ahead and refrigerate overnight. The chili thickens upon standing; thin with broth if needed. For a vegetarian version, omit turkey and add an extra can of beans and a diced zucchini. For a spicier version, add 1-2 minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with the garlic.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey chili, sweet potato chili, kid-friendly chili, smoky chili, easy chili, weeknight dinner, healthy chili, gluten-free chili, dairy-free chili

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/best-kid-friendly-smoky-turkey-chili-with-sweet-potatoes/