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Quick Smoky Turkey Chili with Sweet Potatoes – Easy 30-Minute Meal

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This quick and easy smoky turkey chili with sweet potatoes is a hearty, 30-minute meal that delivers deep, smoky flavor with simple ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights, it’s a comforting bowl of goodness that tastes like it simmered for hours.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground turkey (93% lean)
  • 1 large sweet potato (about 2 cups diced), peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz / 410g) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (8 oz / 227g) tomato sauce
  • 1 cup (240ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 can (15 oz / 425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced, plus 1 tbsp adobo sauce
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
  • 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • ½ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Optional toppings: sour cream, shredded cheddar, fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeño, avocado

Instructions

  1. Prep the vegetables: Peel and dice the sweet potato into ½-inch cubes. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Set aside.
  2. Brown the turkey: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes. Do not drain the fat.
  3. Bloom the spices: Reduce heat to medium. Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and dried oregano directly to the pot with the turkey and fat. Stir constantly for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Sauté the aromatics: Add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add the liquids and sweet potatoes: Pour in the diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits. Add the diced sweet potatoes and stir.
  6. Add the chipotle and beans: Stir in the minced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and drained black beans. Bring to a gentle boil.
  7. Simmer: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender. If still firm, simmer for another 5 minutes.
  8. Season and adjust: Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. For more heat, add another minced chipotle pepper or a pinch of cayenne.
  9. Rest and serve: Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with desired garnishes.

Notes

Don’t skip blooming the spices in the fat—it deepens the flavor. Dice sweet potatoes small (½-inch) so they cook through in 15 minutes. Let the chili rest for 5 minutes before serving to meld flavors. For a vegetarian version, swap turkey for two cans of black beans or plant-based crumble and use vegetable broth. Leftovers taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey chili, sweet potato chili, smoky chili, quick chili, 30-minute meal, weeknight dinner, healthy chili, gluten-free chili

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/quick-smoky-turkey-chili-with-sweet-potatoes-easy-30-minute-meal/