Smoky Chipotle Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili; this uber easy and crazy flavorful chili recipe has both Instant Pot and stove top instructions!
Confession: 90% of the chilis I make around here are vegetarian.
I know, I know… so not the norm but so super delicious! Of course every once in a while I like to throw my t-rex husband a bone and make a big bowl of meaty chili for him.
My kind gesture is usually followed up by my attempt to stuff as many veggies as humanly possible into the chili. I can’t help myself. Besides, mo’ veggies = mo’ flavor!
This chili is packed with the perfect protein to veggie ratio with a kick of chipotle for good measure! This tasty turkey chili is deliciously smoky and a teeny bit spicy with layer of savory sweetness in every bite from the red bell peppers and sweet potatoes.
I’ve made sweet potato chili before but this one totally takes the cake! It is hands-down the best turkey chili I’ve ever had!
I think it’s the kiss of chipotle pepper that really sets this bowl-o-comfort apart.
The smoky chipotle flavor pairs great with turkey, fabulous with sweet potato, and when you simmer it all together in a big pot of saucy veggies pure magic happens.
I know I’m being totally dramatic here but I straight up LOVE this chili! I fully plan on doubling the ingredients next time so I have lots of tasty leftovers to scarf.
Smoky Chipotle Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
As written, this recipe is paleo, whole30 friendly, and gluten-free.
Let’s get our
Smoky Chipotle Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1-2 tsp olive or avocado oil
- 2 shallots
- 1 chipotle chile pepper in adobo sauce
- 1 sweet potato
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 TBSP chili powder
- 1 TBSP ground cumin
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or to taste
- 1 TBSP tomato paste
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup canned tomato sauce
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- salt and pepper to taste*
TASTY TOPPINGS – choose your favorites!
- fresh diced jalapeño
- fresh cilantro
- sour cream or greek yogurt
- grated cheddar cheese
- minced red onion
- corn chips
- sliced or diced avocado
Instructions
- First peel and chop your sweet potato, chop your bell pepper, then peel and finely chop your shallots. Chop/mince your chipotle pepper.
- Measure out remaining ingredients for quick and easy chili assembly.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Switch your pressure cooker to the sauté funtion and add 2 tsp oil.
- Sauté shallots for 3-5 minutes, until edges are golden and browned.
- Next add your ground turkey and cook until medium-rare and browned.
- Add remaining chili ingredients: sweet potato, red bell pepper, chipotle pepper in adobo, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, cayenne pepper, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and veggie broth. I saved some of the bell pepper for topping my chili, feel free to do the same if you’d like!
- Switch IP off, then set to HIGH for 9 minutes with lid and vent sealed.
- Allow 5 minutes of natural pressure release, then quick release the vent to release the remaining pressure.
- Allow a spoonful to cool, give it a taste, and adjust spices if needed. You may also season with salt and pepper to taste if desired. I didn’t add any since my broth and tomatoes had enough salt to carry the dish.
- Pile on the toppings and dive on in! This chili is great right away and stellar the next day too!
Stove Top Instructions
- Grab a large pot and bring to medium-high heat with 2 TBSP oil.
- Brown turkey until medium rare, then add shallots and bell pepper. Cook until softened, approx. 2-3 min.
- Add tomato paste, chopped/ minced chipotle pepper in adobo, and spices. Mix well and cook for an additional minute.
- Next stir in sweet potato, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and veggie broth.
- Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Cook until sweet potato is fork-tender and the chili has thickened, approx. 25 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Looking for something to pair with your chili? Try my Quick and Easy Homemade Cornbread or squeeze in some extra veggies with this Healthy Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad.
If you get a chance to try this Smoky Chipotle Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS #PEASANDCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations! I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
special diets and swaps
Looking for a VEGAN or VEGETARIAN chili? No worries! Try my Vegan Lentil Chili and/or Healthy Vegetarian Quinoa Chili and prepare to swoon!
NO TURKEY? No problem! This chili can also be made with ground beef.
Ready to pile on the toppings? Customize your bowl with all your favorites. My go-to toppings are usually cheddar, jalapeño, sour cream, and fresh cilantro with a hunk of fluffy warm cornbread on the side. YUM!
Making this PALEO or for WHOLE30? As long as your toppings follow suit you’re good to go! Try cilantro, jalapeños, and extra red bell pepper or even some fresh avocado and red onion too!
stove-top instructions
No Instant-Pot? No problem! This comfort food classic can be made on the stove just as easily. Use the recipe in the recipe card above then follow these steps:
- Grab a large pot and bring to medium-high heat with 2 TBSP oil.
- Brown turkey until medium rare, then add shallots and bell pepper. Cook until softened, approx. 2-3 min.
- Add tomato paste, chopped/ minced chipotle pepper in adobo, and spices. Mix well and cook for an additional minute.
- Next stir in your sweet potato, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and veggie broth.
- Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Cook until sweet potato is fork-tender and the chili has thickened, approx. 25 minutes.
- Pile on your favorite chili toppings and dig in!
Questions & Reviews
I recently tried this and I’m impressed with the result!
I’ve added this chili to my wintertime meal rotation. Been making it for two years now, and I thought I’d add my praises and thanks here for this nutritious deliciousness. One of my favorites on your site–and you provide a lot of favorites. Thank you!
I’m so honored it’s been on repeat rotation in your home, Vesela — thank you so much!!!
Can I make this in the crock-pot? What changes would I have to make?
Hi Courtney! For crock pot chilis you still want to brown the ground turkey in a skillet on the stove and break it up into little crumbles. If you’d like you can sauté the shallot as well for a little flavor oomph but it’s not a must. Then follow the steps in the recipe card – those will all be the same except you’ll add everything to your crock-pot instead of an Instant Pot. I would have to test it in my kitchen to get exact slow cooker cook times but the general rule of thumb is 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
So good! I didn’t have scallions, but used sweet onion. But it was easy and excellent!
I have a bunch of chorizo, think it’d go well instead of turkey?
Ooh that could be tasty! I’ve never had chorizo in chili (I was vegetarian for so so long) but I think it’s worth experimenting if you’ve had chorizo chili before and love it! xo
If I’m making this for a family would it be ok to make it the day before and just warm it up before bringing it to them? Thanks!
Hi Abby! Absolutely! It’s even better the next day so that would be perfect. xoxo
We LOVE this chili! I’ve made it no less than 10 times and it is one of our go-to meals. Thanks Jenn! (This is the first time I’ve ever commented on anything on Pinterest, so it must be good!)
Just made this over the weekend and it was wonderful! I’ve tried several different sweet potato chili recipes, and this is one of my favorites. The leftovers were especially amazing after the flavors had time to soak in. Will definitely make this again!
This is a must try in my new instant pot!
Yay!!! Hope it’s a hit!
Ever tried black beans in this? How do you think they would go?
Hi Amanda! If you like beans in chili (I totally do!) they will be glorious! Black beans and sweet potato are always a great pairing. If you’re going with the stove-top method everything will be the same (just up seasoning to taste based on how many beans go in) but for the Instant Pot it might require a little more tweaking so for sure LMK if you need help so it isn’t too thick for the IP! xoxo
This is a fabulous recipe! It is my favorite chili recipe!
Thank you Dee! So glad you’re loving it! xoxo
This was very delicious!!! I will make it again!
So thrilled you enjoyed it Teri, thank you!!
Can this be frozen?
Hey Donna! I haven’t tried yet with this one but all the other chili recipes I’ve made froze beautifully so I’d venture to say yes!
Thank you, I making this for a dairy free family, think they will really like this!
Donna
So excited to hear it Donna, I hope it’s a big hit! We’re totally in love with this turkey chili recipe!
In step 7 Switch IP off, then set to HIGH for 9 minutes with lid and vent sealed. Set on High for 9 minutes on Manual? Or another option (Stew, etc)? Thanks!
Hey CC! So you’ll turn the IP off to remove it from the sauté function, then set to high for 9 minutes on manual. Some versions of the IP don’t have the high vs low setting I believe, so 9 minutes manual should work in that case! 🙂
Love this chili. Was a bit worried about the sweet potato but it actually goes very well with it. Plenty spicy. Made a few changes to my batch with ground beef and beef broth also added an entire can of crushed tomato and tomato sauce and just cooked it longer to thicken it up and drive off the liquid. Very good recipe. Thank you!
Delicious, healthy, easy and perfect for fall! . Made it with beef for myself and with beans for my vegetarian daughter. This is the 3rd time we are making this chilli. Thank you for the recipe
Has anyone calculated calories for this recipe?
Hi Diana! You can plug in the measurements and type of meat (lean/regular/etc – turkey or beef) you end up using for the recipe into myfitnesspal.com and get a pretty great nutrition sheet with all the details — many of my friends use and love the calculator a lot!
Have made this twice in the last week while on Whole30. It is SO delicious and will be added to my regular recipe routine! Added a few more chipotle peppers in adobo to use up the can and it was perfectly spicy. Thank you!
I have never tried ground meat in my pressure cooker before. This turned out very well. Thanks!
This was delicious! I made it in my Instant Pot which I’ve only recently purchased and have been trying a variety of different recipes. At first I thought where are the beans, but the sweet potatoes are so nice!
You’ll be an IP rockstar in no time Geralyn! So stoked you enjoyed the chili, thank you! 🙂
This was delicious! I made it in my Instant Pot which I’ve only recently purchased and have been trying a variety of different recipes. At first I thought where are the beans, but the sweet potatoes are so nice!
Don’t judge me but…I just ate leftover Smoky Chipotle Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili for breakfast and it was just as tasty, maybe even more!
Bahahaha I love you for it!!!! That totally sounds like my kind of breakfast – move over oatmeal! 🙂
Wow! This is delicious!! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
FEED ME ALL OF THIS DELICIOUSNESS! Seriously, this looks incredible- love the twist on your typical chili recipe! Need to try!
If I double the recipe, how should I adjust the cooking time??
Hey Allison! The cooking time should stay the same! (Here’s some handy dandy info on doubling: How to Double Pressure Cooker Recipes) My only concern with doubling recipes in the IP is always “will it fit?” and I believe this will be a-ok for the 6 and 8 qt pots as long as the ingredients don’t fill the pot past 2/3 full 🙂
Recipe looks amazing and I’m looking forward to making it. A couple of questions. Step 4 of the instant pot directions says add garlic but garlic is not listed as an ingredient. How much garlic? Also chipotle and sweet potatoes are listed in ingredients but the directions never say when to add them. Thanks!
Thank you so much Carol! I don’t know how I had the instructions all there in the stove-top version and then spaced out, astronaut style, when I was drafting up the IP version. Thanks so so much for letting me know — everything is completely sorted out now! You’ll add the SP and chipotle along with all the spices, no garlic for this batch (though I do use it for my vegan and vegetarian chilis) but feel free to sauté a clove if you’re a big fan of garlic in your chili!
I love how colorful and flavor-packed this is! And thanks for the stovetop instructions, I don’t own an instant-pot (yet!) 🙂
this recipe sounds delicious and I agree with you all the vegetables add so much flavour. Very quick to make with the pressure pan, and I am sure my boys will love it. Thank you for this
Such a comforting dish! I can’t wait to try it!
What more could you want? Cooking options, simple, a little heat and veggies all in one is my kind of recipe! Sounds delicious!
Thank you Amanda! It’s total comfort in a bowl! 🙂
I’m having a problem getting my spoon through the screen. Should I reboot? This looks absolutely incredible!
Ohmygosh I just laugh-snorted. Come on over Lisa and I’ll whip you up a bowl! xoxo
This looks yummy! The fact that’d gluten-free is perfect for me too. Thanks! Val x
Thanks Lisa! Love how customizable all the toppings are – no two chilis have to be alike!
I absolutely love sweet potato right now. Tastes nice, it’s good for you and it fills you up! I love the idea of smoky chipotle with the turkey.
We’re loving it too! It tastes great with so many flavor profiles – such a great option! 🙂 Thanks Deano!
Absolutely amazing! I must try out this
Thanks Elsie – hope you get a chance to try it soon! 🙂
This looks amazing!!! I’m hoping to expand my repertoire of recipes and I’m definitely giving this a try. Miss you and that precious, curly head girl of yours. Hope you’re having the best summer!!
Amy Partington
Ahhhh Amy we miss you so so much! Mia plays school at least once a week and talks about you and Angela nonstop! Summer is fun but we’re also so excited for August too!
This looks stunning Jenn and great photography. Love chipotle, never had it with turkey before thought so I must try this combination out. Thanks! Rich
Thank you Richard!! xo