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Seasoned ground beef (or turkey), tender sweet potatoes, and a medley of spices, all simmered to perfection in the Crock-Pot. This hearty and flavorful slow cooker sweet potato chili is the ultimate comfort food for chillier days. Serve it up with your favorite toppings for a warm and satisfying meal that practically makes itself. It’s a real winner!
Why the Crock-pot is the Only Answer for Making Chili
The beauty of slow cooking chili lies in the low and consistent heat the Crock-pot provides over an extended period of time. This slow and steady approach allows ingredients to meld together, resulting in chili that’s brimming with rich, complex flavors. And something like that just can’t be rushed.
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The Ingredients You’ll Need for This Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chili
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (or turkey)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 tsp garlic (minced)
- 2 sweet potatoes (chopped)
- 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)
- 1 can tomato sauce (15 ounces)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (15 ounces)
- 2 cans chili beans in sauce (15 ounces)
- 2 TBS chili powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 TBS white vinegar
- 2 TBS honey
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Here’s How to Make the Chili
- In a skillet, heat a splash of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent.
- Add the ground beef (or turkey) and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat if you’re not using lean ground beef.
- Pour the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chili beans into the Crock-pot. Stir until everything is well combined.
- Add the diced sweet potatoes, chili powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Transfer the cooked meat, onion, and garlic to the Crock-Pot and give it a good stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Creative Ways to Enhance This Chili
While this recipe is fantastic on its own, here are some unique ingredients to consider incorporating into your slow cooker sweet potato chili to really take it to the next level.
- Beer: Pour in some of your favorite beer for a robust, malty flavor. This is really good during Oktoberfest, for example. #ontrend
- Sausage: Use ground sausage instead of beef (or turkey) or use a combinatino of beef and sausage for an extra layer of savory goodness.
- Sweet Corn: Add fresh or frozen sweet corn kernels for a pop of natural sweetness, color, and texture.
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: Swap regular diced tomatoes for fire-roasted to infuse your chili with a smoky essence.
- Pumpkin: Embrace the autumn spirit by adding pumpkin puree for a velvety richness. Or try my pumpkin chili instead.
Tip
If you really want to make this chili pop, consider adding a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder or a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Both of these ingredients will enhance the meaty flavor of chili and compliment the spices in the chili perfectly to make your chili one-of-a-kind.
I always add ground cinnamon to my homemade sloppy joes for the same reason, and they’re the best.
Have Extra Sweet Potatoes?
If you’re anything like me, you never buy just one (or even two) sweet potatoes regardless of what the recipe calls for. So if you have a potato or two left over, this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet is the answer. It’s tasty, filling, and can be ready to eat in 30 minutes.
How to Freeze and Store Chili
This chili is incredibly freezer-friendly, making it perfect for meal prep and future enjoyment. Here’s how to freeze and store it:
- Cool It Down: Allow the chili to cool to room temperature.
- Portion It Out: Divide the chili into individual servings or family-sized portions, depending on your needs.
- Containerize: Use airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags for storage. If using bags, remove as much air as possible before sealing and lay them flat, so that as they freeze, they’re stackable.
- Label and Date: Clearly label each container or bag with the date and contents. Slow cooker sweet potato chili can be frozen for up to 3-4 months.
- Freeze It: Place the containers or bags in the freezer. Again, lay them flat to save space.
- Refrigerate It: If you’re storing the chili in the fridge, it’ll keep for 5-7 days. If you need to store it longer than that, just pop it in the freezer instead.
- Reheat with Ease: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen chili, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, and then reheat on the stove or in the microwave when you’re ready to eat it. Be sure to stir occasionally for even heating.
Questions About This Recipe
Slow cooker sweet potato chili is a comforting and convenient way to get a home cooked dinner on the table with very little effort. The slow cooker does the heavy lifting, so you’ll have a flavorful, hearty meal waiting for you when you’re ready for it. Dust off your Crock-pot my friends, gather up some ingredients, and let’s get ready to fully enjoy chili season.
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 tsp garlic (minced)
- 1 pound lean ground beef (or turkey)
- 2 sweet potatoes (chopped)
- 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)
- 1 can tomato sauce (15 ounces)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (15 ounces)
- 2 cans chili beans in sauce (15 ounces)
- 3 TBS chili powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 TBS white vinegar
- 2 TBS honey
Instructions
- In a frying pan over medium-high heat olive oil, sauté onion and minced garlic until fragrant and the onions are clear.1 tsp olive oil, 1 onion, 2 tsp garlic
- Add beef (or turkey), breaking it up, until browned and fully cooked. Drain off any excess fat, especially if you're not using lean ground beef.1 pound lean ground beef
- In the crock of your Crock-pot add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and chili beans and stir to combine.1 can crushed tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can diced tomatoes, 2 cans chili beans in sauce
- Stir in vinegar, honey, spices, salt, and pepper.3 TBS chili powder, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 2 TBS white vinegar, 2 TBS honey
- Peel and chop sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch to 1 inch chunks and add to Crock-pot.2 sweet potatoes
- Finally, stir in the cooked meat, onion, and garlic mixture.
- Cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 on low, until sweet potatoes are tender.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, green onion, and cornbread on the side.
What incredible flavors and textures in this sweet potato chili. Delicious! I love that it’s a dump and go recipe too.
Thank you so much, Kathleen! Me too, it’s such an easy dinner to come home to. Gosh, I love fall, haha!
This was so delicious and comforting. I added cinnamon and it was so good! This easy recipe is going on repeat this fall and winter!
That’s probably my favorite ingredient to add to tomato based meals like this, Emily. Good call. It adds a little something extra for sure. Thanks so much for the review!
Love this sweet potato chili! Hearty, flavorful, and I love that it cooks itself. It’s a definite keeper. Thanks, Kristine!
Thank you so much, Kim! I couldn’t agree more, it is one of my all-time favorite fall recipes. So glad you enjoyed it!
We loved the sweet potatoes in this chili. So good, tender and sweet. Really brought the chili together!
I’m so glad, Vanessa! I love to hear it. Thank you so much for the 5 star review, I really appreciate it!
This chili is easy to make and very, very tasty. Lots of flavor and texture, which I love. I’ll be saving this recipe!
Thank you so much, Lima! I also really love how much this chili has going on, haha. No boring chili here! Really glad you enjoyed it.
I made this chili today and was very pleasantly surprised. The combination of sweet potatoes, beans, and spices created a delicious meal. The slow cooker method made it easy to prepare and resulted in tender sweet potatoes. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much, Gianne! I’m really glad you enjoyed it. I totally agree, the slow cooker is LIFE!
I wasn’t sure about the sweet potatoes in this recipe, but our family loves to try new things and your photos are so beautiful that I decided to give it a try. Wow! I’m glad I did. Everyone loved it. and it was so easy to make. Thanks for the inspiration to try new things 🙂
Hey Holly! Thanks so much for the review, I’m thrilled the chili was a hit at your house and I’m even more happy that you were willing to try it something new and different.
This sweet potato chili is a game changer! The combination of hearty sweet potatoes, flavorful spices, and the convenience of the slow cooker makes this dish a winner.
Thank you so much Alison! I think so too, really glad you enjoyed the chili!
This chili is so hearty, satisfying and flavorful! The sweet potato added a nice balance to the spicy flavors, and gave it great texture as well!
Thank you so much Anjali! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the chili. Happy fall!
Absolutely loved this chili! The combination of seasoned ground beef, tender sweet potatoes, and a blend of spices creates a hearty and flavorful dish. The best part? It made itself, LOL!
Thank you Kim! I know, right? Anything that’s “dump and go” is a winner in my book! Really glad you enjoyed the chili.
what is easiest way to chop a hard sweet potato for people who have arthritis in their hands? Can you bake it first?