This crockpot sweet potato chili is my answer to the busy-weeknight dinner problem. You brown a pound of ground turkey, then dump it into the slow cooker with sweet potatoes, black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, and broth, and walk away for the afternoon. It’s mild so my whole family eats it, kids included. It’s naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, and it makes some of the best leftovers in my fridge all week!

A slow cooker filled with a stew of cubed squash, black beans, and ground meat in a tomato-based broth, with a serving spoon resting inside.

A family favorite chili

Every family needs an easy chili recipe, and this is ours. I love the little bites of sweet potato. They add a subtle sweetness and make it heartier. Their starch also thickens the broth a bit, so this eats like a chili, not a soup.

A woman with long red hair, wearing a brown sweater and jeans, smiles while standing in a modern kitchen beside a counter with fresh lettuce and hibachi steak bowls. Marble backsplash and gold kitchen accents are visible in the background.

Like most chilis, it’s easy to customize. Use whatever canned beans you have on hand and whichever ground meat you’re craving. I’ve made it with ground beef and ground chicken, and both are delicious. My kids even eat it every fall, which is a family win!

A person sits cross-legged in a meditation pose with their hands resting on their knees, peacefully imagining delicious hibachi steak bowls. The simple black outline contrasts against a white background.

If your crew wants a beefier bowl, my Crockpot Taco Chili uses ground beef and three kinds of beans. For a brothier option, try my Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup. And if sweet potatoes are your thing, Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes is another Crock-tober favorite.

Ingredients & Notes

Ground turkey - Browned in a skillet with spices. You can easily swap for ground beef or chicken too.
Sweet potatoes - Three medium ones, cut into bite-sized ½-inch cubes. They give the chili its heft and a little sweetness against the tomatoes.
Black beans and kidney beans - One can of each, drained and rinsed.
Diced tomatoes and tomato sauce - The tomato sauce does the thickening, so there’s no flour or cornstarch slurry.
Chicken broth - Use low-sodium so you can adjust the salt yourself. Easily swap with any kind of broth.

How to Make Crockpot Sweet Potato Chili

Ground meat browning in a metal skillet with a spatula. — **Step 1** : Brown the ground turkey with the seasonings.

A slow cooker filled with a mixture of red kidney beans, black beans, and diced tomatoes. — **Step 2** : Add all ingredients to the crockpot and cook low and slow.

A bowl of chili with sweet potato, beans, and meat, topped with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream. — **Step 3** : Serve with toppings and enjoy!

Tips

Browning the turkey is a must. Don’t add it to the crockpot raw. Browning it first is where the seasoning gets cooked into the meat instead of floating in the broth.
Keep the sweet potato cubes bite-sized. At ½ inch they cook through and still hold their shape.
Salt at the end. Low-sodium broth keeps you in control, so taste it once it’s done and add salt from there.
Make it for the leftovers. It reheats beautifully, so this is a great one to double up on lunches.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, reheat from the fridge on the stove over medium heat or in the microwave with a splash of broth or water. If reheating from frozen, either thaw in the fridge beforehand or reheat in the crockpot on LOW for 4 - 6 hours.

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