Baked Sweet Potato Chili (Printable)

Tender baked sweet potatoes filled with zesty chili create a comforting and wholesome meal for any night.

# What you'll need:

→ Sweet Potatoes

01 - 4 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed

→ Chili Filling

02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, diced
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 bell pepper, diced (any color)
06 - 1 pound ground beef or turkey, or 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans for vegetarian
07 - 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
08 - 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
10 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - ½ teaspoon salt
14 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
15 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

→ Toppings (Optional)

16 - Shredded cheddar cheese
17 - Sour cream or Greek yogurt
18 - Sliced green onions
19 - Chopped cilantro

# Method:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pierce each sweet potato several times with a fork. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 50 to 60 minutes until tender when pierced with a knife.
02 - While sweet potatoes bake, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef or turkey, breaking it up and cooking until browned. For vegetarian option, add black beans instead. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened and flavors blend.
06 - Once tender, allow sweet potatoes to cool slightly. Slice lengthwise, gently open, and fluff flesh with a fork.
07 - Spoon generous portions of chili into each sweet potato. Add optional toppings such as shredded cheddar, sour cream, green onions, and cilantro. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Hearty and satisfying main dish
  • Simple to customize for different diets
02 -
  • This dish is naturally gluten-free when using verified ingredients
  • Microwaving sweet potatoes speeds up cooking time for busy nights
03 -
  • To make vegan, use beans and skip dairy toppings
  • Leftover chili is delicious served over rice or nachos
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