This Easy Sweet Potato Beef Chili is a healthy, meal prep friendly dish the whole family will love. This simple dish is thick and hearty and freezes well for leftovers, too!
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.
Chili recipes are my thing because I can eat it all year long. A lot of people only indulge during the fall and winter months. I can brave this dish in summer, too!
Primarily, because it's one of those recipes that tastes better the next day and still tastes good after you freeze it!
Table of Contents
How to Make Sweet Potato Chili
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Heat a pot on medium-high heat. When hot, add olive oil, chopped onions, green peppers, and red peppers.
- Saute for a few minutes until the veggies are soft.
- Add in minced garlic and stir.
- Add in the ground beef. Use a meat chopper and break down the ground beef.
- Season the beef. Stir until the ground beef has cooked, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the broth, diced tomatoes and chilies, and cubed sweet potatoes to the pot. Stir.
- Adjust the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot and allow the chili to simmer until the sweet potatoes are soft, for about 40 minutes.
When to Add the Sweet Potatoes
Add them in last after you have cooked the ground beef. Sweet potatoes take some time to soften. You will need to allow the chili to simmer for 35-40 minutes.
Can You Omit the Beans?
Absolutely. If you make this into a chili with no beans, you won't need to modify the recipe at all.
How to Use Roasted Sweet Potatoes
If you wish, you can roast your sweet potatoes and add them to the chili. To bake, bake them for 30-40 minutes on 375 degrees.
To air fry, slice it up and then cook for 15 minutes on 400 degrees.
When cooked, add the sweet potatoes to the chili. You can reduce the cook time for the chili in half.
You can read more about How to Roast Sweet Potatoes here.
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
How to Thicken
The best way to get thick chili is to not go overboard with liquids. I only use a ½ cup of beef broth in this recipe. The remaining liquid comes from the diced chilis and tomatoes and the tomato paste, which will thin out a lot as the chili simmers.
Topping Ideas
- Shredded Cheese
- Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Jalapenos
- Cooked and Crumbled Bacon
- Sliced Avocado
How Long Will it Last in the Fridge?
It will last in the fridge for 3-4 days tightly covered.
Freezer Tips
I love to freeze it using these freezer soup molds from Amazon. It will freeze for up to several months. I like to defrost it overnight in the fridge and then reheat.
What to Serve With This Dish
Keto Low Carb Cornbread
Air Fryer Cornbread
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
Southern Classic Homemade Cornbread
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Sweet Potato Cornbread
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
More Chili Recipes
Keto Low Carb Chili
Instant Pot Beef Chili
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Pumpkin Chicken Chili
Leftover Turkey Chili
Creamy Seafood Chili
Chili Cheese Fries
Buffalo Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker Crockpot Chili Mac
Butternut Squash Chili
More Sweet Potato Recipes
Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Healthy Southern Sweet Potato Pie
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips
Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
Sweet Potato Oatmeal
Check out The Best Healthy Chili Recipes here.
Check out my Homemade Chili Seasoning here.
Easy Sweet Potato Beef Chili
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ cup chopped green peppers
- ½ cup chopped red peppers
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 15 oz canned chili beans I like a spicy kick, so I choose medium spiced beans. Do not drain.
- 1 15oz can of diced tomatoes and chilis Do not drain.
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 medium sweet potato Cut into cubes, about ½-1 inch thick.
- 6 oz canned tomato paste
Homemade Chili Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon red cayenne pepper optional for spicy
Instructions
- Heat a Dutch oven or large stock pot on medium high heat. When hot, add the olive oil, chopped onions, green peppers, and red peppers.
- Saute for a few minutes until the veggies are soft.
- Add in the minced garlic and stir.
- Add in the ground beef. Use a meat chopper and break down the ground beef.
- Season the beef with the chili seasoning. Stir until the ground beef has cooked, about 3-4 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the broth, beans, diced tomatoes and chilies, tomato paste, and cubed sweet potatoes to the pot. Stir.
- Adjust the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot and allow the chili to simmer until the sweet potatoes are soft, for about 35-40 minutes. Check in every 10 minutes and stir.
- Cool before serving.
Video
Notes
- The best way to actually incorporate the flavor of the sweet potatoes is to roast them beforehand. You can roast the sweet potatoes in olive oil, salt, and pepper or whatever seasonings you wish to incorporate flavor. To bake, slice up the potato and bake them for 30-40 minutes on 375 degrees. To air fry, slice up the potato and then cook for 15 minutes on 400 degrees. When cooked, add the sweet potatoes to the chili. You can reduce the cook time for the chili in half.
- Feel free to puree your sweet potatoes with a hand blender if you want a smooth texture from them.
- Instead of making your own seasoning, you can use a chili packet if you wish.
- You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef. Cook time remains the same.
- If you substitute chicken, the cook time will remain the same.
- You can use an Instant Pot if you wish. Adjust the broth to ¾th of a cup. Follow the same steps to saute the ground beef and veggies in the Instant Pot. Cook for 5 minutes on Manual Pressure with quick release.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Janna says
RUN and go make this!! Just in time for cooler weather! I subbed ground turkey and topped with plain Greek yogurt and avocado. Would be great for a prepped lunch or dinner. SO good! Now GO! Right now!!!
staysnatched says
Thanks for sharing those tips!
Sarah says
KNOCKED. IT, OUT. OF. THE. PARK
This was so good...and super easy to prep/make! I did sub turkey for beef, but it cooked the same and tasted amazing! Don’t skip the note about baking/air frying the sweet potatoes before - it is a must! Flavors are so good!
My plan was to serve it with a side of cornbread...but the food goddesses wasn’t having it (next time!). I did quickly make some of the air fried tortilla chips Brandi posted to dip with - Yummy!
staysnatched says
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Chloe Frew says
This is phenomenal. Listen to Brandi... roast your sweet potatoes... don’t be lazy. I genuinely believe I could win a chili competition with this.
staysnatched says
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Tyeisha says
I just made this for my dinner this week, it’s so good! I added spinach and I will be making this again!!
staysnatched says
Oh I love the spinach addition.
Emily says
I absolutely love this chili! Perfect for winter meal prep, so hearty and delicious and great leftover. I subbed impossible meat for ground beef and it worked perfectly, will definitely be making again!
staysnatched says
I'm glad it worked with the substitution.
Donna Kappler says
Check out the [prep and cook times for this recipe. Sounds like something is off. Easy Sweet Potato Beef Chili
This Easy Sweet Potato Beef Chili is a healthy, meal prep friendly dish the whole family will love. This simple dish is thick and hearty and freezes well for leftovers, too!
Save this recipe here.
Coursedinner, lunch
CuisineAmerican
Keywordsweet potato beef chili, sweet potato chili
Prep Time10 hours
Cook Time1 day 16 hours
Total Time2 days 2 hours
staysnatched says
thank you!
Tara says
This recipe was easy to follow, I used ground Turkey instead of beef and it turned delicious, hubby loved and wanted more. Thank you I will be exploring more of your recipes.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! Can't wait for you to try more recipes.
Tara says
Oh one more thing, I sautéed the potatoes with the peppers and onions.
staysnatched says
Thanks for sharing!
Jenny Suter says
Turned out AMAZING! My husband loved it too! Definitely will be my go-to chili recipe from now on!
staysnatched says
Yay! I love to hear it!
Crystal says
This is a fantastic chili recipe! We had picked up a sweet potato over the weekend and when I realized we didn’t have anything planned for it, I came right here. We had a bunch of other random veggies to use up, so I threw it all in, with just a little extra liquid. 100% worth it to roast the sweet potatoes & to make your own chili seasoning! We’ll come back to this recipe for sure. Thanks, Brandi!
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Elisa (hustleandglowgirl) says
Perfection in a bowl!!! This chili is so good. I followed the recipe to a tee. Roasted Japanese sweet potatoes before adding them to the pot. Topped with pepper jack for an added kick! Highly recommend.
staysnatched says
That sounds so good!
Annie says
Best easy chili recipe!! This stuff is so good, I ate all the leftovers myself. I love to make a huge pot of chili in the crockpot, but it takes all day and I don’t have enough family to eat it all. This recipe is my solution. I can make delicious chili any night of the week in about an hour?! Yes please. Topped it with a little sour cream, avocado and cilantro, it’s not your average chili and I’m not mad about it.
staysnatched says
Yes! I'm so glad to hear it.
Tyeisha says
Made my first pot of chili for the season and it was a hit! Added cornbread and can’t wait to mAke this again
staysnatched says
That sounds so good!
Sarah S says
Just made this for dinner and it was so delicious. The whole family loved it.
staysnatched says
I'm glad the family enjoyed it!
Chris says
This was sooo good. I had some sugar pumpkins and I used some of them in place of about half of the sweet potatoes and added some pork sausage instead of the beans. It was a huge hit and I was very happy to have made it. Thanks for the great recipe!
staysnatched says
You're welcome!