Description
Hearty sweet potato chili brings robust Southwestern flavors to comfort dining. Spicy, nutritious ingredients blend seamlessly, offering home cooks a delicious one-pot meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (453.6 g) ground beef (80% lean / 20% fat)
- 1 lb (453.6 g) sweet potatoes
- 1 (28 oz/794 g) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can kidney beans
- 1 medium white onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp packed dark brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp kosher salt, divided, with more to taste
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp to 1 tbsp adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers, adjusted to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Uniformly cube sweet potatoes, finely dice yellow onion, mince garlic, chop chipotle pepper, and rinse beans thoroughly.
- Meat Foundation: Sear ground beef in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat until golden and crumbly, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove browned meat using a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Aromatic Base: In the same pot, caramelize onions until translucent, then quickly incorporate minced garlic, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
- Spice Infusion: Reintroduce browned beef, then add sweet potatoes, chipotle, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Ensure uniform spice distribution by stirring meticulously.
- Liquid Integration: Pour crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and rinsed beans into the pot. Gently combine all components and bring to a gentle simmer, reducing heat to low.
- Simmering Stage: Cover and let chili simmer for 25-35 minutes, occasionally stirring, until sweet potatoes reach a tender consistency without becoming mushy. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Serving Presentation: Dish chili into bowls and embellish with optional garnishes like shredded cheddar, sour cream, fresh cilantro, diced red onions, and crispy tortilla chips.
Notes
- Uniform Chopping: Cut sweet potatoes and onions into consistent sizes to ensure even cooking and balanced texture in every bite.
- Browning Technique: Properly brown ground beef to develop deep, rich flavor and prevent watery chili by using high heat and avoiding overcrowding the pan.
- Spice Distribution: Thoroughly mix spices with ingredients before adding liquids to enhance overall flavor profile and ensure even seasoning throughout the dish.
- Simmering Wisdom: Maintain low, gentle heat while simmering to prevent sweet potatoes from becoming mushy and allow flavors to meld together harmoniously.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg