Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili

This smoky Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili is going to rock your world! Honestly, it's the best vegetarian chili to ever grace my kitchen. 100% a game changer.

I'm about to say something bold: this Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili will convert any meat lover. I know, it's a bold statement. But after a few years of hearing from you guys about this recipe... I stand by my statement confidently. Chili is an ESSENTIAL recipe during the fall/winter. And you won't miss the meat with all the black beans, sweet potatoes and spices in this one. If you do prefer having meat in your chili, I have a smoky beef and black bean chili that is delicious and an easy white chicken chili for a chicken version!

Why I Love This Recipe

Loaded with chili powder, chipotle peppers, cumin, beans, tomatoes and quinoa, it's basically a giant party in a pot and it's addictive. Make it, enjoy it, and then take it for lunch the next day and make everyone jealous. I tend to make a double batch of this on the weekends and then freeze small portions to pull out when needed. It freezes like a charm. Just make it, let it cool, portion it into small containers and then freeze. When you're ready to serve, take it out of the freezer, let it sit on the counter until it's no longer totally frozen, and then re-heat either in a microwave or in a non-stick skillet with an extra splash of stock to loosen it up. Bingo.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Mise-en-place of all the ingredients to make black bean sweet potato chili.

Substitutions

Butternut Squash is a great substitute for sweet potatoes
Farro or rice also works in place of quinoa. You might need a tiny bit extra time for farro, and a little extra liquid. But both are delish.
Black beans can be substituted with any of your favorite canned bean. If you want to make your own beans, this is my favorite recipe.

Ingredients

Olive Oil
Sweet Potato
Red Onion
Garlic
Chili Powder
Chipotle Pepper
Ground Cumin
Kosher Salt
Vegetable Stock
Black Beans
Canned Tomatoes
Quinoa
Lime Juice
Serving suggestions: avocado, cilantro, crema, grated cheese

*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below.

How to Make Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili

A white dutch oven with chopped sweet potato and chopped onions.

Step 1: Heat a large heavy bottom pot with the oil over medium high heat. Add the sweet potato and onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion is softened. Add the garlic, chili powder, chipotle, cumin and salt and stir to combine.

A white dutch oven with chopped sweet potato and onions, along with finely chopped garlic and spices that have just been added on top.

Step 2: Add the stock, tomatoes, black beans and quinoa and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir to incorporate. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 30-40 minutes until the quinoa is fully cooked and the sweet potatoes are soft and the entire mixture is thick like a chili.

A white dutch oven full of black bean and sweet potato chili, with a wooden spoon in it, and on its side is a platter of cilantro, chopped avocado, and two little bowls of sour crema and shredded cheese.

Step 3: Add the lime juice and remove the pot from the heat. Season with salt as needed. Garnish with avocado, cilantro, crema or cheese before serving.

How to Store Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili

You can store this for 4 days in an airtight container and re-heat on the stove or microwave when its time to eat.

How to Freeze Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili

This is a great recipe for freezing. I recommend portioning out when freezing so you only have to thaw as much as you need. This can be frozen for 3 months. Recommend thawing in the fridge overnight to make re-heating easier.

Tips & Tricks

This is a vegan/vegetarian chili so keep that in mind when choosing your toppings! Just make sure everyone knows what is dairy and what isn't.

FAQs

Can I use different beans in this chili if I do not have black beans?

You _can_ use kidney or pinto beans if you do not have black beans. Some people also like doing a mix of the different beans. However, make sure you are doing canned beans in that case since different beans can have slightly different cook times. If you want to make your own beans, this is my favorite recipe.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes!! Chili is a great crowd-pleaser, and easy to make in a larger quantity. This recipe makes it even more fit for a gathering, since its gluten free and vegan (omit the crema and grated cheese or just keep them on the side as a topping station).