Healthy Turkey Sweet Potato Chili With Apples

This healthy turkey chili recipe is bursting with flavor thanks to turkey Polska Kielbasa, tender sweet potatoes, and chunks of seasonal apples. Make a batch of turkey sweet potato chili yourself for a cozy, healthy, and comforting meal that’s delicious and easy to cook. The apples add a tongue-pleasing twist!

Oy! The weather is chilly, the wind is blowing, and I am feeling cold from the inside out. Comfort food is what I need. Big time.

And with the excess of the holiday months, a good healthy chili with delicious fall and winter flavors is a good way to help balance everything out.

This turkey and sweet potato chili recipe is very forgiving, so if you need to adjust the amount of turkey, or sweet potato, or apple a bit, that’s ok!

Also, if you like a spicy chili, you can make this recipe as spicy as you wish by adding some cayenne pepper. I’m a total wimp when it comes to spicy foods, so I don’t add any when I plan to eat it.

However, my husband loves spice, so I would add it for him if he were eating the bulk of this dish. I recommend starting with a half teaspoon and adjusting from there.

Related Post: Easy Three Bean Slow Cooker Chili Recipe

Turkey Sweet Potato Chili Ingredients

Here are the ingredients in this fall chili recipe and how they help make this dish everything that it is.

• Sweet potato – the carb base of this chili recipe and delivers a wonderfully seasonal flavor.
• Onion and garlic – add flavor
• Olive Oil – used to help cook/brown ingredients.
• Chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt – spices to add & enhance flavor
• Water – the liquid, or soup, base
• Black beans and dark red kidney beans – the beans and non-meat protein of this recipe.
• Diced tomatoes – adds terrific flavor and really makes it “chili” but could use tomato sauce or tomato paste if you hate tomato chunks.
• Lime juice – complements the other flavors in this recipe
• Granny Smith apple – adds a delightful fruity aspect to this recipe. Subtle but it MAKES the recipe.
• Turkey Polska Kielbasa – better and more flavorful than lean ground turkey.

NOTE: For more recipe details, please check out the handy recipe card at the bottom of the post!

How to Make this Fall Chili Recipe

Use these instructions to have a delicious pot of chili in just about 30 minutes.

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the sweet potato and onion, and cook until the onion begins to soften, approximately 3-4 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, pour half of the lime juice over the apples to keep them from turning brown until they are ready to be added.

Step 3

Add the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Continue cooking for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add the water, and bring to a simmer. Cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low.

Step 4

Simmer for approximately 10 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.

Step 5

While the sweet potato mixture is cooking, heat a large skillet pan over medium-high heat. Add the turkey kielbasa to the pan. Cook approximately 5 minutes, stirring constantly until the turkey is lightly browned on each side. Set aside.

Step 6

Add the black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, and remaining lime juice to the sweet potato mixture. Increase the heat to high until the mixture returns to a simmer, stirring often.

Step 7

Once simmering, reduce the heat back to medium-low, and add the turkey kielbasa and apple. Stir well, and let simmer for about 5 minutes.

Step 8

Remove from heat and serve. Top with any optional toppings if desired.

Turkey Sweet Potato Chili Recipe FAQs

You got questions? I’ve got answers. Here you go.

Prefer a Soupier Chili?

On the scale of soupy-ness, I prefer my chili to be thicker than soup, but still a bit soupy, if that makes sense. Depending on how soupy you prefer your chili you can totally adjust how much water you add to the recipe.

Ground Turkey vs Turkey Kielbasa?

You could use 1 pound of ground turkey if you want to. However, turkey Kielbasa adds a TON of flavor that is far above and beyond simple ground turkey.

If you want (or need) a little less flavor, go with the ground turkey. If, however, you want to add a little spice to your life, definitely try the turkey kielbasa. You won’t regret it!

What are Good Chili Toppings?

As far as I’m concerned, there’s no right or wrong way to decorate (ahem, top) your chili! Try these ideas:

• Shredded cheddar or Colby cheese
• Greek yogurt or sour cream
• Avocado
• Scallions
• Chopped cilantro
• Tortilla strips/chips

Do Kids Like it?

Well, now, that’s a little tougher to answer. But here’s what I can say…my three kids rarely all like the same thing. For example, 2 like avocado but 1 hates it. 1 likes kale but 2 hate it and so on.

But, all three of them ate their entire helping of turkey and sweet potato chili AND asked for seconds! So given that, I feel confident in saying that this blend of flavors is extremely kid-friendly.

I hope you love this turkey sweet potato chili! It’s chock full of flavor, but also mild enough to please nearly everyone.

Love Cold Weather Comfort Foods? Try These

• The Best 15 Non Traditional Thanksgiving Side Dishes to make this year
• 25+ Best Crock Pot Soups for Fall – Easy Slow Cooker Soups
• Decadent Pumpkin French Toast (Fast Prep!)
• Healthy, Delicious, Nutritious Turkey Rice Soup
• Scarecrow Hat Snacks: Easy Fall Snacks For Kids