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This Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili is an easy, satisfying meal that your family will love! It's smoky, robust and subtly sweet. It'll be a winner in your home!
Looking for a comforting weeknight winner? Well, look no further because this Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili might be what you need. It's warm, hearty and so darn easy to make! It's all made in one pot and takes less than 35 minutes on the stove.
I love making chili, stew and various soups in the cooler months. They are versatile, filling, and usually freezer-friendly, so they are perfect for my busy schedule. Plus, you can feed a lot of people on a budget.
This chili is a meal on its own, but if you'd like, you can side it with rice, quinoa, corn chips, warm tortillas or some Gluten-Free Cornbread. I like to top it with diced red onions, chopped cilantro and a big dollop of Vegan Sour Cream.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE SWEET POTATO BLACK BEAN CHILI
(FULL INGREDIENT AMOUNTS IN RECIPE CARD BELOW)
You won't need any fancy ingredients, just some kitchen staples, and pantry items. You'll need grapeseed oil, red onion, fresh garlic, sweet potato, chili powder, ground cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, unsweetened cocoa powder, vegetable broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans, lime juice, salt & pepper. That's it!
WHY CHOCOLATE IN CHILI?
The cocoa powder is definitely the key ingredient for an ever-so-tasty chili. The chocolate balances out the sweet, spicy and acidic flavors and brings it all together. It adds a whole other layer of flavor and it will turn your everyday chili into a bold, robust, award-winning chili. I use it for my Ulitmate Vegan Chili recipe, too.
HOW TO MAKE SWEET POTATO BLACK BEAN CHILI
- STEP 1 - In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and a pinch of salt. Sauté until translucent.
- STEP 2 - Add garlic and sauté until lightly golden brown.
- STEP 3 - Add potatoes, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Now add tomatoes and cocoa powder. Stir to combine well.
- STEP 4 - Add broth, salt, and pepper. Loosely cover the pot and turn heat up to get a simmer going. Once simmering, reduce heat to keep a light simmer for about 15 minutes.
- STEP 5 - Add the beans. Uncover the pot and lightly simmer for another 10 minutes or until liquid cooks down and potatoes reach desired consistency. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice. Taste for seasoning and add as needed. Let the chili rest a minute before serving
CAN YOU FREEZE CHILI?
YES! It freezes nicely for 4-6 months. Just make sure it's stored in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. You can also freeze it in individual servings and bring it to work with you.
LOVE VEGAN COMFORT FOOD? HERE ARE MORE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
And here are 26 Vegan Comfort Food Recipes from Buzzfeed that are all drool-worthy!
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
If you make this chili recipe, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.
📖 Recipe
Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons grapeseed oil (or preferred oil)
- 1 large red onion , diced
- 3-4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 large sweet potato , peeled & cut into ½" pieces
- 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (more to taste)
- 2 ½ teaspoons cocoa powder , unsweetened
- 14 ounces fire roasted tomatoes , canned
- 2 cups vegetable broth , low sodium
- 2 14-ounce cans black beans , drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ teaspoons Himalayan salt , more to taste (or preferred salt)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice , fresh squeezed (more to taste)
- Fresh cracked pepper , to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. When hot, add onion and a pinch of salt. Sauté until onion is translucent, about 5-6 minutes.
- Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute or until garlic is lightly golden brown.
- Add potatoes, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Now add tomatoes and cocoa powder. Stir to combine well.
- Add broth, salt, and pepper. Loosely cover the pot. Turn heat up to get a simmer going. Once simmering, reduce heat between medium & medium-low to keep a light simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on everything and stir occasionally.
- Now add the beans. Uncover the pot and lightly simmer for another 10 minutes or until liquid cooks down a bit and potatoes reach desired consistency.
- Remove from heat and stir in lime juice. Taste for seasoning and add as needed. Let the chili rest a minute before serving. See notes for topping ideas.
Notes
Nutrition
Cindy Walton
This is my favorite recipe to take to Potlucks. I cut out the oil and use water for sautéing. It is pretty spicy so I cut the spices in half and it is perfect.
Melissa Huggins
I agree Cindy! And it is easy to customoze as you said. 🙂
Andrea Harris
Looking forward to gathering ingredients & following the recipe!! Thank you 🌱
Melissa Huggins
Let me know how it goes Andrea! Happy cooking. 🙂
JENNIFER BARKER
One of the best recipes I've tried in a long time! Thank you. My new fav!
Melissa Huggins
Thanks, Jeniffer! We love this recipe too. 💕
Tamara Hanel
Made this today. I haven't tried it yet but my husband has reported that it's a 5 star rating.
Melissa Huggins
Hi Tamara, I'm so glad he liked it! Thank you for giving it a try 🙂