This Slow Cooker Whole30 Chili is the perfect easy recipe when you want comfort food with no fuss & minimal cleanup! It simmers away in the slow cooker all day filling the house with mouth-watering smells that will make you hungry when you walk through the door. The spices in this chili combine wonderfully with the sweetness of the sweet potato. Add all the toppings you can think of for fresh flavor with this savory slow-cooked chili. It’s bean-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo.
I really hated chili growing up. I mean we’re talking so much dislike that I would gladly go without dinner if I could have. Whenever chili was on the menu, I would eat about 1/4 cup of chili with a big bowlful of toppings, (yay for toppings)!
It wasn’t until I was older that I realized that it wasn’t the chili so much as the kidney beans that I hated. And I’ll admit I still don’t like them despite my best efforts. Lately though, one of my friends has been making chili with sweet potatoes, and that got me thinking I should give chili another chance. This time around without any beans whatsoever.
So… that brings us up to the present, I’ve just had this chili 4 DAYS IN A ROW and I’m loving it. This is a definite success on the chili front! I’m head over heels for how the spicy meat pairs with the sweet potato. And we’re also fans of how easy it is to make this slow cooker Whole30 chili as well.
And of course… there’s nary a mealy/chalky kidney bean in sight. I’ve also added a few new toppings as an adult. And I must say that avocado, lime wedges, and cilantro are just the thing to take chili to the next level!
So that’s the story of how I ended up loving chili. And maybe if you’re not the hugest fan of chili, this might be the recipe that changes your mind. I even fed this to a family member who hates sweet potato and he ate several bowls!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground turkey – other types of ground meat also work like lean ground beef and ground pork.
- Onions & garlic – white onions and yellow onions both work in this recipe. And for the garlic, use a garlic press to speed up the prep time. I don’t recommend jarred garlic.
- Spices – I use a mix of ancho chili powder and chili powder for greater depth of flavor, but just chili powder is also listed in the recipe as an option. From there a bit of cumin and oregano rounds out the chili flavor we all know and love.
- Sweet potatoes – are what I use in place of beans for this chili and their sweet flavor is great with chili spices. There is also an option below to add black beans as well if desired.
- Tomatoes – I use a mix of canned tomatoes and tomato paste for the best tomato flavor. I have tried tomato sauce and it’s just not as good so I don’t recommend it.
How to make this recipe step by step
Step 1: Start by dicing up the onion.
One key to this recipe is to cut the onions into a small dice, otherwise they’ll be a tad crunchy.
Step 2: Trim the sweet potatoes and peel them if desired.
Then cut them into large (but still bite-sized) chunks.
Step 3: Next, we’ll mix together the ground turkey with the spices and diced onions.
Make sure to break up the ground turkey well as you mix.
Step 4: Place the sweet potatoes over the top of the turkey mixture
Step 5:Place the whole tomatoes and tomato paste in a blender and blend until combined but still chunky.
Pour the tomato mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes.
Step 6: Mix to combine and turn the crockpot to low. Cook for 8-10 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are tender. Taste the chili and add salt to your taste
Ways to serve this Slow Cooker Whole30 Chili
- Enjoy this chili with Whole30 toppings: avocado, red onion, green onion, cilantro, jalapeno, and creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing, or make your own Whole30 sour cream.
- If you’re not doing a Whole30, try this chili with sour cream and grated cheddar cheese or pepperjack cheese.
FAQ’s
My secret for the best-tasting chili is to use a good amount of spices for full flavor but still balanced and not overwhelming with chili powder.
Yes, you can add beans to this chili, it isn’t Whole30 but I hope you customize this to your taste. Beans are a budget-friendly option, and my favorite is to add a can of drained and rinsed black beans to the slow cooker. The black beans are perfect with the sweet potato.
Storing leftovers
- To store – store any leftover chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Make ahead – this chili gets better as it sits, so feel free to make it ahead and reheat as desired.
- Reheating – add leftovers to a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat stirring often until heated.
- To freeze – this chili freezes fairly well in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. The sweet potatoes will become much softer after freezing.
Tips & Tricks
- Everyone’s slow cooker seems to work at different speeds. Mine took 10 hours to cook my sweet potatoes all the way through. I would recommend trying this or any slow cooker recipe the first time on a day when you’re home. That way, you’ll be around when it’s ready and you can add your own notes about cooking time to the recipe.
- The whole tomatoes, combined with the tomato paste really adds to the chili experience. I added the tomato paste in an effort to make a fuller sauce, not quite so watery. It worked wonders for the texture, adds a natural sweetness that cuts the acidity, and adds depth to the sauce. This also makes for a super thick chili. If it’s too thick for your taste, feel free to add some broth at the end of the cooking time.
- The recipe calls for ancho chili powder which is really tasty, (try it as a rub on grilled chicken or fish). If you can’t find it, don’t worry, you can use regular chili powder with great results!
Dietary Options & Substitutions
- Dairy-free – this recipe is dairy-free, but you can add dairy-free sour cream and cheese if desired.
- Paleo – choose from the Whole30 topping options in the recipe. Make your own paleo sour cream, or drizzle this chili with my creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing (it’s also Whole30).
Best Toppings for this Slow Cooker Chili
- Diced red onion or sliced green onion.
- Avocado which is probably my favorite!
- Chopped fresh cilantro.
- Sour cream/dairy-free/Whole30 alternative.
- My creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing is my favorite dairy-free & Whole30 topping.
- Sliced jalapenos for a touch of spice.
- Grated cheddar cheese if you can have dairy.
More Slow Cooker Dinner Recipe Inspiration
I really hope you enjoy this easy slow cooker Whole30 Chili! If you do get a chance to make this recipe, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
Slow Cooker Whole30 Chili
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound ground turkey - ground beef, chicken, or pork
- 1 medium onion - about 12 ounces, diced very small
- 3 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ancho chili powder - (or 1 additional Tablespoon chili powder)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
- 2 tsp sea salt - or to your taste see notes
- 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
- 28 ounces canned whole tomatoes - or diced tomatoes, try fire roasted tomatoes for a variation
- 6 ounces canned tomato paste
Toppings:
- lime wedges, cilantro, sliced green onion, avocado - optional: Whole30 sour cream/sour cream, grated cheddar cheese.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the ground turkey, onions, garlic, spices, and sea salt in a 4-quart crockpot. Use a wooden spoon to break up the turkey and mix everything together.
- Place the sweet potatoes over the top of the turkey mixture.
- Place the whole tomatoes and tomato paste in a blender and blend until combined but still chunky. Pour the tomato mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes and turn the crockpot to low.
- Cook for 8-10 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are tender. Taste the chili and add salt to your taste.
- Serve with any and all toppings you desire.
NOTES
nutrition facts
This recipe was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2020 & 2023 with new photos and more tips and information.
A co-worker used this recipe for luncheon celebration at work .Everybody loved it ,
she said this is her first time cooking in crockpot . I asked for the recipe because my family loves sweet potatoes however, I am vegetarian so I won’t be using any meat do you have any suggestion as which veggie would a work best for this . BTW : I will be adding different types of beans as I do with veggie chili
Cant wait to try it out over Thanksgiving weekend . We stay away from malls and crowd 🙂
I think you could just substitute cooked beans for the ground turkey, and you shouldn’t need to add any other vegetables. If you wanted to add extra vegetables, root vegetables would be a nice pairing with the sweet potatoes. I hope a vegetarian version works out for you, and be sure to let me know how it goes! 🙂
So glad I found this! Looks so yummy! How do you think leftovers would do being heated up in the microwave? My hubby doesn’t eat sweet potatoes but I LOVE them! I would make this to use for lunches at work for a few days…
I’ve never reheated it in the microwave, but it does reheat well on the stovetop! I hope you enjoy it, it’s one of my favorite easy meals! 🙂
This is in the crockpot right now! Very excited. I have just under 2 lbs of sweet potato and wonder if I should run out to get another.
I’m also wonder if I should add a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa. Thoughts?
I wouldn’t bother running to the store, I don’t think the 1/2 pound will matter too much, you’ll just have a bit less chili! I think the cocoa would be a matter of taste, I personally don’t care for it in chili but I like the flavor in mole so who knows? If you like a bit of cocoa in your chili, I would take out about a 1/4 cup of finished chili and try a pinch of cocoa mixed in to see how it tastes, then you’ll know for the next batch! Let me know how it goes! 🙂
I’m going to try this today, but am using what we call sweet potatoes, they’re white. I’m from Canada. The sweet potatoes you show in your recipe are what we call yams. Hopefully, the flavour will be OK. Have you tried with other potatoes?
Some places call the orange ones yams here but others call them sweet potatoes – very confusing at times! I’ve found the white sweet potatoes to be drier in texture at times, but that shouldn’t matter in this chili. I haven’t tried this recipe yet with any other potato yet, so let me know how it goes! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving this weekend, my husband’s from Canada and I’m from the States, so we get to celebrate twice! 🙂
It turned out well, not quite hot enough, but just added a little hot sauce to taste. I will try yams next time to see if there is any difference. Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
So glad it the white sweet potatoes worked, and you’re right it’s not really hot at all so I’m glad you were able to spice it up a bit! 🙂
Loved the recipe! I substituted one can of tomatoes with fresh roma tomatoes out of my garden that I have been wanting to put to use, and also added a can of kidney beans! Fantastic flavor with those spices, and hearty, too. Thanks so much!
I love your idea of substituting fresh tomatoes in for the canned, I’ll have to try that right away before tomato season ends!
This sounds so amazing! Any suggestions on cooking it in a pot? My crockpot is buried in a storage unit :o(
I would start by sautéing the onions until tender, then add the turkey (you can brown it if you’re comfortable working with high heat). Once the turkey’s in, you can add the spices, stir, and then add everything else and simmer with a lid on (or slightly cracked) until the sweet potatoes are tender (probably about 1 hour). Be sure to watch it the first time because it’s hard to know if it would stick or not, (if the heat’s low you shouldn’t have a problem). Let me know how it goes, hope you enjoy! 🙂
I just wanna say, at first I thought, this is too easy. Too simple to really be good. I knew by the middle of this morning there was no way I was going to be in the mood to cook dinner, so I threw together this recipe in about 20 minutes. Let me tell you how happy I am that I decided to try it, simple and all. It is wonderful and the only topping we put on it was cheese! Thank you for an super easy, simple recipe that made plenty and everyone loved! It is wonderful and definitely will be made many times in my house!
I’m so glad you liked it! I’ve been working on super simple crockpot recipes for just those kind of days when you really don’t want to cook – so, I’m happy that the recipe delivered!
Did you brown the meat at all prior to throwing everything in together? Looks fantastic!
In the interest of keeping things simple, I didn’t brown the meat – just threw everything in and turned it to low! I’ve tried browning vs. not browning and I’m not sure it makes a significant difference in flavor, (especially considering it makes more dishes).
Fantastic recipe Kari, the sweet potato + chili combo is one of my fave, and besides I dig anything made in a Crock-Pot – throw everything in and fugget about it, my kind of style! 😉
My favorite crockpot recipes are the ones that cook for 8-10 hours and I get to come home to a wonderful (already done) meal!
This looks delicious! Have been on such a sweet potato kick this winter! Can’t wait to try!
xx Kate
The Hag
I’m a sweet potato kick too, and I think they totally make chili so much better!