Our Go-To Winter Dinner: Healthy Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili Recipe

There are some basic truths in the kitchen.

Like, say, the truth that you should always have a well-stocked pantry, that eating seasonally and local always results in better food, and that it's key to have a handful of simple, easy, and healthy recipes that you can pull out for anything from a weeknight meal to when you need to feed a crowd.

As Californians, that kind of recipe tends to be healthy-ish, have lots of veggies, and are loaded with flavor. A few of those recipes are this Slow Cooked Chicken Tinga, these Green Herb Falafel Lettuce Wraps, this Shredded Chicken, Kale, and Quinoa Salad with Mint-Yogurt Dressing, and this healthy vegetarian recipe for Black Bean Chili that’s loaded with sweet potatoes, chiles, and herbs.

This Chili Is A Crowd Pleaser Of A Recipe

This is one of the most popular recipes on our site and for a good reason: it's an easy, healthy vegetarian recipe that's a crowd-pleaser. It's a plant-based recipe that is beloved equally by meat-eaters and vegans because it's filling, delicious, and still healthy. Kids like it as much as adults do and the leftovers taste delicious. 

We often make this recipe for potlucks or tailgates but, even more so, for road trips where we'll be renting a house with friends because you can find the ingredients at almost any market. This recipe makes a lot of appearances during ski season because we put it in the slow cooker before we hit the slopes and it's ready when we return. Not to mention that it is healthy nutritious fuel for a day of high altitude exertion! Oh, and for frequent flyers like us, you can eat loads of it to kickstart some clean eating after an indulgent vacation.

How To Cook This Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

It only takes a few steps to make this chili so it's a totally beginner cook-friendly recipe. Namely, you have to saute the onions and garlic then cook the herbs, spices, and chipotles until they're fragrant, then stir in the tomatoes, broth,and sweet potatoes and simmer until they're tender. You then add in the cooked black beans and serve it garnished with whatever floats your boat, be it crumbled Cotija cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, or veggies. 

Tip For Making Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

Here are a few specific tips to help you make this recipe a success:

• Make It In The Slow Cooker Or Instant Pot: To make this even quicker and easier, pull out the slow cooker or Instant Pot. We recommend you saute the onions and garlic with the spices per the recipe instructions then transfer it to a slow cooker or Instant Pot once you add the tomatoes — if you don't the final chili will likely be bland. 
• Make It Ahead: Like pretty much any stew, soup, or slow-simmered recipe, this tastes better the next day so feel free to make it up to four days ahead of time and refrigerate it until you want to serve it. 
• Keep The Ingredients On Hand: Keep the main ingredients — black beans, sweet potatoes, chipotles, and canned tomatoes — in your pantry so you can cook it when you feel like you have nothing in the house
• Freeze IT! This chili freezes like a champ so you can make batches and batches and keep it in store for when you don't feel like cooking. 

Variations On This Recipe

And, this is the kind of dish that, after you've made it a couple of times, you don't even need a proper recipe to follow. Plus, it's one that's delicious as is but also great with twists. 

• Use chipotles en adobo sauce: The sweet, spicy, smoky flavor of the chipotles totally makes this recipe so don't skimp on them. You can find them in the canned goods aisle at the store.  
• Use Kidney Beans Instead: Our first pick for this recipe is black beans but you could use kidney beans in a pinch. 
• Or Add In Grains: Want to make it even healthier? Stir in some cooked quinoa!
• Use Butternut Squash Instead Of Sweet Potatoes: The sweet potatoes add a slightly sweet, earthy flavor to the chili but you can use butternut squash instead. 
• Add In Animal Protein: Have some ground bison or turkey? Cook it until it's browned then toss it in! 
• Top It With Tons Of Veggies: We like to top this with tons of fresh veggies – sliced radishes, scallions, jalapenos, cilantro – for a surprisingly healthy but satisfying meal.

PIN IT FOR LATER

Pin this image so you can remember the recipe next time you need some cooking inspiration!

Okay, now go stock up on all your cooking essentials then head into the kitchen, make this, and share it with us by tagging @saltandwind and #swsociety on social!