Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans
Slow cooker turkey quinoa chili is a delicious, easy, and healthy chili recipe for your crockpot. Packed with lean ground turkey, quinoa, sweet potatoes and black beans, it will fill you up without weighing you down with excess fat and calories. This is the best crock pot recipe for a chilly day!
Although fall’s official start date was a few weeks ago, for me the true mark of the season comes with a series of “firsts”: the first apples to appear at the farm stand; the first leaves to turn orangey-red; the first pot of Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans to hit my crock pot.
Making the first chili of the season always feels a bit ceremonious to me. I equate chili with, well, chilly, and until the air rouses me to utter at least a mild “brrrrrr,” I feel it is my duty to summer to postpone the chili-making until I am in need of something hearty to fill my tummy and warm my bones.
We had one such evening a week or so ago, when the air unexpectedly felt crisp and the weatherman uttered the words “wind chill” for the first time in months. The evening happened to coincide with the night I had a big group of girlfriends over for a pumpkin carving party. We took over my entire kitchen, sipped wine, and cracked each other up with our Jack-o-lantern attempts. Personally, I’m grateful to whomever had the forethought to create carving stencils.
Make Ahead Turkey Quinoa Chili
Since this Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili recipe makes a big batch, it can be made completely in advance.
This is a serious stress reliever for any dinner party menu, and it’s easy to multiply for a crowd. Combined with the cooler fall weather, the easy chili recipe made the perfect cozy meal.
Telling someone you made a pot of chili at once says everything and nothing at all. If you invite me over for chili, I’ll know to wear comfy pants, bring a beverage to share, and expect a casual evening with a chance of football. The concept of chili is intrinsic: a relaxed atmosphere, warm kitchen, and a certain sense of community that comes from all serving ourselves from the same steaming pot. The specifics of your chili in particular, however, will remain a surprise to me, until I take my first bite.
Will it be thick or thin? What kind of meat did you use? Beans or no beans? What’s the secret spice? That is why you will find so many chili recipes on this site! The consistency and flavors of my white chicken chili are completely different from my Instant Pot chili recipe and completely different from my Green Chili recipe.
I’m of the belief that no two pots of chili are exactly the same, and even though I’ve made this turkey quinoa chili recipe dozens of times, each time I do, I’m freshly surprised by the richness of its flavor. A different spice or ingredient will grab my attention. I love the chili leftovers even more, because the ingredients have longer to blend and even intensify. It’s wonderful served over baked potatoes as well.
Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans – Ideal Chili Criteria!
My ideal chili recipe is low on maintenance, high on flavor, and reasonably healthy. This Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili nails all three. Other than browning the turkey before adding it to the slow cooker and chopping the sweet potatoes, the prep work is non-existent. Simply dump the ingredients into your crock pot, and in a few hours, your home will be filled with the aroma of warm spices and robust tomatoes. You don’t even need to precook the quinoa!
I’m also of the mind that chili should be nice and thick, all the better for filling bellies and standing up to a hefty array of toppings. Between the quinoa, black beans, and big chunks of sweet potato, this chili has plenty of body. The ingredients play well with each other, and the sweet potato is especially lovely intermixed with the sultry spices.
I also have a secret ingredient that I believe sets this slow cooker quinoa chili apart from the pack: an actual six pack!
In addition to chicken broth and tomatoes, the final liquid I added to the slow cooker with the quinoa chili is 12 ounces of one of my favorite local beers, Lakefront Brewery’s IPA. Since moving to Wisconsin, I’ve come to heightened levels of respect for the state’s fierce microbrew culture. We have hundreds and hundreds of options for local brews, and I plan to rotate on through each time I make this easy chili recipe.
If you prefer not to make the slow cooker chili with beer, you can swap it for the same amount of additional chicken broth.
Do you have any favorite chili or other autumn recipes that mark the start of fall for you the way this Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili does for me? I’d love to hear all about them!
Recommended Tools to Make Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili
- 6-quart slow cooker
- Lesson learned the hard way: If you are doubling this recipe it WILL NOT FIT in a 6-quart slow cooker. Borrow a second one, place part in a smaller crock pot, or upgrade to a larger size. You’ve been warned.
Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion — chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons chipotle chili pepper
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 3 small sweet potatoes — (or 2 large) peeled and diced (about 1 pound)
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1 can crushed tomatoes — (28 ounces)
- 1 can black beans — (15 ounces) rinsed and drained
- 1 can beer — (12 ounces) I used an IPA; any dark or amber beer would be great too! or substitute additional low-sodium chicken stock
- 2-3 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- For serving: cilantro — avocado, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
-
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium high. Add the turkey, onion, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Cook and stir, breaking up the turkey as you go, until the turkey is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chili powder, chipotle chili powder, and cumin, then transfer to the bottom a large slow cooker.
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To the slow cooker, add the chopped sweet potatoes, quinoa, beer, 2 cups chicken stock, crushed tomatoes, and black beans. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours, until the potatoes are tender. Stir in additional chicken stock if the chili is thicker than you would like (I added about 1/2 cup extra). Serve warm with desired toppings.
Recipe Notes
- Leftover slow cooker turkey quinoa chili can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to three months.
- If you are doubling this recipe it WILL NOT FIT in a 6-quart slow cooker. Borrow a second one, place part in a smaller crock pot, or upgrade to a larger size. You've been warned.
Nutrition Information
Amount per serving (1 (of 6)) — Calories: 450, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 57mg, Sodium: 748mg, Carbohydrates: 51g, Fiber: 7gDid you try this recipe? I want to see! Follow Well Plated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
About Erin Clarke
I’m fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food taste incredible. Wearer of plaid, travel enthusiast, and firmly convinced that sweets and veggies both deserve a place at the table. MORE ABOUT ERIN…
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Great chili recipe and I especially love the addition of the sweet potatoes!~Carolyn @ Cabot
i am so with you about adding chili nights..also beer adds a depth of flavor! i am so excited to be using slow cooker all the time again.
Love the quinoa in here! And I totally feel you on being chilly when eating chili- there’s a certain ambience chili nights have :)
We are having our first chilly (chili? ha. get it?) day of fall here in Philly, and this chili looks JUST PERFECT. Can’t wait to get my sweatpants on, some TNF on TV and cuddle up with a big bowl of this :)
This is such a great recipe for the quickly approaching cold weather. I love the addition of beer (holla!) and sweet potatoes. Pinned.
Hey girl- This looks really good! When it starts getting cold out I like to bake!! Maybe cookies,or whatever. My Mom is the same way!
I love baking in the cooler weather too Shawnna! It’s a yummy way to keep warm :)
One of my favourite ways to make chili is by adding quinoa in there. Perfect healthy recipe for fall ;-)
Sweet potatoes and quinoa are two of my favorite ingredients! Can’t wait to try this recipe this week! I think I will adapt it to a stovetop version as my slow cooker is currently out of commission. Yum!
Kristen, this would be just fine to make on the stove top! Just be sure to use a thick, sturdy pot and cook covered, low and slow. I hope you love it!
I usually brown my meat before I make chilli on the stovetop. What alterations would you suggest for making it on the stove?
Hi Karen! The meat is browned in this recipe also, so you can complete this step first, then place all of the other ingredients in the pot with the meat, instead of transferring the meat to the slow cooker. I’ve never made it on the stove, so I’m afraid I can’t speak to the total cooking time. If you do decide to try it out on the stove, I’d love to hear how it goes!
I agree, I love it that there are so many different ways you can make a chili and they are all delicious! the weather has finally started to cool down here and I’m so ready for chili season! I love the quinoa in this one :)
Looks like the perfect weeknight meal!!
This recipe is a keeper?, we enjoyed it last night for dinner then again tonight. It feels so healthy I’m not going to think about the beer lol. A delicious flavor combo. Thanks again !!!!
I think the beer just adds a little “spirit,” and it is more than healthy enough! Seriously, SO happy to hear you loved this recipe Laura! Thank you so much for letting me know :)
Fact: One can never have too much chili. LOVE your version! Pinning!
Do you have a recommendation for those of us who simply can’t have beer–with or without alcohol content?
Hi Jeri! You will be just fine to substitute additional chicken stock. It will still taste great!
Made this last night and it was wonderful!! My husband, son, and I loved the flavor of it! We’ve never tried a chili with sweet potatoes in it but my husband especially loved the sweet potato flavor in it. I ended up using ground beef instead of the turkey. Also, I’m not a beer drinker at all, so I honestly didn’t know which beers were dark beers so I just bought a can of Budweiser because it’s a well-known brand. Yeah, I soon learned it’s not a dark beer LOL! Still turned out delicious though. I topped mine with avocado and sour cream and I LOVED it! Thanks for creating such great recipes. I’m such a fan of yours, Erin!
I made this for dinner. Thank you so much for this recipe! It is delicious! I did add some masa flour to it during tgr last half hour of cooking, as I like it thicker. You’re awesome, Erin!!!
Stefanie, I am sooooo excited to hear this. Hooray! Thanks for letting me know how it turned out!
this looks great! Do you drain the beans before adding them in or toss in the whole thing?
Hi Lia! Yes, the beans should be rinsed and drained. I hope you love the recipe!
How much would you say is a serving size? One cup? Currently making this in my crock pot…sleeping tonight will be difficult, I’m so excited to try this tomorrow! :) beautiful recipe, thanks for sharing!!
Hi Kristina! Honestly, it’s hard to say, because it just depends how hungry you are! Personally, I probably closer to 2 cups. Hope you love it!
Sorry, typo in my name! Thanks again!
Our entire family loved this recipe, including my daughter who usually can’t handle too much spice. This was PERFECT. Thanks for a great recipe!
This is the best chili recipe! I made it for a Halloween party and everyone loved it. The sweet potatoes and quinoa really add a new dimension and also help make a thicker chili which I prefer. We served it with diced onions, shredded cheese, avocado and greek yogurt. It’s perfect with cornbread and tortilla chips!
Hi Erin! This looks looks amazing!
I’d love to include your slow cooker turkey chili recipe in a chili roundup I’m doing for Parade Magazine.
If that’s fine with you, could I use one of your gorgeous pictures with a link back to your original post (http://www.wellplated.com/slow-cooker-turkey-quinoa-chili/)?
Let me know, thanks!
Absolutely loved this recipe! I added extra vegetables (green pepper, carrot, and corn) and it ended up being too much for my crockpot, so I made it on the stove instead, brought to a boil and then simmered for about 45 mins to an hour. I topped with some grated cheddar cheese and crushed up 2 or 3 Tostito roasted garlic and black bean tortilla chips. It was AMAZING. I love that it’s healthy, without tasting like a healthed out version of a favourite. It’s still hearty and has all the flavour of your regular chili. In all honesty, I think that I like this better than my mom’s chili.
I will definitely remake, but next time I will cut the recipe in half since I’m a single, female, university student who doesn’t want to eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an entire week.
Kaitlyn, I am so happy to hear you liked this chili so much! Thank you so much for trying it and letting me know how it turned out, and that’s great to know that this works well on the stovetop too. The recipe does make a monster batch. Maybe try freezing some too?
I can’t wait to try this, but I’m wondering if you could help me measure the ingredients for a small slow cooker? Thank you!!
Hi Kay! I’m not sure what size your slow cooker is, but I’d suggest using at least a 4 quart size. Then, you can simply divide the recipe in half. Hope you love it!
It’s a 1.5 qt slow cooker. I’m assuming this is too small..?
Kay, you could try to do a quarter of the recipe, but at that point it’s honestly probably not worth it. I’ve had a few other readers simmer the chili slowly on the stove in a big pot instead of using a slow cooker, so that could be a good option for you too.
Hi!
I am making this tomorrow and was curious your thoughts on leaving the beer out to keep this gluten free. Would you just add 12 ounces extra chicken stock? Thanks so much!
Great question Holly! You’re fine to use additional chicken stock. If you can find a gluten-free beer, that is a great option too. Hope you love it!
I’m making this right now in the crockpot! Just discovered your blog tonight on pinterest, and I’m from Milwaukee as well! Super cool to follow a foodie from my hometown while I now live in Austin. And also, really jealous of your 6 pack of Lakefront beer, I miss them so much! Will be trying more of your recipes soon as well. :)
So great to hear from you Cheryl! Can I swap you some Lakefront for your Austin sunshine?? Hope you loved the chili, and thanks so much for saying hi!
I love this recipe!!! I made it a few weeks ago and everyone liked it, even my brother-in-law who is a great cook (he makes awesome chili) and a health nut. The flavors were new for me… I’m originally from Spain and we don’t cook with sweet potatoes or turkey. And I never saw a crockpot until I moved to the States!
I’m making two batches right now for a friend who just had an operation. Since you mentioned it can be frozen I’ll fill a few ziploc bags and give them to her and her family.
Thanks for the recipe!
Maria, this is wonderful to hear! You are incredibly kind to make this for your friend, and it’s so meaningful to know that this chili is making so many people happy. Thanks for tying the recipe and letting me know how it turned out for you!
I found this recipe a few months ago, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made it since! I’ve sent it to all my family and friends, and we are all obsessed with it! I made a few modifications though, because I like chili spicy! I opted out of the beer, and added two cans of hot rotel and four tablespoons of chili powder. It’s pretty darn amazing. I even shared the recipe with a lady in the grocery store when she asked what I was making!! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes! <3
Jessica, I am so happy to hear this!!! Thank you for trying the recipe and for sharing it with friends and family. That means so, so much to me, and I’m glad you have the chili at your perfect spice level too :)
THIS IS SO YUMMY. I AM EATING IT RIGHT NOW. Super chunky like I like chili and lots of flavor!
Finals start tomorrow so I wanted to make something delicious, hearty, and relatively healthy that I could eat all week and this is going to be perfect!!!
My slow cooker was not big enough, so I cooked it in a big pot on the stove. I followed the advice from a different comment and got it to boil before putting it on super low for 45 minutes covered.
I didn’t have chipotle chili so I just used double the chili powder (and a little extra of all the spices). I also almost half a bulb of chopped garlic in with the onions and turkey.
Didn’t have any beer (it’s sunday) so I used 2 extra cups of chicken stock.
Also I just used maybe one cup of left over squash and no sweet potato, but I did add a whole red pepper.
Also I added some frozen corn to my individual bowl. (It thaws almost instantly)
Anyways Its fantastic and I look forward to having it probably every night this week!
Rosie, I am so excited that you loved this recipe! Thanks for trying it and for sharing your tweaks too. It’s so helpful for others, and for me as well.
I love this chili recipe. I’ve used it so many times for family and friends. You should totally enter this chili contest! I think you have a good chance at winning (because I don’t want to steal your credit)!
http://bushbeans.thedailymeal.com/
Molly, I am so excited to hear this! Thanks so much for letting me know how it turned out and for the vote of confidence too :)
This chili recipe is so yummy! Do you know calories per serving?
Jamie, I’m so happy to hear you like this recipe! I don’t have the calories calculated, but you can actually plug the recipe link into myfitnesspal.com to calc nutritional info for free. I am adding nutritional info to NEW recipes though, so that is something you can expect going forward—unfortunately, I just don’t have enough time to update all of my prior recipes. Thanks for understanding!
I loved this!! Made it tonight for the husband and I. He wants it again next week! I did not make it in a crockpot, I just made it on the stove and it was done in about 30 minutes. I did cook the quinoa beforehand. Yummy! Thanks.
Lissette, I am so happy to hear this!! Thanks for sharing the stovetop-tip too—it’s so helpful for others. Thanks for trying the recipe and letting me know how it turned out!
My husband’s work is having a chili contest for an extra vacation day and I would love to make this chili! Do you think if it was left in a crockpot at his work most of the day it would over cook the sweet potatoes and make them mushy? Sounds SO amazing just worried about it turning into mashed sweet potatoes.
Hi Courtney! Does your slow cooker have a “keep warm” option? I think that will keep the chili from overcooking once it’s done. Or, your husband could maybe bring it to work uncooked, then cook it at his desk? I’d love to hear how it turns out!
I thought after making this about six times I should comment on this post. This recipe is amazing. It’s my absolute favorite chili, favorite crock pot recipe, and favorite unusual use of sweet potatoes. This will be a staple in my cookbook for a long time. As many times as I’ve made this I’ve only made tweaks out of necessity. It’s perfect made exactly as you’ve posted. Thank you for this recipe!
Hi Erin! We made this during the week this past week and it was amazing! I’ve actually been making a lot of your recipes lately – when I go to meal plan, your blog is one of the first websites I pull up to explore when making my list :)
Thanks for being you – love your blog and recipes!!
Becky
Becky, I can’t stop smiling since reading this comment! I’m so happy to know that my blog is a good resource for you. Thanks so much for trying my recipes and for letting me know how this chili turned out for you. It makes my day. Thank YOU for being a reader!
Hi making this right now. I did not read all 55 comments but do you have nutritional info on this. Counting calories. : ) Thanks.
Hi Denise! Regarding nutritional info, this is something that I’ve actually started adding to all of my new recipes, effective January 2016 (you’ll see it in the recipe box at the bottom). Unfortunately, it’s pretty time consuming, so I’m unable to go back and add it to past recipes. If you’d like the nutritional info for any of my older recipes (or really any other recipe or food), you can actually calculate it yourself for free at myfitnesspal.com (this is how I calculate the new recipes on my blog). I’m sorry I can’t give you the information for this exact recipe, but I hope that My Fitness Pal will be a helpful resource for you.
First thanks for replying. I did just that. I entered ingredients into fitness pal and found it to be under 400 cal. Which is what I was hoping. The chili was delicious.!!! Thanks again.
I’m so glad to hear that Denise! Thanks for reporting back :)
According to MyFitnessPal, the chili nutritional info is as follows:
Calories per serving: 329
Carbs : 45
Fat: 8
Protein: 21
Sodium: 500
sugar: 8
I put it in as 8 servings for the whole thing instead of 6 because it sure does make a big ole’ pot!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for posting this info Jillian! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the chili.
What size is a serving?
Loved this chili! Always a relief when a pinterest recipe turns out this delicious!
I did make a few changes, as I found the original recipe to be a bit acidic for my taste:
– I added a little dash of nutmeg and about a tablespoon of brown sugar (splenda)
Yum!
Erica, I’m so so happy to hear this! Thanks for trying the recipe and stopping back by to leave your review.
Made this a couple days ago and used a local brewery’s (Saranac) S’more beer and added jalapenos and a bell pepper. Came out great. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so happy to hear that Mike. Thank you!!
Hi there! I’m excited to try this recepe tonight! Is there a substitute for the chicken stock?
Thanks so much!
Hi Haley! You could use water, but it will lack a bit in flavor and seasoning. Chicken stock is the best option, but if you sub water, you can taste the chili at the end and add extra salt/spices to taste.
So it’s August and I made this anyway! Not too early for chili. Second time I’ve made this recipe. Thank you!
NEVER too early for chili. Thanks Elizabeth!!! So happy you love this recipe.
This was a great recipe! I made it as you stated, and subbed more chicken broth instead of the beer. Also…in case anyone else has the same issue…my sweet potatoes (which were a pretty small dice) didn’t cook all the way through on low after 5 1/2 hours. I’m using one of the Fagor Multi-Cookers. I was told that I probably should have cooked it on high for an hour and then finished it off on low for another 5 hours. So if anyone else runs into the same issue, that might help.
Sheree, I am so excited to hear that you enjoyed this chili! Thanks for passing long the cooking tip too.
Can you freeze leftovers?
Yes Sarah! The leftovers freeze beautifully for 2-3 months.
For how many hours is this cooked? Low or high temp?
Hi Lynn! I specified options for both in the recipe directions. Let me know if you still have questions once you have a chance to read them through. I hope you love the recipe!
I thought this was way better without the beer,(and don’t get me wrong I love beer) it lost it’s slight sweetness and became more bitter. Loved everything else about it especially the quinoa .
Mandi, I’m happy to hear you liked this recipe overall, and you can definitely swap chicken stock next time. Thanks for sharing!
What a yummy chili! And your pumpkin carving party sounds perfect! What a fun idea, I might have to steal that!
It was SO fun Shelby! I definitely recommend it :)
Hi Erin! I have some whole wheat pearl couscous in my pantry – do you think those could be used in place of the quinoa?
Hi Annie! Since couscous and quinoa have different cooking times, I wouldn’t recommend this swap, as the couscous cooks more quickly. You could compare the cooking times of the two, and then add the couscous later on in the cooking time so that it doesn’t get too mushy. Use your best judgement, and if you decide to experiment, I’d love to hear how it comes out!
I have not had good luck with making chili, partly because I tend to get tired of the flavor very easily. What I like about this one is a) the use of chipotle, and b) the use of non-traditional ingredients like turkey, sweet potatoes and quinoa. Since I live on the border with Mexico – in Texas – I have certain expectations for chili, so that it is traditional. I think that instead of the usual American chili powder mix, I’d probably put in pure ancho chile powder, just to simplify the flavor a bit (and reduce the amount of cumin)
I love that it is a little different too Susan. I hope this hits the spot for you!
Don’t usually use my slow cooker but this is very inspiring (:
turkey chili is one of my favorite cold-weather go-to’s, but can you believe I’ve never made it in a crockpot?! that’s clearly changing asap ;) xo
I hope you love it that way Christine! It makes things so easy :)
Loved this chili. We all liked how filling it was but oh so light. Wished that I had chipotle chili spice. Next time.
Lynn, I am so excited to hear this! I bet you’ll love it with the chipotle even more too :)
awsome!
sigh … keyboard failure. try again: awesome :)
only had half a cup of quinoa so added 1/2 up of red lentils as well. Very good
Hi Sophia, good idea to add red lentils! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I bought the ingredients and will be making this tomorrow for our New Year’s Eve round robin; I can’t wait! If it will let me edit my comment, I will add a rating to this comment after I make it. :) I have a quick question first, though… Do you think a double batch would fit in an 8 qt slow cooker? Thanks in advance!
Hi Cheryl! Yes, I think it will fit! If it starts to look too full, you can reduce the amount of liquid, then add a bit more to thin it after people start serving themselves. Doubling might alter the cooking time though, so keep an eye on it (and maybe build in a little extra time for a buffer, as it might take longer). I hope you love it!
This looks so good! I just got an Instant Pot. Could this be done in that instead of the slow cooker? Wondering how to convert cooking times though. Any ideas? Thanks!
Hi Lisa! I have heard so much about Insta pots, but to be honest with you, I’ve never used one, so I don’t feel comfortable giving advice on converting the recipe. I would see if you can find some guidelines online or in the appliance’s manual about converting slow cooker recipes for the Insta pot and take it from there. I’m sorry I can’t be more help! If you do decide to experiment with the Insta Pot, I would love to hear how it turns out!
Hi, I made your recipe this afternoon. I don’t have a slow cooker so I used a large stock pot on the stove. After step one I just added everything to the pot, brought it up to simmer, then tuned it to low and put a lid on it for about an hour and twenty minutes and the potatoes were nicely cooked. I added corn too. Topped with avocado & a little goat cheese. It was delicious! Thanks.
Elaine, I am so happy that you loved this! Thanks so much for sharing the tip about the stovetop. That will be incredibly helpful to others. I also really appreciate your taking time to leave this wonderful review. Thanks!
what about adding canned pumpkin? How do you suggest adding that? I would love to add pumpkin to the mix :-) Just not sure what amount and wondering if it would need additional chicken stock. I will be using the slow cooker. This looks amazing !!
Hi Tracy! To be honest, I probably wouldn’t add canned pumpkin to this. You could definitely experiment, but the recipe is designed for chopped vegetables, versus something puréed, like canned pumpkin. If you want pumpkin, you could try using diced fresh pumpkin in place of the sweet potatoes. If do decide to play around with the canned pumpkin route, I would reduce the amount of chicken stock as you said by a cup or so. You definitely will need to play around with the spices too. Canned pumpkin actually doesn’t have much flavor on its own, so would need to add some additional things to make up for that. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
I have done canned pumpkin in chili before and found it delicious!
Thanks for chiming in!
We love this recipe! I’m wondering if anyone has meal-prepped with it? Freeze the ingredients to dump into the slow cooker at a later date?? Wondering how or if that would work. Thank you!
Hi Anne! I’m glad this recipe has become a favorite. I’ve never tried this route, but all of the ingredients are fairly freezer friendly, so I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. I’d suggest browning the meat, onions, and spices first, then freezing those in one container. The sweet potatoes can be chopped and frozen in a separate container. From there, I’d thaw in the ingredients in the fridge overnight, then make the recipe as directed. If you try it this way, I’d love to hear how it comes out!
Thanks Erin!
This was so yummy! The whole family loved it, I even had to print out a copy of the recipe for my Mom :)
<3 THANK YOU Carey Joe. This means so much!
I was craving chili over the weekend so I made this last night. So happy with how it turned out – flavorful, warm and definitely easy!! The portions are generous and filling, plus healthy :) Thanks so much for sharing, I’ll definitely be making this again!
I am SOOOO happy to hear that Natalie. Thank you!
I am planning on making the quinoa chili with sweet potatoes. We grilled a turkey yesterday and plan on using the leftovers for the chili. Since it is already cooked so I need to cook it in the skillet and if not should I just add the ingredients from that step into the slow cooker? Thanks and can’t wait to try this recipes!
Cheers!
Jackie
I hope you love the chili Jackie! I would still go ahead and sauté the vegetables, because that really helps develop their flavor. Your turkey that’s already cooked you can just add at the very end and warm through.
I’m excited to try this! Do you think the extra would freeze well?
Hi Kristin! Absolutely, any leftovers will freeze well for up to three months.
Made this last night and it was so good! The toppings take it to the next level! Thanks so much!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Vanisha! Thanks for trying the recipe and letting me know how it went!
This was very tasty! I added extra chicken stock instead of the beer.
I’m excited to hear you enjoyed the chili, Jessi! Thanks for sharing your feedback and leaving this awesome review.
Hey I tried this recipe twice and it was incredible. Both times my sweet potatoes came out a bit hard. Is this because I’m chopping the pieces too big?
Anthony, I’m so happy you love this recipe! Chopping the sweet potatoes smaller will definitely do the trick.
This was better the next day. Very filling. I feel that it needed more broth. Not a bad combination.
Jennifer, thanks for sharing your feedback! I’m glad you thought this was even better the next day!
The turkey sweet potato chili with quinoa is delicious! I found the recipe perfect though it did take a little bit longer to soften the potatoes than the recipe called for. I turned the slow cooker on high for the last 2 hours and that seemed to do the trick. I love the ease of (basically) one pot to cook it all! Yum!!!
Rebecca, I’m happy to hear this recipe was a winner for you! Thanks so much for taking the time to share this review!
Just wondering- do you cook the quinoa before adding it to the crock pot? Thanks!
Hi Kayla, the quinoa goes in uncooked!
Hi Valerie, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy the chili. Many other readers have tried it and enjoyed it, but everyone has different tastes. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not have it come out, so I truly wish you would have loved this!
I have made this before and it is so delicious! I have it simmering away on the stove top right now and my house smells amazing! I added 1/2 tablespoon of smoked paprika because I’m obsessed with it right now! Thanks for all of your hard work!
Allison, I’m so glad you enjoyed the chili! Thanks for taking the time to leave this awesome review!
I made this recipe yesterday and I LOVE it!! I didn’t use the beer, just an extra cup of broth. I love how sweet and thick it turned out! A few things did end up being different, we had a costco pack of ground turkey which is closer to 1.75 lb and instead of using all the seasonings, I made the turkey meat in the pan with taco seasoning as I usually would for tacos and just put all of it in the crock pot. It’s the perfect blend of spice and sweet!!
YAY!!! I am so happy to hear this Jessica. Thank you for trying the recipe and taking time to leave this glowing review!
I’ve made this a few times and have loved it!
My BF doesn’t do ground meat though, so I wanted to see if anyone has tried shredded chicken in this? Or pieces of turkey?
Hi Mary Kate, I think it would work to stir in cooked shredded chicken or turkey toward the end of the cooking time so it warms through with the rest of the chili. I’m glad to hear you enjoy the recipe!
I just found this recipe, and it was hearty and tasty! The beer I used was a Sam Adams Cream Stout, and it turned out nearly perfect. I only made a couple of small tweaks. I added a little extra salt and something to spice it up (for me it was a bit of habanero powder). I will definitely be keeping this in my arsenal ?
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your tweaks, Jamie! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the chili!
Has anyone tried this in the InstantPot yet? I love the crock pot recipe and make it all the time … just curious about InstantPot conversions.
Thanks!
Hi Anne, I haven’t tried doing this recipe in the Instant Pot myself, so I don’t have any specific guidelines on conversions with this one yet. (I do have a similar Instant Pot chili recipe that may also hit the spot! Check it out here, if you’re interested: https://www.wellplated.com/instant-pot-chili)
I made this for my family on Superbowl Sunday with some honey cornbread. It was DELICIOUS CHILI. We heated it up for leftovers a few days later and it was even better!! The sweet potato was such an amazing addition. I followed this to the T except for the onion – my man hates onion so instead I diced two red bell peppers and two jalapenos.
HOORAY Liz, I’m so glad this chili was enjoyed by everyone! Thank you so much for taking the time to share this review and your tweaks.
This chili is delicious!! I just looked it up to make it again!
Whooo hoooo! I am so so glad to hear that Colleen, thank you!
If i wanted to make this vegetarian, would I just substitute the turkey with more beans and the chicken stock with vegetable stock?
Hi Sarah, Both of those swaps sound perfect! I hope you love the recipe!
I love this recipe, so delicious! I’ve made it several times for friends, each time I have to pass the recipe along. Thank you!
HOORAY! I’m so glad to hear the recipe is a winner, CareyJo. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this awesome review!
I love this chili and make it for all my post partum friends!
But…wondering if it can be made in instant pot so I can double recipe maybe. ?
Robin, I’ve never done this specific recipe in the Instant Pot BUT I do have a few other Instant Pot chilis that are great too! You might especially like this one: https://www.wellplated.com/instant-pot-chili/. You can always swap these spices for the ones in the turkey quinoa chili. Thanks for sharing this review and I’m so glad you all enjoy it!
Had to adjust this to fit into a much smaller slow cooker. We also omitted the beer because we forgot to buy it. It was absolutely delicious. I don’t like sweet potatoes, but I loved this.
Sally, YAY! I’m so happy to hear this, thank you!
Hi! I’m really happy to see you’res still answering questions about this recipe, after all these years!!! I read them all and have a question I didn’t see asked: must we brown the turkey (i’ll prob use ground chicken bc it’s what i have on hand)? Since it will be in the pot for so long, won’t it just cook itself?
Sorry if this is something that’s common knowledge. I’ve only used a slow cooker like 5 times in my life, haha :)
Hi Natalie, good question! I like to brown it first for flavor and think that extra step is worth it, but you’re correct that it will cook only in the crock pot as well. I hope you love the chili!
This recipe is amazing! I was a little late getting around to making it this morning, so while I was throwing everything else in the crockpot on high, I heated up my oven to 425 degrees and tossed my diced up sweet potatoes in a roasting pan (with a little olive oil and salt) for 15 mins to try to get them softened before throwing them in the crockpot. Not only did it work out well, but I think it actually enhanced the sweet potato flavor a little more!
Deb, thanks for sharing your tweak! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it. :)
Hey Erin! Trying this for the first time, it’s in the crockpot right now 😍 just wondering, this may be a dumb question, but I have a toddler and I’m also expecting, but I did add the beer, thinking most of the alcohol would cook off in the cooking process? Or am I wrong about that? I don’t want to feed my toddler alcohol 😂
Hi Rachelle! From what I’ve read online, I don’t think 100% of the alcohol cooks out. I’d suggest doing some of your own research, then judge based your own comfort level. I’m afraid I can’t tell you what do to here, because it’s really up to you how much you want to weigh the amount in each serving (12 ounces divided amongst the whole crockpot prior to cooking off) vs. what you are comfortable serving. I hope that helps!
Hi Erin, your recipe looks great. I’m new to slow cookers. I see that you provided a cooking time option for cooking on high as well as on Low. Do you have a preference as far as flavor and texture?
Thanks:)
Hi Linda, that depends on the recipe! For soups, quick-cooking meat, and chilis like this one, I don’t think it matters too much as long as you don’t overcook the meat, so you can pick whichever one works better with your schedule. For tougher cuts like pork shoulder and/or ribs, I do choose to use low. I hope that helps!
How are you composing nutrition facts on this recipe? Was trying to compute according to macronutrients but my app comes up with completely different numbers than what is posted. Any help is much appreciated!
Hi Vic! I use MyFitnessPal. The numbers are just estimates, and the nutrition info on the products that MyFitnessPal pulls can sometimes vary quite a lot. I do my best to check the products for inaccuracies when I make the calculations, but the most accurate estimate will be one you do yourself using your specific products. I hope that helps!
This was easy to make and the family loved it.
Hooray! I’m glad it was a success, Scott.
Hands down, one of the best chilis I have made. For the chili lovers in my house, we love it. I have substituted the Turkey with ground chicken and it works out nicely as well. I do not add beer just substitute more stock or with water.
I’m so glad to hear it, Kelly! Thanks for taking the time to leave this review!