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    Watch What U Eat > Mexican Recipes > Sweet Potato Lentil Chili

    Sweet Potato Lentil Chili

    Published: Apr 7, 2021 · Modified: Jun 7, 2022 by Watch What U Eat · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Recipe Print
    Sweet potato lentil chili prepared in a large pot and is ready to serve.
    collage image of lentil chili with sweet potato in a serving bowl and a dutch oven.

    This warm bowl of sweet potato lentil chili is a flavor burst and is loaded with all the goodness from fresh ingredients. Perfect comfort chili for whenever you crave one.

    Sweet potato lentil chili prepared in a large pot and is ready to serve.

    I guess I was unconsciously in the mood to eat lentils and sweet potatoes in different forms in the past few weeks. That is probably the reason I prepared sweet potato chickpea burger patties, Italian lentil salad, lentil brown rice, etc., along with this sweet potato chili to publish them here. And that’s how we started our new year, eating these protein-packed healthy meals.

    If you are looking for a super easy and quick recipe for a protein-rich meal, then you will love this wholesome chili.

    Let’s get started.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Cutting sweet potato
    • How to make Sweet Potato Lentil Chili
    • Serving suggestions
    • Helpful Tips!
    • FAQs
    • More Mexican flavors you will love
    • 📖 Recipe
    Sweet potato lentil chili in a serving soup bowl. Garnished with tortilla chips and lime wedges.

    Ingredients

    • Sweet potato – peel and dice it into cubes
    • Raw lentils – use whole lentils for more fibers
    • Bell pepper – add your choice of color or a blend of different colors
    • Beans – either cooked black beans or pinto beans will work
    • Onion – peel, and dice it finely
    • Tomato – I always prefer using freshly diced tomatoes. However, you can also use canned ones.
    • Garlic – finely chopped garlic to add flavor to the dish
    • Seasonings – use oregano, smoked paprika, ground cumin, chipotle chili in adobo sauce, and salt to bring out the flavor in the dish
    • Oil – I always use cooking olive oil or avocado oil in my kitchen.
    Collage image of fresh ingredients gathered for making lentil chili such as raw lentils, red pepper, tomato, spices, sweet potato, black beans.

    Cutting sweet potato

    Peel and then rinse the sweet potato before cutting it. Using a sharp knife, dice it into roughly ½″ cubes. The reason for keeping them a little bigger in size is to keep their shape intact after cooking the raw whole lentils. Dicing sweet potatoes smaller can make them overcook and blend/disappear in the final chili.

    How to make Sweet Potato Lentil Chili

    • Heat some oil in a large pot. Cook some chopped garlic and diced onion for a couple of mins.
    • Then add chopped tomato, diced sweet potato, red pepper, raw lentils, chipotle chili in adobo sauce, and the spice blend. Mix everything well and sauté the mixture for a few mins.
    • Now add black beans and a blend of water and chicken stock (or vegetable stock). Mix well, and bring the mixture to boil.
    • Cover and cook the chili on low heat until the lentils are nice and tender.
    • While serving, garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and serve warm.
    Sweet potato lentil chili prepared in a large pot and is ready to serve.

    Serving suggestions

    While serving, add toppings like fresh salsa, Mexican cheese blend, fresh cilantro, a lime wedge, etc. For a wholesome meal, serve this bowl of chili with some tortilla chips and fresh guacamole on the side.

    For the Mexican banquet, add this lentil chili to the menu and Mexican tomato rice, cilantro lime chicken, delicious corn on the cob, and pineapple mojito or raspberry mojito.

    Helpful Tips!

    • Preferably use whole lentils in making this chili. Split lentils may become mushier and disappear in the final dish after cooking.
    • Always peel the sweet potato before using it in the cooking if it is not organic. The concentration of pesticides is usually high in the fruits or veggies outer layers, and peeling the skin can reduce that amount.

    FAQs

    How to use leftover lentil chili?

    The next day you may find lentil chili will be thick and has lost its consistency. Therefore, before serving, add some veggie stock or water and heat the mixture in the microwave for 2-3 min or boil it on the cooktop to bring back its thick soup-like consistency.

    Sweet potato lentil chili in a serving soup bowl. Garnished with tortilla chips and lime wedges.

    More Mexican flavors you will love

    • One-Pot Mexican Chicken Rice
    • Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
    • Air Fryer Corn On The Cob
    • Mexican Chicken Avocado Salad

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments if you REALLY like this recipe. Thank You!

    📖 Recipe

    Sweet potato lentil chili prepared in a large pot and is ready to serve.
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Sweet Potato Lentil Chili

    Prepare this protein-rich lentil chili with sweet potato and black beans for a quick and easy meal. A nutritious and filling bowl of this comforting chili is perfect for busy nights.
    Course: Lunch / Dinner
    Cuisine: Mexican,Mexican Inspired
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings :4
    Calories :301kcal
    Author:Swati Kadam Gulati

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup raw lentils
    • 1 can of black/pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
    • 1 sweet potato peeled and diced
    • 1 bell pepper diced
    • 2-3 garlic cloves finely chopped
    • 1 onion diced
    • 2 tomatoes diced
    • 2 chipotle chilis in adobo sauce
    • 1 teaspoon oregano
    • 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
    • 5 cup vegetable or chicken stock (or water plus stock)
    • 1 teaspoon cooking oil

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a medium to large dutch oven or pot. Add chopped garlic, onion and saute them for a couple of mins.
    • Then add chopped tomatoes, sweet potato, diced red pepper, whole lentils, chipotle chili, and spices like oregano, smoked paprika, and cumin powder. Mix everything well and saute the mixture for 2-3 mins.
    • Add the black beans, all the liquid, mix well and bring the mixture to a boil.
    • Season well with salt, cover, and cook the mixture on low heat for 15-18 min or until the lentils are nice and tender.
    • Garnish the bowl of chili with some fresh cilantro, lime wedges, crushed tortilla chips and serve warm.

    Notes

    1. Do not overcook the lentils otherwise, it will turn the lentil chili into a mushy mixture.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 301kcal
    Tried this recipe?Tag us on Instagram @watchwhatueat or tag #watchwhatueat! OR leave us a comment & rating below. Your feedback is very important to us.
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    About Watch What U Eat

    We are Swati and Tushar, our passion for food and cooking has now led us to share some healthy, tasty recipes and the benefits of eating certain ingredients with the goal of inspiring you to eat well and live well.

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