Sweet potato does two jobs here: some of it breaks down into the sauce and thickens it, the rest stays in cubes you can see and bite into. No meat, no roux, just a pot of beans and chili spice that gets better the longer it sits on the stove.

One-Pot Sweet Potato and Kidney Bean Chili

Scale

Method

Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens.
6 min
Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika and oregano. Cook, stirring constantly, until the paste darkens and the spices smell toasty — keep the heat under the garlic or it turns bitter.
2 min
Add the sweet potato, diced tomatoes with their juice, kidney beans, broth and salt. Stir well and bring to a boil.
5 min
Reduce the heat to low, partially cover, and simmer until the sweet potato is tender when pierced with a knife, stirring once or twice so the bottom doesn't catch.
20 min
Uncover and simmer until the chili thickens enough to cling to the spoon rather than pool around it. Taste and add more salt if it needs it.
5 min
Ladle into bowls and top with avocado, a spoonful of sour cream, cilantro and a squeeze of lime.

Substitutions

Kidney beans — Black beans or pinto beans work the same way — drain and rinse either before adding.
Sweet potato — Butternut squash, cut to the same size cubes, cooks in about the same time.
Vegetable broth — Chicken broth if it doesn't need to stay vegetarian; use the same amount.

Storing leftovers

Keeps five days in the fridge in a sealed container — the sweet potato holds its shape better here than it would in a soup. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of broth or water, since it thickens further as it sits. Freezes well for up to three months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Questions

Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?

Yes — use about 3 cups of chopped ripe tomatoes, and add a little extra broth since canned tomatoes bring more liquid with them.

Is this spicy?

As written it's mild; chili powder blends vary but none of this recipe's heat is aggressive. Add a diced jalapeño with the onion, or a pinch of cayenne with the other spices, for more kick.

Can I make this without beans?

Swap in an extra sweet potato and a cup of corn kernels in place of the beans, added at the same step, and simmer the same way.

Why did my chili turn out watery?

Simmer it uncovered a little longer — the sauce needs that time with the lid off to reduce. Canned tomato brands vary in how much liquid they carry.