This hearty, chunky, and savory Chorizo Sweet Potato Chili is just what you need when you’re craving warm comfort and a bit of spice on a cold evening! It’s Paleo and Whole30 friendly, incredible delicious, and ready to eat in 30 minutes! Topped with bacon and avocado for a tasty, satisfying, healthy meal everyone will love.
Did you survive Black Friday? Are you hungry? You left some room after the 4 pies right? Have some chili!
Did you know I didn’t even like chili until after I started eating Paleo? I was honestly never a big fan of beans. I tried so hard, because I figured they were healthy, but between just not liking the taste and then suffering the after effects, I’m more than happy to leave them behind!
Plus, nowadays it’s very legal to put delicious things like bacon and Chorizo in chili, and that makes me very, very happy. In fact, this chili is basically just all my favorite things combined into one flipping insanely delicious pot. I promise you that if you’re a fan of meat and flavor, you will like it too.
Another addition to chili that absolutely always needs to happen now, is sweet potatoes. I am a firm believer in the magic that happens when sweet potatoes and tomatoes are married – whether it’s with marinara sauce or in chili – this is a combination I seriously cannot get enough of! I won’t even get into the bacon, it’s just too much deliciousness to think about all at once! But yes, bacon and avocado on top round out this chili to make it the most delicious one I’ve made – and the only one that’s ever made it to the blog.
Aside from the bacon, the best part about this Chorizo Sweet Potato Chili might just be the cook time – which is just about 30 minutes from start to finish. On any given day that is really the only cooking window I have, so, things need to get done quickly! Chopping the sweet potatoes and onions ahead of time helps a lot, and if you want to be extra prepared, you can even cook your bacon in advance. But, I’m never that prepared, and it was still done in 30 minutes, so fear not!
Let’s get cooking!
Chorizo Sweet Potato Chili {Paleo & Whole30}
Chorizo Sweet Potato Chili {Paleo & Whole30}
Ingredients
- 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes
- 2 tbsp cooking fat - ghee coconut oil, bacon fat, etc.
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 4-6 slices uncured bacon cooked and drained
- 1 lb ground chorizo sausage I bought mine at Whole Foods
- 1/2 medium onion diced (or one small)
- 14.5 oz can Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes
- 1/2 of a 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder*
- Pinch cayenne pepper*
- Green onion and avocado for garnish
Instructions
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Have your bacon cooked, drained, crumbled, and set aside
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In a large skillet or saucepan, add cooking fat and melt over medium heat.
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Add diced sweet potatoes and stir to coat in the fat, sprinkle with salt, then cover the pan and cook about 2 minutes. Uncover and stir again to brown evenly. Continue to cook 2-5 minutes until soft, adjusting the heat to avoid burning.
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Once sweet potatoes are soft, add the diced onions and cook about a minute, stirring.
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Next, add the chorizo to the pan, breaking up lumps and stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook and stir over medium heat until nicely browned.
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Once the sausage and sweet potato mixture is browned, add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and all the spices and stir to combine flavors.
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Continue to cook and stir over medium heat until the mixture begins to bubble, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
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Once ready to serve, add the bacon to the chili. Serve over your favorite greens and garnish individual servings with sliced green onion and avocado.
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Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*Both of these ingredients are optional, you can also add more if you'd like!
Nutrition
What does your perfect chili recipe involve?
Can you take the heat? Or are you more of a “mild” type? I definitely prefer flavor over heat!
SuzLyfe says
November 27, 2015 at 8:28 amGood grief, I want to bathe in this. Pass me the gluten free cornbread and lets dig in!!
Michele says
November 27, 2015 at 6:00 pmGF cornbread would be a nice addition 🙂
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
November 27, 2015 at 8:58 am30 minute chili? Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Michele says
November 27, 2015 at 6:01 pmBasically almost all my recipes take that amount of time, because that’s all I have!
The Cookie ChRUNicles says
November 27, 2015 at 9:30 amMy son would love this recipe! I love sweet potatoes in a chili recipe.
Michele says
November 27, 2015 at 6:02 pmThey’re perfect – especially since I don’t eat beans and I just need something else there besides meat.
Strength and Sunshine says
November 27, 2015 at 10:05 amI love the heat but my tummy and reflux isn’t such a fan so I usually tone it down, but sometimes I just need that heat!
My mom can’t handle even black pepper so when I do a lot of my cooking for her it has to be super mild but my brother and dad are total opposites!
Michele says
November 27, 2015 at 6:03 pmMy mom is the opposite and loves really spicy stuff – always looking for crushed red pepper to add to meals!
Margaret @ youngandrungry says
November 27, 2015 at 10:14 amThis looks so good! I’m not sure if you’ve ever tried a recipe from Melissa Joulwan’s Wedfed, but she has a paleo Chocolate Chili that is unbelievable! I’m all about trying new chilis because who knew there was so much to do with such a specific dish? But even with the chocolate chili, I always always add a root vegetable!
Michele says
November 27, 2015 at 6:05 pmI actually have her book but never tried that recipe! I actually have many of her recipes I want to try but haven’t. I love adding sweet potatoes too, I need something other than just meat.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
November 27, 2015 at 11:39 amI’m the biggest wimp when it comes to hot foods — sometimes even mild salsa can be too much for me 😆 But I do love a good chili, and even more when it has sweet potatoes in it. Swoontastic.
Michele says
November 27, 2015 at 6:06 pmIf I’m feeling adventurous I can go medium, but mild is more “comfy” for my mouth!
Happy Fit Mama (@happyfitmama) says
November 29, 2015 at 11:52 amI like things super spicy! And yes, I think bacon and sweet potatoes in chili is perfectly legal. 🙂
Michele says
November 29, 2015 at 8:06 pmSeems to make any meal better!
cottercrunch says
November 29, 2015 at 3:54 pmcan we have a chili party? i need yours next. cause you know i love chorizo!!!!
Michele says
November 29, 2015 at 8:09 pmChili party sounds way too much fun!
Sheena @ Paws and Pavement says
November 29, 2015 at 6:28 pmI love sweet potatoes! Thanks for sharing!
Michele says
November 29, 2015 at 8:09 pmI have a feeling you’d love this 🙂
Jenna says
February 23, 2016 at 7:37 pmI made this tonight and it was excellent! I look forward to trying more of your recipes! 🙂
Michele says
February 24, 2016 at 10:04 pmThat’s awesome, so glad you liked it!
Carol Ward says
September 25, 2016 at 3:49 pmHave you tried doing this in a crock pot?
Michele says
September 26, 2016 at 7:05 amNo I haven’t – I’m not sure what the time would be on it but I’d be interested to find out! Let me know if you try it 🙂
Summer says
October 4, 2016 at 11:38 amDo you happen to have nutrition information for this recipe?
Michele says
October 4, 2016 at 5:16 pmNope sorry I don’t – I’ll likely start doing that for future recipes but as of right now an online calculator might help.
Jennifer says
October 12, 2016 at 8:27 pmOmg this was SO good. I loaded the ingredient list into MyFitnessPal and it came back as 563 calories, 22 grams protein, 39 grams fat, 30 grams carbs per serving (based on 4 servings total for recipe).
Michele says
October 13, 2016 at 10:20 amAwesome! Glad you liked it!
Kirsten M Dickerson says
August 8, 2017 at 10:56 pmDay 23 of Whole 30. Thanks for the recipe – loved the avocado as the cooling bit instead of sour cream! (:
Amanda says
August 16, 2017 at 2:06 pmStop it right now, this was AH-MAZING!! It was so delicious that even if the cook time was hours instead of minutes, I would make it over and over again. Chorizo is a favorite in our house (as is chili, for that matter). I could literally just cook it and eat it….on its own. So imagine my delight to find a chili recipe for it! This will forever be a go-to from now on, ma’am. Thank you!!
Bug says
January 25, 2018 at 3:04 pmChorizo? I thought pimento was non paleo?
Chillies? I thought the nightshade family was non paleo
Sweet potato? Non paleo as well right?
At least in all the books I’ve read…. maybe I’m wrong?
Michele says
January 26, 2018 at 5:26 pmNightshades are Paleo unless you’re doing autoimmune paleo 🙂
Pamela Godbey says
July 8, 2018 at 9:23 pmThis was an instant hit! Easy, tasty, a fast favorite we come back to time and time again. LOVE the leftovers for lunch at work.
Lyndsey says
October 15, 2018 at 10:24 amThis recipe was so delicious and so easy to make!! Although the flavor was out of control yummy, it didn’t leave us feeling heavy or sluggish like other chilis do. So happy to have found your blog that has reasonable recipes without crazy ingredients and it’s still Paleo. Thank you! Next up, we’re trying your BBQ slow cooker chicken 🙂
Kris Lucey says
January 22, 2019 at 9:28 pmThis is amazing! My husband loves it ❤
Laura says
January 28, 2019 at 10:41 amDo you have the nutrition facts for this recipe?
Beautiful says
February 20, 2019 at 9:03 pmIf I could, I’d give it 10 stars! I hardly ever leave comments, but this was soooo good. It was quick, easy, and tasty. I already made a second batch! I’m even thinking of a version with shrimp & scallops and a curry (I love curry) chicken one.
Pam says
March 2, 2019 at 12:06 pmLove this chili! One of my favorite paleo recipes!
candi says
April 13, 2019 at 6:33 pmbest chili it was delicious