Save A hearty comforting dish featuring tender baked sweet potatoes filled with zesty flavorful chili. Perfect for a wholesome weeknight meal or casual entertaining.
I first tried stuffing baked sweet potatoes with chili on a chilly evening and it was such a hit with my family. Each spoonful was a warming blend of soft sweet potato and spicy chili making it a frequent request for cozy nights.
Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes: 4 medium sweet potatoes scrubbed
- Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
- Onion: 1 small diced
- Garlic cloves: 2 minced
- Bell pepper: 1 diced any color
- Ground beef or turkey: 1 pound or 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans for vegetarian
- Diced tomatoes: 1 can (15 oz)
- Kidney beans: 1 can (15 oz) drained and rinsed
- Tomato paste: 2 tablespoons
- Chili powder: 1 tablespoon
- Ground cumin: 1 teaspoon
- Smoked paprika: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: ½ teaspoon
- Black pepper: ¼ teaspoon
- Cayenne pepper: ¼ teaspoon optional for heat
- Toppings (Optional): Shredded cheddar cheese sour cream or Greek yogurt sliced green onions chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Prep and bake sweet potatoes:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pierce each sweet potato several times with a fork. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 50-60 minutes or until tender when pierced with a knife.
- Prepare chili filling:
- While sweet potatoes bake heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and sauté 4-5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic:
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Cook protein or beans:
- Add ground beef (or beans for vegetarian) breaking up meat and cooking until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Simmer chili:
- Stir in diced tomatoes kidney beans tomato paste chili powder cumin smoked paprika salt pepper and cayenne if using. Simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes stirring occasionally until thickened and flavors meld.
- Prepare sweet potatoes:
- When potatoes are tender let cool slightly. Slice each potato lengthwise gently push open and fluff flesh with a fork.
- Stuff and serve:
- Spoon a generous amount of chili into each potato. Top with cheese sour cream green onions and cilantro as desired. Serve hot.
Save Our family loves gathering for this meal because everyone gets to top their potato just how they like. There's always laughter as we debate which toppings make the perfect bite.
Required Tools
Baking sheet large skillet chef's knife cutting board spoon or fork
Allergen Information
Contains dairy if using cheese or sour cream gluten-free as written verify canned goods and toppings. Check canned beans and tomatoes for additives if sensitive.
Nutritional Information
Per serving with beef without cheese or sour cream: calories 410 total fat 11 g carbohydrates 54 g protein 22 g
Save This satisfying dish makes it easy to enjoy a hearty and nutritious meal. Let everyone personalize their potato for a family-friendly dinner experience.
Recipe Guide
- → Can I make this dish vegetarian?
Yes, substitute ground meat with black beans to create a vegetarian version without losing flavor.
- → How do I bake sweet potatoes evenly?
Pierce sweet potatoes several times with a fork to allow steam to escape and bake at 400°F for 50-60 minutes until soft.
- → What spices are used in the chili filling?
The filling includes chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne for heat.
- → Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?
Yes, the chili can be made in advance and refrigerated. Reheat before stuffing the baked sweet potatoes.
- → Are there alternative cooking methods for sweet potatoes?
Microwaving sweet potatoes for 8-10 minutes is a quicker option to baking, though baking provides better texture.