Sweet Potato & Quinoa Chili
This Sweet Potato & Quinoa Chili recipe with kidney & black beans is hearty and full of flavor, and makes a great vegan lunch, dinner, or meal prep idea! Includes stovetop and slow cooker options.
Meals that can easily fit into your meal rotation are what I really love to share. As we can get a bit bored with the usual meals, it’s nice to have more easy options that come together in a cinch.
Why We Love This Recipe!
- It’s quick and easy. There are no complicated ingredients, everything is probably in your kitchen right now, or can be found right away at your favorite grocery store. And it’s all made in one pot for easy cooking and cleanup!
- It’s healthy and nutritious. This thick and hearty sweet potato & quinoa chili has plenty of protein, essential fiber, vitamins, and minerals while being flavorful and satisfying. Plus, it’s gluten-free, well-balanced, low fat, and includes an option to be oil-free!
I love finding these simple dishes that truly work and can be made over and over again. I know you’re going to love this chili and find yourself making it often during the chili weather season!
Easy and delicious, bring on the chili!
What Goes Into Quinoa Chili?
Here is everything you’ll need, plus ideas for ingredient substitutions (measurements are in the recipe card below):
- The Beans. We’ll be using protein-rich black beans and kidney beans. Feel free to use your favorite in any combo you like. Pinto beans would be great here too!
- Sweet Potato. One large sweet potato is all you need. I peeled mine, but you can leave the skin on for even more fiber (just be sure to scrub the sweet potato beforehand.
- Quinoa. Use your favorite colored quinoa, mine happens to be tri-color.
- Tomato. I’ve used a canned of diced tomatoes, with juices, for ease, but you can use 2 – 3 fresh roma tomatoes if you prefer.
- Tomato Paste. Tomato paste adds a wonderful umami flavor and helps thicken the chili nicely.
- Onion. Any color will do, use your favorite.
- Garlic. If you don’t have fresh garlic on hand, add an extra 1 – 2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
- Spices. You’ll find a tasty mix of chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Plus, I usually add a dash or two of garlic and onion powder for good measure.
- Garnish. This sweet potato & quinoa chili is great with diced avocado, cilantro, and homemade vegan cornbread. If you like heat, a few slices of jalapeno are perfect!
How To Make Sweet Potato & Quinoa Chili
This Sweet Potato & Quinoa Chili is so easy to make on the stovetop and will be ready in under 1 hour!
- Stovetop: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook until soft and edges browned, about 5 – 6 minutes. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic & onion powder, quinoa, beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sweet potato, and broth/water, and stir until combined. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover slightly ajar, and cook for 30 – 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Chili is ready when sweet potatoes are tender. Add additional water as needed.
Here is also a method for using a crock-pot, because sometimes you just want to set it and forget it!
- Slow-Cooker: Add all the onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, beans, sweet potatoes, quinoa, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion & garlic powder, and broth/water to the bottom of the crockpot insert, stir until combined. Turn on high and cook for 4 – 6 hours, or turn on low and cook for 6 – 8 hours.
It’s a one-pot meal that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or make-ahead meal planning!
Eating vegan meals every day that are healthy and tasty is really easy once you get the hang of it!
How Long Will Leftovers Keep?
Leftovers can be stored for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, in a covered container. Rewarm on the stovetop or the microwave. This recipe makes great meal prep for the week with vegan cornbread on the side.
Can You Freeze Quinoa Chili?
Yes, it freezes wonderfully for up to 2 – 3 months! To freeze sweet potato quinoa chili, simply store individual portions using freezer-safe containers. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags or containers. Let thaw before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
- Top with diced avocado and fresh chopped cilantro
- Top with a dollop of Vegan Cashew Sour Cream
- Add a sprinkle of vegan shredded cheese and/or green onions
- Serve with homemade Vegan Cornbread or Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins
- Try topping it on a baked sweet potato!
More Vegan Chili Recipes!
- Quinoa Chili Verde
- Easy Vegetable Chili
- The Ultimate Tempeh Chili
- Vegan Three Bean Chili
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
- See all vegan chili recipes on TSV!
If you try this easy chili recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintSweet Potato & Quinoa Chili
Full of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, this easy Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili is thick, hearty, and always a good thing!
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4 – 6 1x
- Category: Entree, Chili
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup water (for water saute)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 5 – 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- a few dashes of garlic powder
- a few dashes of onion powder
- himalayan salt, to taste
- 1 cup dried quinoa
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) fire roasted diced tomatoes (with juices) or 1 1/2 cups diced fresh tomatoes
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 1 large sweet potato (about 1 lb.), diced (with or without skin)
- 5 – 6 cups water or vegetable broth (or combo)
Optional garnish for serving
- diced avocado
- cilantro
- diced onion and/or jalapeno
Instructions
Stovetop: In large pot or dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, cook until soft and edges browned, about 5 – 6 minutes. Add garlic, cook 1 minute more. Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic & onion powder, quinoa, beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sweet potato, and broth/water, stir until combined. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover slightly ajar and cook for 30 – 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Chili is ready when sweet potatoes are tender. Add additional water if chili is too thick for your liking.
Slow-Cooker: Add all the onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, beans, sweet potatoes, quinoa, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion & garlic powder and broth/water to the bottom of the crockpot insert, stir until combined. Turn on high and cook for 4 – 6 hours, or turn on low and cook for 6 – 8 hours.
Serve with optional garnishes. You may also like to top it with this easy Cilantro Lime Cashew ‘Sour Cream’. On the side, try this Vegan Cornbread or Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins are delicious!
Serves 4 generously.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 – 6 days. To keep longer, store in the freezer, in freezer safe containers, for up to 2 – 3 months.
Notes
As with all recipes, adjust seasoning to taste. Add a 1/2 teaspoon or so chipotle powder for some added heat.
Use your favorite beans, in any combination.
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I’ve got a ticket to Himalaya to get some Himalayam Salt. In the meantime, can I use Morton’s?
Yes, lol… enjoy! :)
This recipe was soooo delicious! I added smoked paprika and used 2 cans of fire roasted tomatoes. Served with Louisiana Hot Sauce. Definitely will make this again and again!
This quinoa chili turned out excellent and so easy to make! My husband thought it was a little sweet and added Tabasco sauce.
I have made this twice and it’s great. I question the nutrition information. This makes a large amount so I question that it makes only 4 servings. There is no notation on how much for each serving.
Thanks!
Thanks for bringing that up! This recipe feeds 4 generously or 6 conservatively. I tend to eat at least a 1/4 of the chili in 1 servings. I feel most people are the same, or I just eat a lot. But if you find your portions are less per serving, you can guesstimate your numbers. Glad you like this recipe. It’s getting chilly here and time to make a batch for myself. :)
When I first became vegan 5+ years ago, after previously being of the opinion that vegetarians (let alone vegans) might as well have been aliens, your website was a godsend for me! I still refer back to it now and have made this recipe more than any other. It is so delicious, easy, inexpensive and great for leftovers/lunches for the week. Thank you for sharing! xx
I made this sweet potato/Quinoa!!!! I made it w/exact ants off the spices , I thought it was a little too spicy so I added a can of coconut milk to reduce the heat & it was perfect . I will always add the coconut milk at the end . Served it w/a dollop of yogurt garnished w/chopped cilantro ! Delish
This is my second time making it and it is delicious! New to the plant-base diet.
Easy to make and tasty. May decrease the spice next time as it was too hot for my mum!
This was delicious! I added 3 cups broth and 2 cups water. 1/2c red quinoa since it’s all I had along with plain canned diced tomatoes. I roasted the sweet potatoes and added those when serving. Also added some Penzeys Arizona Dreaming when serving.
This was an amazing recipe. I’m plant -based, but the rest of the family isn’t so I added different protein for them. Very impressed :)