This spicy and delicious sweet potato quinoa chili is hearty and easy to make. A filling and wholesome dish loaded with veggies, beans and lots of flavor. Perfect weeknight meal that can be made either in an Instant pot or on the stove top.
Chilly weather calls for hearty and comforting meals. Soups are my go-to for those days. But this chunky vegetarian chili with sweet potato and quinoa is a family favorite.
Sweet potatoes are very nutritious and versatile. My family loves sweet potato spelt parathas, empanadas and this delicious roasted salad.
Today's dish is a spicy and delicious chili using sweet potato, quinoa, beans and veggies. This is a one pot meal that is great can easily made on a weeknight.
I make this vegetarian chili in the instant pot to make it quicker and much easier. Alternately you can also make this recipe on the stove top. Recipe card includes instructions for both the methods.
For a delicious meal, serve with the toppings of your choice and enjoy this hearty sweet potato and quinoa chili.
Why I love this recipe
- one pot meal perfect for weeknights
- hearty, wholesome and filling
- packed with veggies and beans
- recipe is very versatile and is easily customized
- toppings make it extra special
- make ahead meal that is easy to freeze
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you need to make this vegetarian chili:
- sweet potatoes - any variety would work. I generally use orange skinned ones
- quinoa - any color or a combination of colors. I used a combo of white, red and black quinoa
- beans - use either black, pinto, kidney or a combination of these beans
- veggies - onion, any color peppers, garlic
- tomato puree - this can be subbed with store-bought or homemade salsa
- spices - chili powder, cumin powder, cayenne pepper and ground cinnamon, salt and pepper
- vegetable stock or water
Instructions
Instant Pot Method: Set Instant pot on 'Sauté' mode and add oil. Stir in onion, peppers, garlic and cook until the onion turns translucent and peppers are tender.
Next add sweet potatoes and cook for 2 minutes.
Sir in tomato puree, chili powder, ground cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Cook for 3~5 minutes. Add the drained beans and cook for 2~3 minutes.
Add drained quinoa, water, salt and pepper. Mix well. Close the lid and make sure that the valve is in 'Sealing' position. Switch the Instant Pot to 'Manual' or 'Pressure Cook' mode and set it for 4 minutes.
It will take about 10~12 minutes to come to pressure and then 4 minutes to cook. Once it is done, let the pressure release naturally. Serve hot with desired toppings.
Tips
- Sweet potatoes come in various colors like yellow, orange, red, brown, purple and beige. Even the color of the flesh differs from one variety to the other. Also note the ones with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist than those with red or orange flesh.
- Feel free to use any color sweet potato in this chili recipe.
- Use any variety of beans you have in the pantry. Black, pinto, red kidney etc. would all work.
- Add other veggies like zucchini, poblano, carrot etc.
- Substitute some or all of the tomato puree with store bought or homemade salsa for extra flavor.
FAQ
Yes, most definitely. You can make this recipe in a large sauce pan. Instructions are included in the recipe card.
Yes, you can use brown or white rice, millets and so on. But the cooking times will have to be adjusted accordingly. Alternately, you can cook the grain separately and serve the chili over it.
Few more hearty vegetarian recipes to try
- Oats khichdi (porridge)
- Thai split pea soup
- Swedish broccoli soup
- Korean miso soup
- Dominican Rice & beans (more de habichuelas)
- Labra (Assamese mixed vegetable curry)
- Kanchipuram Idli & kara chutney
I love hearing from you!! If you’ve tried this and liked it, then don't forget to let me know. Give a star rating and let me know in the comments below. Also tag me in your creations on Instagram @cooks_hideout. I love sharing photos when people make my recipes. You can use the hashtag #cookshideout too.
Sweet Potato and Quinoa Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Medium Onion, diced
- 3 Garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 small Red Pepper, diced
- 1 small Green Pepper, diced
- 2 Medium Sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1½ cups Tomato puree*
- 1 teaspoon Chili powder (adjust as per taste)
- 1½ teaspoons Ground Cumin (adjust as per taste)
- ½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (adjust as per taste)
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 2 15 oz. cans Black beans*
- 1 cup Quinoa, rinsed and drained
- 3 cups Vegetable stock or Water
- To taste Salt & Pepper
- 3 tablespoons Cilantro, finely chopped
Toppings:
- As needed Tortilla Chips
- 1 Avocado, peeled and diced
- As needed Shredded Cheese
- As needed Sour Cream
- As needed Radishes, sliced
Instructions
Stovetop Method:
- Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan, add onion, peppers, garlic and cook for 3~4 minutes or until the onion turns translucent and peppers are tender.
- Next add sweet potatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Sir in tomato puree, chili powder, ground cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Cook for 3~5 minutes.
- Add the drained beans and cook for 2~3 minutes.
- Next add the drained quinoa, vegetable stock or water, black beans, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil; lower the heat, cover the pot and cook for 18~20 minutes or until quinoa is cooked through and sweet potato is tender.
- If the chili looks too thick, add some water to get the desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasonings accordingly. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot or warm with toppings of choice.
Instant Pot Method:
- Set Instant pot on 'Sauté' mode and add oil. Stir in onion, peppers, garlic and cook for 3~4 minutes or until the onion turns translucent and peppers are tender.
- Next add sweet potatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Sir in tomato puree, chili powder, ground cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Cook for 3~5 minutes.
- Add the drained beans and cook for 2~3 minutes.
- Add drained quinoa, water, salt and pepper. Mix well. Close the lid and make sure that the valve is in 'Sealing' position. Switch the Instant Pot to 'Manual' or 'Pressure Cook' mode and set it for 4 minutes. It will take about 10~12 minutes to come to pressure and then 4 minutes to cook. Once it is done, let the pressure release naturally. Serve hot with desired toppings.
Notes
- Sweet potatoes come in various colors like yellow, orange, red, brown, purple and beige. Even the color of the flesh differs from one variety to the other. Also note the ones with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist than those with red or orange flesh.
- Feel free to use any color sweet potato in this chili recipe.
- Use any variety of beans you have in the pantry. Black, pinto, red kidney etc. would all work.
- Add other veggies like zucchini, poblano, carrot etc.
- Substitute some or all of the tomato puree with store bought or homemade salsa for extra flavor.
Pooja Singh
Your post is so delicious. I love sweet potato. I have heard first time this recipe with Quinoa. I don't no quinoa available in India or not. But this is gluten free so I have to give some effort to find it. So that I can try this recipe.RegardsDopeShop
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan
Healthy chili with quinoa.. yummm
Gayathri's Cook Spot
Looks like a hearty filling meal..
Suma Gandlur
An interesting version of chili with quinoa sweet potato base.
Kalyani
what a lovely way to eat sweet potato - one of our family favourite veggies.. that Chili looks tempting, Pavani
Unknown
Lovely pictures and I love sweet potato and quinoa ...will give this recipe a try! Jayanthi(www.sizzlingveggies.com)
rekhas kitchen
When ever I came here you pictures are not let me to move Pavani stunnig pictures and nice recipe..
Smruti Shah
Quinoa and sweet potato.. the combination sure sounds amazing!! 🙂
Sapana Behl
Very interesting chili.Looks very filling and inviting.
Srivalli
Gosh your picture makes me want to grab it right away Pavani..even with those broccolis (I know your lil one loves it, I don't..:))..I want that plate right now!
mrkk08
Looks so awesome! Tweeting now!
Priya Suresh
Omg, give me that bowl, this healthy and catchy quinoa chilli looks absolutely stunning.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
Such a wholesome meal this is! Love sweet potatoes 🙂
Harini-Jaya Rupanagudi
Interesting combo, Pavani.
Usha Rao
It looks like a filling and wholesome meal.