I have a love-love relationship with chili. I can't get enough! I even have a category devoted it --Â Chili-like ideas.
Unfortunately, I'm trapped in a family who hates it. It's like I'm living in my own personal chili-less hell.
So every few months I pretend my family loves chili as much as I do and make it anyway. It fails every time but at least I get a fridge full of glorious chili leftovers!
This idea was inspired by the grass-fed beef I found at Aldi, which was HALF the price of grass-fed beef from my traditional grocery store. If you are curious about why we should choose grass fed this is a great article. I can't afford it all the time but when it's on sale or available at Aldi I scoop it up!
I decided to pair the beef with sweet potatoes for a fun, warm bowl of chili and the result was stupendous! I used a can of pumpkin, of course! I upped the veggies with some frozen spinach and added a little cocoa powder and cinnamon to deepen the flavor. Someone else needs to make this to see how good it was because I have NO taste testers in the chili department.
Here's what I did...
Ingredients
- 1 pound grass-fed ground beef (regular 85% lean beef would also work)
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 sweet potatoes, chopped (totaling just under 700g)
- 1 15 oz can of petite diced tomatoes (I thought I had the one with the chilies but I didn't so mine was plain)
- 1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
- 1 small can tomato paste
- ½ lb (8 oz) frozen spinach (I used half a 1-pound bag)
- 3 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground red pepper (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
Heat a large pot over medium heat and brown the beef with the onion and garlic. Once browned add the sweet potatoes. I kept mine on the larger side as I didn't want them to get too mushy.
Add the diced tomatoes, pumpkin, and tomato paste. It's going to be thick so add at least 1 can of water. Then add the frozen spinach and mix in until it breaks up.
Add the rest of the ingredients and cook over medium heat until it bubbles, then lower heat to simmer.
Let simmer at least an hour until the sweet potatoes soften.
I'm not messing around with dinky 1-cup serving sizes when it comes to chili. This made 12 cups easily so I'm going with six 2-cup servings. I'll be freezing some to help make it last.
📖 Recipe
The Quintessential Fall Chili with Beef and Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 pound grass-fed ground beef regular 85% lean beef would also work
- 1 sweet onion chopped
- 6 cloves of garlic minced
- 2 sweet potatoes chopped (totaling just under 700g)
- 1 15 oz can of petite diced tomatoes I thought I had the one with the chilies but I didn't so mine was plain
- 1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
- 1 small can tomato paste
- ½ lb 8 oz frozen spinach (I used half a 1-pound bag)
- 3 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground red pepper or to taste
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium heat and brown the beef with the onion and garlic. Once browned add the sweet potatoes. I kept mine on the larger side as I didn't want them to get too mushy.1 pound grass-fed ground beef, 1 sweet onion, 6 cloves of garlic, 2 sweet potatoes
- Add the diced tomatoes, pumpkin, and tomato paste. It's going to be thick so add at least 1 can of water. Then add the frozen spinach and mix in until it breaks up.1 15 oz can of petite diced tomatoes, 1 small can tomato paste
- Add the rest of the ingredients and cook over medium heat until it bubbles, then lower heat to simmer.1 15 oz can pumpkin puree, ½ lb 8 oz frozen spinach (I used half a 1-pound bag), 3 tablespoon chili powder, 2 tablespoon cumin, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground red pepper, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Let simmer at least an hour until the sweet potatoes soften.
Debbi
Sold! I'll make it next week. Though I'll probably put beans instead of meat. That's just how I roll! 🙂
Christine
Too funny because I was so excited to find a recipe without beans! 😉
Rene
Yes, I love chili too but I'm the only one in my family who likes it as well. I rarely make it but I probably could and just freeze it. I will have to try this one. Thanks!