Sweet Potato Lentil Chili [vegan + gluten-free]

By Healthy Helper
Updated on May 31, 2025
Posted on May 31, 2025
Comments 72 Comments
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A hearty mix of legumes, vegetables, and sweet potato will be the perfect vegan comfort food for any occasion. Slightly sweet and slightly smoky, this Sweet Potato Lentil Chili bursts with flavor and amazing texture. A well-balanced, healthy meal with all the nutrients you need in one delicious bowl. Throw the ingredients in your slow cooker, and be prepared for your house to smell like chili heaven!

Sweet Potato Lentil Chili [vegan + gluten-free]

The one problem with being a food lover and a wannabe chef is that I always get ideas for new recipes and kitchen creations. This is great for blogging content, but it doesn’t leave me a lot of time to revisit old recipes.

I’ve been blogging for over 10 years now, so a lot of staples and favorites I shared in the first few years of my blog have certainly gotten neglected. I am pretty embarrassed by some of those older posts, writing, AND picture-wise (I’d like to think I’ve improved a lot since then! ;) ), but the recipes are definitely winners! Plus, a lot of you who have only recently started reading Healthy Helper have probably never even seen them.

So I’ve decided to start rolling out ‘re-dos’ of some of my favorite recipes I’ve shared on the blog! Not only does this give me the chance to revamp them and update them for you guys, but I also get to bring some of my favorite meals back into my life. Out of the ones I’ve made so far, I am quickly being reminded why I created these recipes originally. Point blank: THEY ARE GOOD.

Vegan Comfort Food at its FINEST

Today, I am sharing one of my all-time go-to comfort food meals. It’s perfect for this time of year as it’s definitely slow-cooker season and gives you that stick-to-your-ribs feeling that a hot, hearty chili always does.

This chili is pretty special because it’s sweet AND savory. Yes, it includes the traditional spices like chili powder and cumin, but I also add cinnamon and sweet, sweet, sweet potatoes to give it a nice counterbalance to the spicy smokiness.

Vegan Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Lentil Chili

Grab the recipe below and get to cookin’! I think this chili recipe will become a cold-weather staple for you. :) Sweet Potato Lentil Chili [vegan + gluten-free] Print

Sweet Potato Lentil Chili

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4.7 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Kaila Proulx
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 hours
  • Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Category: chili
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into small cubes

1 yam, peeled and cut into small cubes

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 bunch of kale, chopped

2 stalks of celery, chopped

1 large carrot, chopped

1 green pepper, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 large white onion, chopped

1 cup of mushrooms, chopped

1 small zucchini, chopped

1 32 oz container of veggie broth (low sodium, if possible)

1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes

1 16 oz can no salt added diced tomatoes

1 can of tomato paste (no salt added, if possible)

1 cup split red lentils

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg

1 tsp thyme

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp basil

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp smoked paprika

½ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

Microwave cubed sweet potato and yam on high for 2-3 minutes. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker, with spices last. Mix well. Cover the return the lid to the slow cooker and cook chili on high for 4-6 hours (stir every hour or so). Serve hot with your choice of toppings (salsa, greek yogurt, shredded cheese, extra cilantro, Fritos…whatever you like!).

Sweet Potato Lentil Chili [vegan + gluten-free]
Packed to the brim with veggies, this chili is bursting with vitamins and minerals! It goes beyond the traditional chili ingredients and has lots of plant-based protein from lentils and beans. The sweet potatoes and yams are a great source of complex carbs, so you have a balanced meal all in one bowl. Or two! ;) This chili recipe is certainly a favorite in my house, and I’ve made it for several holiday gatherings to share with my family. Nothing but rave reviews have resulted! Definitely give this a go if you’re looking for a healthy twist on classic chili! This has all the flavor with a lot more nutrients to offer you. Do you ever revisit old favorite recipes? What’s your favorite fall/winter meal? What’s your MUST have chili ingredient?

Talk soon,

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72 Comments

  1. This is SO MANY ingredients, but it looks so good that I think I’ll have to just go out and get all of them and make it sometime this week. :)

    Reply

      1. We don’t use microwaves in my house, what would you recommend we do for the sweet potato? Bake it? Fully? Half?

        Reply

        1. You should be okay with just throwing it in raw…you may just have to cook it for a few more hours to make sure the potatoes are soft!! Or you could lightly blanch them prior to putting in the slow cooker!

          Reply

  4. All I’ve been craving since returning from a trip to Asia is chili! This one will have to go on the menu this week :) Gotta love the improvements in food photography – I’ve been slowly updating some of my old recipes too! The old orange pictures make me cringe!

    Reply

  9. Love that this has ALL of the ingredients I have been trying to eat more of. Bonus that it is made in the slow cooker. Will definitely be making this next week. Thanks for the great recipe!

    P.S. I hear you on the pictures thing – I am very slowly improving and already want to go back and change some photos, but that’s a good thing!

    P.S.S. So glad I found your blog on What’s Cookin’ Wedneday – in dire need of some healthy recipes right now.

    Reply

  11. Hey – redos are great for those of us only having started reading your blog a few months ago =) I’ve been considering doing the same myself since I have some great recipes on the blog with kind of crappy pictures ;p

    This sounds so good! I have never thought of sweet potatoes of chili – this is like a combo of 2 of my favourite things. And I love the sound of this sweet & savoury dish. And the pictures are gorgeous =)

    Reply

  14. Wow! You’ve been blogging awhile. It is great to find you through Gluten Free Fridays. This recipe is right up my alley, I love the slight smokiness to this dish. And, I can only imagine the inviting smell wafting through your home. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply

  16. Hi Kaila,
    Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods and this recipe sounds absolutely delicious, filled so many good vegetables, spices and so healthy, Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!

    Reply

  21. Sounds really nice. I’ve never tried a chilli with cinnamon in it, but I’m not adverse to the idea.

    Thanks for linking up to #LifeLovingLinkie

    Sally @ Life Loving

    Reply

  22. This looks like a fantastic bowl of Chili, we will love it! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope you have a great week.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

  29. This looks delicious! I love a bowl of chili on a nice cold day. I’ve never had chili with sweet potatoes, but it sounds interesting. I’ve been thinking about going vegan for health reasons, and finding great recipes like this makes me feel like I might be able to do it! Thanks for sharing at Submarine Sunday!

    Reply

  30. Love the recipe and would make it without a microwave. I don’t believe foods cooked in them aren’t that good for me. Saw you at we-nspired bloggers on Pinterest. Have a happy day! Nancy Andres

    Reply

  33. I can’t wait to try this awesome chili, it looks so good! It is featured on Full Plate Thursday, 572 this week. Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us and come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply