Healthy Recipes Main Dishes Healthy Chili Recipes Healthy White Chili Recipes A Bowl of Creamy White Chili with Sweet Potatoes & Beans Will Warm You from the Inside Out 4.1 (9) 9 Reviews A bowl of creamy white chili with sweet potatoes is the perfect comfort food to warm you from the inside out. This hearty plant-based dish blends white beans and the subtle sweetness of sweet potatoes in a rich, flavorful broth. A can of chopped green chiles adds to the warmth. If you like your chili on the mild side, opt for mild green chiles. By Melissa Gray Melissa Gray A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Melissa Gray trained in traditional French-style cooking, restaurant and front-of-house management. Since transitioning to recipe development and food styling in 2015, Melissa has developed over 1,500 original recipes and styled in over 300 photo shoots. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 15, 2024 Tested by Giovanna Vazquez Tested by Giovanna Vazquez Giovanna Vazquez is a part of Dotdash Meredith's fellowship program, working as a recipe tester and developer at the Birmingham food studio. Since she was a child, Giovanna has had a strong passion for baking, and her newfound interest in health led her to schooling under the culinary nutrition degree. Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Sally McKay, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood Active Time: 45 mins Total Time: 55 mins Servings: 6 Nutrition Profile: No Added Sugar Sesame-Free Weight Loss Diabetes-Friendly Nut-Free Healthy Immunity Soy-Free High-Fiber Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free Gut Healthy Anti-Inflammatory Mediterranean Diet Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe This Creamy White Chili with Sweet Potatoes is just what you need on a chilly night. Protein-rich, creamy white beans and antioxidant-rich sweet potatoes bring the “meatiness” to this chili. Onions, garlic and cumin add a spicy earthiness that balances out the heat from the green chiles. And velvety cream cheese adds a touch of richness and gives the broth some body. Keep reading for our expert tips, including why you should sauté the sweet potato and onion together. Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! Sautéing the sweet potato with the onion before adding in the rest of the ingredients reduces the total cooking time.Heat releases the oils within cumin and garlic, which results in a bolder and more complex flavor.You can use a fork or potato masher to mash the beans.The great northern beans can be replaced with cannellini beans, and you can substitute the vegetable broth with chicken broth if you wish. Nutrition Notes Great northern beans are a type of legume and are loaded with plant protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals—like potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. Eating more legumes has been linked to a healthier heart and gut and reduced inflammation. As evidenced by its deep orange color, sweet potato is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins A and C. The fiber in sweet potato will help fill you up and provide food for your beneficial gut bacteria. You may have a healthier heart and gut by regularly eating sweet potatoes. Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Sally McKay, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added great northern beans, rinsed, divided 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 large sweet potato, scrubbed and coarsely chopped (about 3½ cups) 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 2 cups) 4 large cloves garlic, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons) 1 teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon salt 3 cups unsalted vegetable broth 1 cup water 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, undrained 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish (optional) Lime wedges for serving (optional) Directions Place 1 cup beans in a small bowl; mash until smooth. Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Sally McKay, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add sweet potato and onion; cook, stirring often, until the onion is beginning to soften and lightly golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, 1 teaspoon cumin and ¼ teaspoon salt; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the mashed beans, the remaining whole beans, 3 cups broth, 1 cup water and 1 (4-ounce) can chiles; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium; cook, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in 4 ounces cream cheese until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges, if desired. Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Sally McKay, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between chili and white bean chili? Traditional chili recipes typically include dark-colored beans, beef and tomatoes, while white bean chili recipes use lighter-colored ingredients like white beans, chicken, potatoes, cream cheese and heavy cream. Can I make white bean chili ahead? Absolutely! Chili often tastes even better the day after it’s made. You can prepare this recipe up to 5 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. White bean chili also freezes well for 4 to 6 months when stored in a freezer-safe container (remember to label it with a date). Additionally, sweet potatoes don't oxidize like regular potatoes, so you can save time by prepping them up to 3 days in advance and storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. How do I reheat leftovers? Reheat leftovers over medium heat on the stovetop, or microwave for 1-minute increments on high until heated through. With both methods, it’s important to stir the chili often so that all the ingredients get evenly heated through. Should the consistency of chili be thick or soupy? The consistency of our white bean chili should be thick and hearty, thanks to the great northern beans and sweet potato. What should I serve with white bean chili? While this chili is a complete meal on its own, you can serve it with warm rolls like our Slow-Cooker Honey Whole-Wheat Rolls or Gluten-Free Vegan Bread, so you can get every last bit of flavor at the bottom of the bowl. It would also be excellent with our Creole Skillet Cornbread. EatingWell.com, October 2024 Rate It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 226 Calories 7g Fat 31g Carbs 10g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Serving Size about 1 cup Calories 226 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 31g 11% Dietary Fiber 8g 29% Total Sugars 4g Protein 10g 21% Total Fat 7g 9% Saturated Fat 3g 14% Cholesterol 14mg 5% Vitamin A 388µg Vitamin C 13mg 15% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 1mg 5% Folate 109µg Vitamin K 3µg Sodium 361mg 16% Calcium 115mg 9% Iron 3mg 15% Magnesium 62mg 15% Potassium 607mg 13% Zinc 1mg 11% Vitamin B12 0µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a freelance writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines and Linda Frahm Linda Frahm Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications, such as Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and has edited cookbooks for Dovetail Press and The Taste Curators. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines