Nightshade-Free AIP Chili Recipe (Paleo, Whole30) (2024)

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Nightshade-Free AIP chili made with ground turkey, pumpkin puree, ginger, vegetables and more. This bean-less chili recipe is low-inflammatory, easy to prepare, and so comforting!

Nightshade-Free AIP Chili Recipe (Paleo, Whole30) (1)

If you follow an Autoimmune Paleo diet (AIP), or are cognizant of the amount of inflammatory foods you eat, this chili recipe will please you silly!

It has that same comforting, filling essence as regular chili, but is made nightshade-free and bean-less.

This low-inflammatory rendition of chili hits your essential macronutrients and leaves you feeling so pleasantly full.

For anyone who enjoys a clean, home-cooked meal, this AIP chili recipe is fantastic! You don’t need to follow a strict diet like AIP, paleo, or Whole30 in order to enjoy this delicious chili recipe!

It is guaranteed to please all the palates.

So what do we need to do in order to make chili AIP-friendly? WELL…

How to Make Chili AIP-friendly:

Nightshades like chilies, tomatoes, and bell peppers provide a mild heat, tang, and acidity in chili.

In order to replace them and still make a chili that’s nice and thick and flavorful, with the sweet tang, I use pureed pumpkin, ginger, a lot of dried herbs, onion, garlic, lemon juice, and coconut aminos.

When all is cooked together, you still end up with a chili that has a natural sweetness, a tiny kick, big bold flavor, and that tang.

Other ingredients you can use to make an AIP chili are beet puree (for thickness, sweetness, and color), cider vinegar (to mimic the acidity of tomatoes), and nutritional yeast (for cheesy/creamy flavor).

Nightshade-Free AIP Chili Recipe (Paleo, Whole30) (2)

Because beans can be pro-inflammatory and are usually avoided on AIP, Paleo, and Whole30, we replace them with chopped veggies.

I use carrots, zucchini and yellow squash, but you can choose any low-inflammatory (AIP-friendly) vegetable you would like.

So let’s make this recipe!

How to Make Nightshade-Free AIP Chili:

Heat the avocado oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until it has softened, about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic and carrots and continue sautéing another 2 minutes.

Scoot the vegetables off to one side of the pot and add the ground turkey, ginger, oregano, basil, parsley, turmeric, and sea salt. Brown the turkey for 2 to 3 minutes, flip, then brown on the other side for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to break up the meat into smaller pieces and stir it into the vegetables.

Add the remaining ingredients, cover the pot and bring to a full boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook 20 minutes, until the vegetables have reached desired done-ness and the turkey is cooked through.

Serve chili with fresh chopped parsley, chives, and/or your choice of toppings.

Nightshade-Free AIP Chili Recipe (Paleo, Whole30) (3)

Is This Recipe Low-FODMAP?:

As you know, I discuss gut health quite a bit on this site, and the majority of the recipes I make are Low-FODMAP. This recipe is not low-FODMAP due to the onion and garlic.

The onion and garlic are pretty pivotal when it comes to providing flavor to this recipe, since we are already omitting tomatoes, bell peppers, and chilies.

If you follow a Low-FODMAP diet, you may certainly omit the onion and garlic and add something else to replace the tang, such as 2 to 3 tablespoons of dijon mustard (if you don’t follow a strict AIP diet, as mustard is not allowed on AIP), more lemon juice, and/or cider vinegar.

Recipe Adaptations:

  • Make recipe Low-FODMAP by omitting the onion and garlic.
  • Replace the canned pumpkin with two cups mashed butternut squash and/or mashed/pureed beet.
  • Add more onion, garlic, lemon juice, etc to taste.
  • Replace the ground turkey with ground beef, pork or chicken.
  • Add your favorite vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, celery, parsnips, turnips, celeriac, or bok choy.

More AIP Recipes:

  • AIP Salmon Curry
  • Nighshade-Free AIP Curry
  • Turkey, Beet, and Zucchini Hash
  • Zucchini and Ground Turkey Skillet
  • Instant Pot Beef Stew

Enjoy this big bowl of protein and veggie bliss!

My cookbook, Paleo Power Bowls, is now available! CLICK HERE to check it out. Thank you for your support!

If you make this recipe, please feel free to share a photo and tag @The.Roasted.Root on Instagram!

Nightshade-Free AIP Chili Recipe (Paleo, Whole30) (4)

AIP Chili Recipe

Bean-free chili recipe made without tomatoes, chilies, or bell peppers for a low-inflammatory meal.

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

5servings

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp coconut oil, or cooking oil of choice
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
  • 1 Tbsp minced ginger
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp sea salt, to taste
  • 2 small yellow squash, chopped
  • 1 medium zucchini squash, chopped
  • 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 Tbsp coconut aminos, optional

Instructions

  • Heat the coconut oil in a large dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and saute, stirring occasionally, until it has softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and carrots and continue sauteing another 2 minutes.

  • Scoot the vegetables off to one side of the pot and add the ground turkey, ginger, oregano, basil, parsley, turmeric, and sea salt. Brown the turkey for 2 to 3 minutes, flip, then brown on the other side for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to break up the meat into smaller pieces and stir it into the vegetables.

  • Add the remaining ingredients, cover the pot and bring to a full boil.

  • Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook 20 minutes, until the vegetables have reached desired done-ness and the turkey is cooked through.

  • Serve chili with fresh chopped parsley, chives, and/or your choice of toppings.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 5 - Calories: 335kcal - Carbohydrates: 18g - Protein: 24g - Fat: 15g - Fiber: 6g - Sugar: 11g

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: aip, gluten free, keto, low-carb, paleo, whole30

Servings: 5 servings

Calories: 335kcal

Author: Julia

Nightshade-Free AIP Chili Recipe (Paleo, Whole30) (5)

Nightshade-Free AIP Chili Recipe (Paleo, Whole30) (2024)

FAQs

Why are there no nightshades on paleo? ›

Tomatoes, peppers, chile flakes, eggplant, potatoes. What do these seemingly random veggies have in common? They're all nightshade vegetables. These veggies contain specific compounds that can cause irritation in your gut, as well as cause or exacerbate autoimmune issues if you have them.

Is tamarind paste AIP compliant? ›

Well, yes, it is a pod-like fruit and considered part of the legume family … but when we talk about tamarind in the AIP world, we're just talking about the pulp of the outer pod that's made into tamarind paste – that IS compliant.

Why are nightshades bad for autoimmune disease? ›

Even less is known about the effects of nightshades on other autoimmune diseases. However, there may be some connection between increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, and autoimmune conditions like celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis ( 15 , 16 ).

Is chili a nightshade? ›

The most common edible nightshades are the tomato, potato, eggplant, bell pepper and chili pepper. Some diets claim that nightshades are inflammatory and should be avoided. This idea is rooted in the fact that nightshades are a large family of plants that contain a chemical compound called alkaloids.

Can you eat jicama on an AIP diet? ›

Jicama refers to the edible root of the Mexican turnip or Mexican vine, and it is a secret rockstar starchy vegetable that is completely AIP compliant, paleo, vegan and keto.

Are chickpeas allowed on the AIP diet? ›

Core AIP excludes all beans and legumes like chickpeas, green beans, peanuts, peas, soybeans and all soy derivatives like tofu and soy sauce. Modified AIP excludes peanuts, soybeans and all soy-based foods and products, but allows beans and other legumes.

Why are there no nightshade vegetables? ›

Nightshades and solanine

Some people say that nightshade consumption leads to a buildup of solanine and the protein lectin in the body. They believe this buildup causes damage to the gut, inflammatory bowel disease, leaky gut, arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, allergies, and flare-ups of autoimmune conditions.

Why can't paleo eat potatoes? ›

Paleo people regularly ate tubers and wild potatoes. Some people list potatoes as unacceptable because they're a starchy high-glycemic food. But ancient hunter-gatherer communities relied on the calories and carbohydrates in potatoes and other tubers for energy.

Can you eat nightshades on anti-inflammatory diet? ›

The bottom line. It's OK to add nightshade vegetables to your anti-inflammatory diet. Unless you eat huge quantities of green potatoes, they don't contain enough solanine to make you sick. And evidence to date does not support a link between nightshades and inflammation.

What is the diet where you don't eat nightshades? ›

Adopting a deadly nightshade-free diet can be a beneficial choice for individuals experiencing symptoms of intolerance or inflammation. While nightshade vegetables are nutrient-dense and can be a healthy part of a balanced diet for most people, they may cause discomfort and aggravate certain conditions for others.

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