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)

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4.53 from 151 votes

AIP Chili Recipe

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

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Servings: 5 servings

Calories: 335kcal

Author: Julia

Ingredients

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

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

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

FAQs

Is paleo nightshade free? ›

Certain foods in the nightshade family, like cayenne, chilis, and white potatoes, to name just a few, are temporarily eliminated on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol. But why is that? To put it a little more science-y, nightshades contain one or more lectin, saponin, and capsaicin properties.

What is a good AIP substitute for bell peppers? ›

Traditional applications: Peppers are used whole (bell peppers, jalapenos) or as seasonings (cayenne, red pepper flakes). How to sub it: Use vegetables such as zucchini and yellow squash instead of bell peppers or eggplant and safe seasonings like ground ginger instead of spicy peppers and pepper-based seasonings.

Is Turkey AIP compliant? ›

You can pair this boneless turkey breast with just about anything! Kids love this recipe. This recipe is naturally dairy free, gluten free, soy free, paleo, refined sugar free, nut free, grain free, and autoimmune protocol (AIP) friendly.

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.

What is a non nightshade substitute for peppers? ›

Radishes or Black Pepper for Capsic*ms (red pepper, sweet peppers, cayenne, paprika, etc) – Daikon or red radishes can add that kick to replace sweet peppers.  They’re great in stir fries. And we can all be grateful that black pepper, which belongs to the Piperaceae family, is not a member of the nightshade foods.

Are there any peppers that aren't nightshades? ›

These are NOT Nightshades:

Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) Green Peppercorns (Piper nigrum) Long Pepper (Piper nigrum) Sichuan Pepper.

Why is cumin not allowed on AIP? ›

Since cumin is derived from seeds, it is not included in AIP before a reintroduction period (for more information about the science behind this guideline, see my post The WHYs Behind the Autoimmune Protocol: Nuts and Seeds).

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.

Can I eat bananas on AIP? ›

Examples of foods you can eat while on the AIP diet include: Vegetables that aren't nightshade vegetables like cucumbers, spinach, sweet potatoes and zucchini. Fresh fruits like apples, oranges, mangos, strawberries, bananas and blueberries.

Can I eat pickles on AIP? ›

Pickles: Probiotic foods are an essential part of Paleo and the AIP, but most pickles you buy in a jar off the shelf are simply brined, not fermented (meaning they don't have any probiotics). Cucumbers are what everyone thinks of when they hear the word “pickles”, but you can pickle just about anything.

Are pickles ok on AIP? ›

If you're using store-bought pickles, check the ingredients list on the jar to make sure there is no refined sugar, nightshade peppers, or artificial coloring added to the pickle brine. You can choose to make your own homemade pickles for this recipe to make sure that your fried pickles are AIP-friendly.

Is balsamic vinegar AIP friendly? ›

Other flavorings occasionally called for in AIP recipes—balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, cooking wine.

Why avoid nightshades on a paleo diet? ›

The reason you may want to occasionally limit nightshade vegetables, however, is due to their alkaloid and lectin content. Alkaloids and lectins are groups of chemical compounds that act as nightshades' natural “pesticides” to give them protection from pests.

What is it called when you can't eat nightshades? ›

Nightshade Intolerance (or Allergy): Effects and Food Ideas.

What plant foods are excluded in paleo diet? ›

Foods and Drinks to Avoid on the Paleo Diet
  • Pasta (including whole-wheat and gluten-free)
  • Bread.
  • Rice.
  • Oats.
  • Quinoa.
  • Beans, lentils, and peanuts.
  • Dairy.
  • Refined vegetable oils.

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.

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