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

Can I eat chili on an AIP diet? ›

You can still enjoy a delicious and comforting bowl of chili. This AIP chili recipe is packed with nutrients, flavor and all the comfort you crave from a classic chili, but without any of the nightshades, beans or other ingredients avoiding on AIP.

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? ›

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.

What is the difference between paleo and AIP? ›

The main difference between the two is this: the AIP diet consists of two phases: the elimination phase and the reintroduction phase. The elimination phase is extremely similar to the paleo diet, but somewhat more restrictive, as you can see from these lists of foods to enjoy and those to avoid.

Is chilli good for autoimmune? ›

Oral ingestion of capsaicin, the pungent component of chili pepper, enhances a discreet population of macrophages and confers protection from autoimmune diabetes. Mucosal Immunol Nature Publishing Group. 2012;5:76–86.

What spices are not allowed on AIP? ›

What spices are NOT allowed on AIP?
  • Allspice.
  • Anise Seed.
  • Annatto Seed.
  • Black Caraway.
  • Black Cumin.
  • Black Pepper.
  • Caraway.
  • Cardamom.

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.

Why are nightshades bad for autoimmune disease? ›

The strongest case is that they may increase intestinal permeability and raise risk for autoimmune disease. However, this is mainly based on animal studies and tend to focus on high doses of nightshade chemicals rather than whole foods.

What is a good substitute for nightshades? ›

Best foods to replace nightshade plants
  • Replace bell peppers with celery, radishes, or Swiss chard.
  • Replace potatoes with sweet potatoes, yams, or cauliflower.
  • Replace eggplants, with portabella or sh*take mushrooms.
  • Replace cayenne and red pepper with cumin, white, and black pepper.
Apr 12, 2017

What can I drink instead of coffee on AIP? ›

During your elimination phase, you might replace coffee herbal tea options like rooibos, peppermint, and chamomile. All are excellent herbal teas that have added benefits for your body too! Chicory. Chicory roasted over an open fire has a flavor and texture that is comparable to coffee.

Is turmeric allowed on the AIP diet? ›

Turmeric has been used for thousands of years as a completely natural healing spice. You'll find more this article about how it can be helpful in arthritis management, skin conditions, and more. They're nut free, grain free, and totally AIP and paleo.

Which peppers are not nightshade? ›

These are NOT Nightshades:
  • Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
  • Green Peppercorns (Piper nigrum)
  • Long Pepper (Piper nigrum)
  • Sichuan Pepper.
  • Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)
  • Tasmania.
  • White Pepper (Piper nigrum)
  • Yams.

How long should you stay on AIP diet? ›

People usually stay on an elimination diet for only about 4 to 8 weeks. Following the AIP diet could be risky for your health, so you need to get your doctor's OK before you try it. If they give you the green light, they have to structure the diet for you and supervise you while you're on it.

What diet is closest to AIP? ›

The AIP diet resembles the paleo diet, both in the types of foods allowed and avoided, as well as in the phases that comprise it. Due to their similarities, many consider the AIP diet an extension of the paleo diet — though AIP may be seen as a stricter version of it.

Is peanut butter good for autoimmune? ›

If you have an autoimmune disease, you may want to avoid certain foods, including: Legumes: These include beans, lentils, peanuts, soybeans, and peas and their derived foods, including tofu, plant-based mock meats, tempeh, and peanut butter.

Can you eat chili on an anti-inflammatory diet? ›

However, while chili isn't necessarily bad for you, some bowls can add up to over 700 calories after toppings are added. While working with clients who are following anti-inflammatory diets we found that chili can be part of a healthy diet!

Is chili pro inflammatory? ›

In terms of joint pain, capsaicin — the same chili pepper extract that makes foods spicy — may have anti-inflammatory properties.

Are hot chili peppers anti-inflammatory? ›

Capsaicin (CAP) is the main pungent ingredient of chili peppers [1], which are spices with a unique spicy flavor widely consumed in various diets. CAP has demonstrated broad potent biological characteristics, including antioxidant, anti-obesity, pain-alleviating, and anti-inflammation effects [2].

Are beans OK on AIP? ›

During the elimination phase, the AIP diet recommends cutting out the following foods: Grains (wheat, oats, rice, corn, etc.) Legumes (lentils, black beans, chickpeas, green beans, etc.) Nuts, seeds, and seed-based spices (like mustard, cumin, sesame, etc.)

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