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

Jump to Recipe

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)

Print RecipePin Recipe Save Recipe

4.53 from 152 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.

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 garlic allowed on the AIP diet? ›

Garlic. Another food I recommend you add to your AIP diet is garlic. Garlic is a prebiotic, so it feeds good bacteria in your gut. This can be helpful if you're suffering from an autoimmune disease because your gut and your immune system link together.

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.

Is chilli allowed on AIP? ›

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.

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.

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.

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.

Is cinnamon ok on AIP diet? ›

First, a list of AIP herbs and spices you probably already know and don't need much explanation. You can still use basil, bay leaves, chives, cilantro/coriander leaves, cinnamon, cloves, dill weed, garlic, ginger, onion powder, parsley, mints, marjoram, rosemary, sage, thyme, and vanilla bean.

Is turmeric OK on 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.

Is avocado ok on AIP diet? ›

nightshade vegetables and fruit (eggplant, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, goji berries, etc.) nuts and seeds. oils (avocado, coconut and olive oil are permitted)

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.

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.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ray Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 6508

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ray Christiansen

Birthday: 1998-05-04

Address: Apt. 814 34339 Sauer Islands, Hirtheville, GA 02446-8771

Phone: +337636892828

Job: Lead Hospitality Designer

Hobby: Urban exploration, Tai chi, Lockpicking, Fashion, Gunsmithing, Pottery, Geocaching

Introduction: My name is Ray Christiansen, I am a fair, good, cute, gentle, vast, glamorous, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.