The Best Turkey Chili (2024)

This Turkey Chili recipe (stove top or slow cooker) can be on the table in less than an hour and is divinely delicious, healthy yet hearty and SO packed with flavor you won’t even miss the beef!

This Turkey Chili is one for the recipe binder. It’s loaded with lean ground turkey, beans, veggies and robust seasonings and is the perfect vehicle for all your favorite chili toppings from cheese to sour cream to chips. And because we used turkey we can splurge on toppings, right? This healthy Turkey Chili makes wonderful leftovers or it freezes fabulously for an instant dinner any night of the week.

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How to make Ground Turkey Chili Video

This Turkey Chili Recipe makes the perfect cozy meal

Chili is one of my all time favorite comfort foods. I love chili so much I’ve already postedCreamy White Chicken Chili,BBQ Chicken Chili,Chipotle Mango Chiliand even Chili Mac and Cheeseand now I am SO excited to bring you the BEST turkey chili made healthier! It joins my Chicken Tortilla Soup as one of the healthiest soups on my blog!

This Turkey Chili is guilt-free deeeelicious comfort food you will want to make all Fall and winter long. It is for all those chili days (pun intended) and one of those meals that is so satisfying you want to keep eating and eating and then keep craving and craving. It boasts two secret ingredients that deliver that undeniable beefy taste – without the beef! It’s safe to say, I’m a little obsessed. Good thing, it is healthy. Good thing it makes a ton. Good thing the leftovers are even better the next day. Winning!

You will also love that this Turkey Chili is not only so easy to make, but is also easy to double for meal planning and lunches during the week, freezer meals or for large crowds (hello Halloween and football festivities!). You can make this Turkey Chili on the stove-top or slow cooker, customize the veggies, swap out turkey for beef, and make a chili bar for all your favorite toppings.

Why you’ll love this Ground Turkey Chili Recipe

I first brought you my “life changing” turkey tacos and I think you’ll agree this is “life changing” healthy Turkey Chili. It is full of lean ground turkey and beans which means it is a protein powerhouse and then it boasts red bell peppers, green bell peppers, onions and tomatoes in three forms.

This of course, is all wonderful, but would be a moot point if this healthy Turkey Chili tasted healthy. Trust me, the average person would not even be able to tell the difference between this Turkey Chili and ground beef chili. Being able to lighten this chili up without losing any flavor is a big win in my book.

The secret behind this healthy Turkey Chili is twofold. First, my secret ingredients, beef bouillon and soy sauce infuse the turkey with the salty beefy flavor that always seems to be missing from turkey dishes.

Second, this Turkey Chili boasts a rich medley of seasonings. Instead of using any seasoning packets, our Turkey Chili is seasoned precisely with chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, ground coriander, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper with plenty of aromatic fresh onions and garlic as well. It is a symphony of epic proportions – and you will want epic portions.

Ingredients for the Best Turkey Chili

• Turkey:Use 1 ½ pounds lean ground turkey. You may also use ground chicken or ground beef.
• Bell peppers:One chopped green bell pepper adds a subtle earthiness and one chopped red bell pepper adds a subtle sweetness.
• Aromatics: Onion and garlic are the building blocks of the chili, please don’t use powders!
• Kidney beans: These are my favorite beans in chili for their satisfyingly creamy, tender, and nutty flavor but you may substitute with black beans, pinto beans, etc.
• Crushed tomatoes:Use one 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes (often called crushed tomatoes in puree). Take care your crushed tomatoes don’t have any additional seasonings or added salt. I recommend the brands San Marzano, Cento and Muir Glen.
• Tomato sauce:One 15 oz. can creates a richer chili than using just broth.
• Fire roasted diced tomatoes:These tomatoes boast a complex smoky sweetness and are less acidic than traditional tomatoes. Fire roasted tomatoes
  Hunt’s Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, Keto Friendly, 14.5 oz, 12 Packare
  located with the canned tomatoes; if you can’t find them, use traditional diced tomatoes.
• Beef bouillon:This can be cubed (crushed), base or powder. Add directly to the chili without dissolving in water first.
• Soy sauce:This might sound odd, but a splash grounds the turkey chili recipe with a depth of umami richness.
• Seasonings:Our homemade chili seasoning is made with chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, regular paprika, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper for layers of complex flavor that set this turkey chili apart from the rest.

How to make Turkey Chili

This Turkey Chili recipe is easy to make in 3 steps!

1. Brown: Brown the turkey with the veggies.
2. Add: Add all the remaining ingredients.
3. Simmer: Simmer for 30-40 minutes or until chili thickens to desired consistency.
4. Toppings: Not a cooking step but sooo fun!

Did I convince you yet? Now don’t be scared when you see the lengthy ingredient list because most of them are cans or seasonings, and as previously mentioned, the are all just dump and simmer and require no extra time or skills than that!

Make This Turkey Chili Recipe in the crockpot

This Turkey Chili also makes fabulously easy Crockpot Turkey Chili!

There is nothing like dumping all of the ingredients into the slow cooker and coming home to a waft of hearty, eat-me-now aroma.

This Crockpot Turkey Chili requires only 10 minutes of prep work then you get to reap the slow cooking rewards after a busy day. The only prep work required is to chop your veggies per usual then brown your turkey with your onions, then dump all the ingredients into your slow cooker.

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add turkey and onion cook and crumble until turkey is cooked through. Drain.
2. Lightly coat a 6 qt. slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Add turkey and all remaining chili ingredients.
3. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Serve with desired toppings.

Best Turkey Chili Recipe tips and tricks

• You can brown your turkey with your onions the night before then literally dump and cook the next day. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
• I do find that turkey chili gets thicker on the stove, so if you like thicker chili then remove the lid from the crockpot the last hour or so to let some of the moisture evaporate.
• Use a 6-quart slow cooker so the contents fit comfortably.
• If you don’t have a 6-quart slow cooker or simply want to make less chili, then half the recipe.

Variations of the Best Turkey Chili

I love how versatile chili recipes are! Here are just a few ways to customize this Turkey Chili:

• Swap kidney beans for cannellini beans or black beans.
• Add sweet corn or whatever veggies your heart desires such as zucchini, poblanos, mushrooms, etc.
• Swap ground turkey for ground chicken or lean ground beef.
• Up the spice by adding additional cayenne pepper to taste or leave it out completely.
• Make this Turkey Chili as thin or as thick as you would like – simmer longer for thicker, less for thinner, or add additional broth/water to thin to desired consistency.

Ground Turkey Chili Topping Suggestions

Don’t forget the toppings! This Turkey Chili is fabulous but takes on even more depth of flavor and texture with toppings! A topping bar is also a great way for everyone to customize their Turkey Chili to their own Tex-Mex perfection. My personal favorite Turkey Chili toppings are cheese, sour cream, Fritos and green onions, but I’ve given you a full rundown below.

• Cheese: Shredded Cheese is a Turkey Chili must! You can use grated sharp cheddar, Mexican cheese, Monterrey, or Pepper Jack. I personally prefer sharp cheddar with its contrasting bite but they all become meltilicous in the hot Turkey Chili.
• Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: A healthy dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt adds a depth of creaminess and rich tang. It also cuts through some of the rich seasonings and spiciness.
• Fritos or Tortilla Chips: Chips add the perfect contrasting crunch and if you haven’t tried Fritos yet, they will change your chili eating life.
• Green Onions: Adding a tablespoon or so of chopped fresh green onions to your chili awakens the whole bowl with its fresh pop of flavor.
• Cilantro: Because cilantro makes everything better! It adds yet another layer of bright, fresh, Tex-Mex goodness.
• Diced Tomatoes: I love the contrast of fresh, juicy tomatoes in the warm, rich Turkey Chili.
• Avocado or Guacamole: If you love avocados, this healthy Turkey Chili is a beautiful canvas for them! I love the layer of fresh creaminess they add.
• Hot Sauce: Completely customize the heat of your chili with as much or as little hot sauce as you like.

What to serve with the Best Turkey Chili

We like to keep our Turkey Chili meal simple with big green salad, fruit and my favorite ever Moist Cornbread. If you wanted to get more fancy, then it would be fabulous with Outback Wedge Salad or Winter Fruit Salad. Some people also love their chili over rice or pasta for some added texture.

How to store Turkey Chili

Homemade Turkey Chili can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to four days. If you don’t think you’re going to finish your chili in four days, then be sure to freeze the leftovers.

Freezing this Ground Turkey Chili Recipe

Yes! Turkey Chili freezes exceptionally well because it does not have any dairy products, pasta or potatoes which sometimes can get a funny consistency. This Turkey Chili makes a lot so you may need to freeze some leftovers (although there are never any in our house).

• Let Turkey Chili cool completely in the refrigerator.
• Divide chili into freezer friendly plastic containers or freezer bags. Squeeze out any air.
• Label and date.
• Freeze for up to 3 months.
• Let frozen chili thaw in the refrigerator overnight then empty contents into a soup pot or microwave safe dish and reheat.

Looking for more Soup Recipes?

• Cheesy Taco Soup
• Thai Chicken Noodle Soup
• Lasagna Soup
• Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder (Lightened Up)
• Italian Vegetable Soup
• Broccoli Cheese Soup (Lightened Up
• Tomato Basil Soup
• Slow Cooker Beef Stew
• Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup
• New England Clam Chowder

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