This Turkey Chili recipe combines lean ground turkey, a simple blend of chili spices and the convenience of canned chili beans to create an easy, crowd-pleasing, family-friendly meal that tastes as if it has been simmering for hours.
✔️ Easy Turkey Chili
A warm bowl of chili piled up with your favorite toppings is the ultimate comfort food, especially on a cold day. The perfect one-pot meal to serve for dinner, game day and parties.
Although you may be thinking about the classic beef chili, I can guarantee this easy turkey chili recipe will satisfy all your chili cravings!
⭐️ Why You’ll Love This Ground Turkey Chili?
- Healthy: This protein packed, gluten-free homemade turkey chili is made with lean ground turkey breast, beans and homemade chili seasonings (which means no additives or hidden sugars).
- Hearty: Although this healthy chili is made with lean turkey, it has depth of flavor and is incredibly satisfying.
- Quick and Easy: This homemade chili recipe doesn’t require any special skills or equipment. This easy meal is made with basic ingredients and the best part is, you can have a large pot of chili ready in about 40 minutes!
✔️ Healthy Chili Recipe Ingredients
This is a partial list of ingredients and substitutions for this simple turkey chili recipe. For a full list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.
- Ground Turkey: I use lean ground turkey (white meat only). A combination of turkey breast and dark meat can be used also. Ground chicken or lean ground beef are good substitutions.
- Canned Chili Beans: Red kidney beans, pinto beans (or a combination of both) and black beans are canned in a mild chili gravy. Choose your favorite bean variety and heat level (mild/medium/hot).
- Broth: I use chicken broth. Use low sodium broth if preferred. Vegetable broth or beef broth can be used.
- Chili Spice Blend: Chili powder, ground cumin, oregano, paprika, onion powder, and ground cloves. Don’t skip the ground cloves. It gives the chili amazing flavor. Cayenne pepper can be added to add a bit of heat.
- Canned Tomatoes: I use two different types of canned tomatoes. Crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel). Tomato sauce and fire roasted diced tomatoes are good substitutions.
- Masa Harina: Sold in the ethnic or Hispanic section of the grocery store. Masa harina is also use to make corn tortillas and tamales. It’s used as a thickener and gives the chili its distinct flavor.
🔎 How to Make Turkey Chili (Step by Step)
For detailed instructions and cooking times, check the printable recipe card below.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and green bell pepper and cook until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute.
- Add the ground turkey to the pot and cook until no longer pink.
- Stir in the spices and bouillon. Add diced and crushed tomatoes, beans and broth. Simmer.
- Make a slurry by combining masa harina with broth. Stir in the masa harina mixture. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently.
✔️ Favorite Chili Toppings
Add all your favorite things! Here are some topping ideas:
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese
- Tortilla chips
- Green onions
- Avocado
- Onion
- Cilantro
✔️ Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
If you prefer to make this recipe in the slow cooker, sauté the onion and bell pepper in a large skillet, then add the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink. Transfer this mixture to the crockpot and add the rest of the ingredients. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
✔️ Making Ahead, Storage, Freezing and Reheating
🔎 Can Turkey Chili Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes! Chili actually tastes better the day after it is made. I usually make it 1-2 days ahead of time.
🔎 How Do I Store Chili?
After cooling completely, store the chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
🔎 Can I Freeze Chili?
Yes, turkey chili freezes very well. Cool the turkey chili completely and store it in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag (remove as much air as possible from the bag). Freeze for 2 months.
Reheating: You can reheat chili in a stockpot over medium heat. For individual servings, reheat in the microwave until heated through.
🔪 Best Turkey Chili Recipe Tips
- The homemade chili spice blend makes this recipe extra special; however, if you are short on time, you can use store-bought chili mix. I recommend you add the ground clove which works wonderfully in this recipe.
- Masa harina thickens the chili while adding a very distinct flavor.
- If you cannot find canned chili beans, use regular canned beans.
Take a look at these other easy chili recipes:
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Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven
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All Clad Stockpot 6 Qt.
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Slow Cooker Crock Pot
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Measuring Cups and Spoons Set
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Best Healthy Turkey Chili
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, core and chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound extra lean ground turkey, (97%-99% white meat only)
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, (optional)
- 1 teaspoons chicken bouillon
- 1 (10-ounces) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, mild or regular (such as Rotel)
- 1 (15-ounces) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 (15-ounces) can chili beans (you can choose chili kidney beans or chili pinto beans or a combination of both)
- 1 1/4 cups chicken broth divided, plus more if needed
- 1 tablespoon masa harina
- Salt and pepper to taste, (optional)
For Toppings:
- Shredded cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, diced onions, sliced avocado, tortilla chips, lime wedges.
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and green bell pepper and cook for about 4 minutes or until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute.
- Add the ground turkey to the pot and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat until no longer pink.
- Add the spices and bouillon and mix to combine. Add the diced and crushed tomatoes, chili beans and 1 cup of broth. Bring to a simmer and reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered for 20 minutes stirring a couple of times to prevent the chili from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Combine the masa harina with the remaining 1/4 cup of broth. Stir in the masa marina mixture. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently. If the chili is too thick, add additional broth. Season with salt and pepper if needed. Serve with desired toppings.
Notes
- You can use ground turkey breast or a combination of ground turkey breast meat and turkey dark meat. Ground chicken or lean ground beef can also be used.
- Masa harina thickens the chili while adding a very distinct flavor.
- If you cannot find canned chili beans, use regular canned beans.
- Store leftover chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Turkey chili freezes well, for 2 – 3 months.
- Make it in the Slow Cooker: Sauté the onion and bell pepper in a large skillet then, add the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink. Transfer this mixture to the crockpot and add the rest of the ingredients. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
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