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Warm up on a chilly fall day with this spicy and flavorful turkey chili. It’s simple and hearty and loved by the whole family.
My classic chili recipe is a crowd favorite at every cook-off I bring it to, but every once in a while I like to do something a little more unique. This turkey chili, Sweet Potato Chili, and Green Enchilada Pork Chili are all perfect for switching it up!
Turkey + Beans
Have you ever tried ground turkey in your Chili? It’s one of my favorites! You can’t even tell the difference between ground beef. It’s just a little bit leaner and healthier, but still equally tasty.
You could also throw in some leftover shredded turkey from your Thanksgiving dinner.
And don’t forget about the beans! This recipe calls for kidney beans but you could substitute for any kind of beans you like. Or a mixture of a few different types. Either way- this turkey chili recipe is SO good and definitely worth making.
Ready in 30 Minutes!
Your house will fill with yummy chili spices and your family will come running to see what’s for dinner!
TURKEY. In a large pot, cook ground turkey over medium heat, stirring to break up meat, until browned and cooked through. Drain fat.
SPICES. Add sugar, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, garlic salt, paprika and pepper and stir to mix.
CHILI. Add tomato sauce, kidney beans, tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 25–30 minutes.
SEASON. Season with more garlic salt and pepper, if desired, and add any desired toppings before serving.
Toppings. Have toppings for people to add to their individual bowls. My favorite chili toppings include sour cream or Greek yogurt (which also helps lessen a spicy chili), green onion, cheddar cheese, sliced avocado, and fresh parsley.
Slow Cooker Directions
This turkey chili recipe does not take long to cook on the stovetop, but it is nice to dump all the ingredients in the crock pot and come home to a hot meal ready to eat.
Brown the turkey in a large skillet and chop the veggies the night before. Store them in separate containers in the refrigerator.
In the morning, add all the ingredients (reduce the amount of water to 1½ cups) to the crock pot and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
Recipe Tips + Storing Info
Ground turkey chili can be topped with your favorites and served with cornbread for a perfectly cozy dish!
Toppings. Serve your healthy turkey chili recipe with all of your favorite toppings like avocado, tortilla strips, tortilla chips, grated cheese, and cilantro! We like to serve ours with Cornbread on the side. Always a good idea!!
Variations. There are lots of variations and additions you can make to this best turkey chili recipe.
- Beans. Add different beans (black beans or pinto beans).
- Veggies. Mix in onions or bell peppers.
- Spices. Spice it up with cayenne pepper.
- Meat. Use ground beef instead of lean ground turkey.
STORE. Keep easy turkey chili in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 6 days. Reheat small portions in the microwave and larger portions on the stovetop.
FREEZE. Pour it into freezer-safe gallon bags, label, date it, and pop it in the freezer for about 6 months. When you’re ready to eat it, just thaw it over the stove.
Recipe FAQ
Chili should be between a thin soup and a thick chowder. You can adjust the texture by adding water or chicken broth to thin it out or let it simmer longer to thicken.
If you like your chili to have some heat you can easily increase the amount of chili powder and paprika and add diced jalapenos. You can also make a mild chili and have red pepper flakes and hot sauce on the side for people to add to their individual bowls.
A lot of cooks like to add a secret ingredient to chili, usually in the form of spice so that it isn’t visible. Often the secret ingredient is 1-2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and another ingredient people like to add is 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon for an added depth of flavor. Stir in your favorite ingredient and wait for people to ask for your recipe.
For More Chili Recipes, Try:
Turkey Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- ½ tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- pepper to taste
- 2 8 ounce cans tomato sauce
- 1 15.5 ounce can red kidney beans, drained
- 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- Toppings sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions, avocado
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook ground turkey over medium heat, stirring to break up meat, until browned and cooked through. Drain fat.
- Add sugar, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, garlic salt, paprika and pepper and stir to mix.
- Add tomato sauce, kidney beans, tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 25–30 minutes.
- Season with more garlic salt and pepper, if desired, and add any desired toppings before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love your recipes. Using most ingredients I have in my cupboard. After cooking for 59 years, I love the ease of your recipes. Thank you for sharing.
We make this regularly, my kids love chili and this is a quick and yummy dinner they’ll eat everytime!
You’ll be surprised how good the turkey is in the chili. It taste just as good as the regular stuff.
I prefer chili Over soup any day. Ill definitEly be adding this turKey recipe to my Winter menu.
Yum!! I love turkey, so this is a great option to add, instead of beef. It is very tasty!
A great recipe for sneaking more veggies in. 😉
Love the option of turkey!! I get tired of hamburger, so this is perfect!! Super tasty & very easy to make!