A homemade turkey chili recipe is an easy and healthy meal packed with flavor.
A rich and hearty meal, this chili is packed with onions, sweet peppers, lots of rich tomato flavor. It’s made a little bit lighter with ground turkey and simmered until thick and delicious.
A one-pot meal makes dinner easy to prepare ahead of time for those busy weekday nights.
Hearty and Healthy Turkey Chili
A great chili recipe is a go-to for an easy meal, packed with flavor and everyone in my family loves it!
- Healthy and hearty, this recipe is made with ground turkey to make it a little bit leaner.
- Jam-packed with flavor, this recipe uses ingredients you likely have on hand already.
- Turkey chili is ready in 45 minutes start to finish but tastes like it’s been slow-cooked all day!
- Make ahead and reheat throughout the week or freeze portions for single use in zippered bags for up to 6 months!
Ingredients for Turkey Chili
Turkey: Ground turkey keeps this recipe lower in fat and calories. No turkey? No problem, make this chili using ground beef, sausage, or chicken!
Beans: Kidney beans are loaded with fiber and antioxidants. Black beans, pinto beans, and even lentils can be used.
Sauce: The saucy part of this chili is made up of diced tomatoes, broth, and a bit of tomato sauce. It all simmers together with seasonings until rich and thick. Add fresh tomatoes (peel them first) in addition to the canned tomatoes if you’d like.
Seasonings: Pantry spices like garlic, chili powder, oregano, and cumin make turkey chili rich and flavorful. For extra heat, add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper or some fresh jalapenos.
Extras: Turkey chili is perfect for sneaking in leftover veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, corn, carrots, and even potatoes!
How to Make Turkey Chili
- Cook the turkey with onions, garlic, and chili powder in a large pot until no pink remains.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the pot (per the recipe below).
- Simmer uncovered for 35-45 minutes until thickened.
Toppings for Turkey Chili
Create a DIY Turkey Chili bar and let everyone choose their favorite toppings!
- salsa
- guacamole
- diced avocado
- sour cream or Greek yogurt
- tortilla chips
- shredded cheddar cheese or other shredded cheese
- chopped onions
- cilantro
- green onions
My mom always served chili with toast so that’s how I often serve it. This chili also pairs well with a side of homemade cornbread & honey butter!
Storing Turkey Chili
Keep turkey chili in a covered container in the refrigerator between 3 to 5 days and reheat portions on the stovetop being sure to stir every few minutes until it’s heated through.
Leftovers can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 months. That in the fridge overnight and heat on the stove top or in the microwave.
Pop-out a portion and make sloppy joes, chili cheese dogs, chili cheese fries, or scoop some turkey chili on baked potatoes or omelets!
More Ground Turkey Recipes
Did your family enjoy this Turkey Chili? Leave us a rating and a comment below!
Turkey Chili
Turkey Chili is healthy & hearty, perfect to warm up a crowd on a cold day!
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Brown ground turkey, onion, garlic, and chili powder in a big saucepan until no pink remains.
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Add remaining ingredients and bring chili to a simmer over medium high heat.
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Reduce heat to low and let simmer 35-45 minutes uncovered until thickened.
To make prep quick, while the turkey is browning, prepare the remaining ingredients.
The chili will thicken as it simmers.
As with most chili recipes, this makes great leftovers and reheats well.
Keep turkey chili in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 4 months. Reheat on the stovetop until heated through.
Calories: 238 | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 426mg | Potassium: 939mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1270IU | Vitamin C: 38.3mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 4.7mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Entree, Turkey
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