Turkey Chili

Turkey Chili is hearty and filling, made with ground turkey, crushed tomatoes, beans, and spicy seasoning in ONE POT, ready in under 60 minutes!

It’s still cold outside, but we’re warming up in the kitchen with our favorite comfort foods, like Chicken Tortilla Soup, Cabbage Soup, and Slow Cooker Beef Chili!

TURKEY CHILI

Turkey Chili is a hearty comfort food, while also being lower in fat than other chili recipes (like my super popular Classic Beef Chili). Plus it takes a total time of under 60 minutes, making this the perfect weeknight Tex-Mex dinner recipe! You can make this in a large dutch oven on the stovetop, or in the slow cooker. The slow cooker may take longer, but it cooks this chili low and slow, which is perfect for developing the flavors.

This turkey chili recipe can be made even healthier with veggies like bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, or zucchini. You can add more or less chili powder depending on how much flavor you like, and more cayenne for heat.  Or if you’re in a rush, just use a pre-made packet of chili seasoning instead of chili powder!

WHAT GOES WITH TURKEY CHILI?

• Tortilla chips
• Corn bread
• Shredded cheese (cheddar, pepper jack)
• Sour cream
• Cilantro
• Avocados
• Diced tomatoes

HOW TO MAKE THIS TURKEY CHILI RECIPE IN THE SLOW COOKER

• In a large skillet, brown the turkey with vegetable oil. Add to slow cooker.
• Add all other ingredients to the slow cooker and stir together. Cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 8 hours.
• Stir the chili in the slow cooker, and serve topped with shredded cheese and chopped fresh cilantro.

HOW TO MAKE THIS TURKEY CHILI RECIPE IN THE INSTANT POT

Add oil and ground turkey to the pot with the sauté function turned on, stirring until browned. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, then seal and lock to lid and pressure valve. Set the pot on high manual setting for 20 minutes, and release naturally.

The instant pot is a lot faster than the slow cooker, but most instant pots have a slow cooker function, too.

HOW LONG DOES TURKEY CHILI LAST?

Leftover turkey chili will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave, or a saucepan, stirring before serving.

CAN YOU FREEZE TURKEY CHILI?

Turkey chili is perfect for prepping ahead of time and freezing for another day. Store in an airtight container for about 4-5 months, and defrost in the refrigerator the night before you want to serve it.

Create a free account to Save Recipes

Email addressSign Up Now

MORE CHILI RECIPES

• Chili Cheese Sloppy Joes
• Cincinnati Chili
• Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
• Wendy’s Chili (Copycat)

HOW TO MAKE CHILI POWDER

• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• cayenne pepper to taste (start with 1/4 teaspoon)

Mix all of the spices together for a quick and easy chili powder recipe! Make this a low-sodium chili powder version by omitting the salt.

TIPS FOR MAKING TURKEY CHILI

• This is made with kidney beans and chili beans, but you can also use black beans if that’s what you have.
• This recipe calls for ground turkey, but you can use this chili recipe for any other ground meat.
• Make this turkey chili recipe vegetarian by omitting the ground turkey and adding crumbled tofu instead. Press as much water from the tofu as possible using paper towels, then crumble into the chili. Personally, I prefer black beans instead of kidney beans when I’m making vegetarian chili. The black beans are smaller and match the texture of tofu chili better.
• This recipe is naturally dairy free and gluten-free if you don’t use cheese on top.
• If you’re going for a healthy dinner with this easy turkey chili recipe, you can serve with fresh slices of bell peppers. You can also top with light sour cream and fat free cheese.
• If you don’t have crushed tomatoes you can use diced tomatoes.
• I like to set out some lime wedges on the table, for some fresh flavor.
• Serve topped with cilantro, lime wedges, and sliced pickled jalapeños.
• If you want even more flavor, use Chipotle seasoning or even a small amount of brown sugar.

5 from 6 votes

Print

Turkey Chili

Turkey Chili is hearty and filling, made with ground turkey, crushed tomatoes, beans, and spicy seasoning in ONE POT, ready in under 60 minutes!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American/Mexican

Keyword turkey chili

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 306 kcal

Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 yellow onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
• 1 cup water
• 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
• 28 ounces kidney beans rinsed
• 14 ounces chili beans rinsed
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Add the vegetable oil, turkey, onion, garlic, salt and pepper to a large dutch oven on medium heat and cook, breaking it apart until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.

2. Add in the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil then reduce to low heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Note: click on times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer while cooking.

Nutrition Facts

Turkey Chili

Amount Per Serving

Calories 306 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 31mg10%

Sodium 719mg31%

Potassium 1164mg33%

Carbohydrates 43g14%

Fiber 12g50%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 26g52%

Vitamin A 1145IU23%

Vitamin C 12.5mg15%

Calcium 94mg9%

Iron 6.2mg34%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.