Turkey Chili Recipe

In the realm of comforting dishes, few challenge the hearty goodness of chili. If you’re looking for a healthier (but still tasty!) twist on the classic comfort food, turkey chili might just be your new go-to. Substituting traditional ground beef with lean ground turkey, this chili offers a lighter yet protein-packed alternative. The turkey’s mild flavor allows the medley of spices, such as paprika and chili powder, to shine through. Loaded with kidney beans, tomatoes, and onions, each spoonful delivers a hearty mix of textures and taste. Whether you serve it with chips, over a baked potato, or top it with cheese and a dallop of sour cream, this turkey chili recipe will win the hearts of all who taste it!

Why You’ll Love This Turkey Chili

• Easy – This turkey chili recipe is easy — just brown your meat, add vegetables, spices, and let simmer all in a single pot, so you don’t have tons of dishes to wash afterwards.
• Healthy Alternative – Turkey chili provides a lighter alternative to the traditional ground beef version, offering a leaner protein source.
• Flavorful – Ground turkey, with its mild flavor, readily absorbs the delicious medley of spices and creates a satisfying dish you’ll want to make over and over again!
• Perfect for All Occasions – Whether you’re hosting a game day gathering, a casual family dinner, or simply craving a comfort meal, turkey chili fits the bill. Its versatility makes it a crowd-pleaser, and the aroma of simmering spices is sure to create a cozy atmosphere in your kitchen.
• Pairing Possibilities – Top your turkey chili with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, fresh cilantro, green onions — you name it! Serve it with cornbread, chips, crackers, or even as a topping for baked potatoes.

Recommended Tools for This Recipe

• Cup Strainer – Use a cup strainer to easily drain the canned kidney beans and tomatoes used in this recipe.
• Chopping Board – Avoid scratching your plates and countertops by dicing your onions on a chopping board.
• Pot – As this is a one-pot recipe, I recommend using a pot that is at least 3 quarts to contain all the ingredients.

Chili Ingredients

• Ground Meat – This recipe calls for ground turkey, but feel free to swap for ground beef.
• Olive Oil – A kitchen essential, olive oil will help brown your ground meat.
• Yellow Onions – Add depth and a robust, sweet flavor to your turkey chili with yellow onions.
• Chili Powder – What would chili be without chili powder? Use this spice blend to add a bold kick to your dish.
• Garlic Powder – A convenient kitchen staple, garlic powder is derived from dehydrated garlic cloves and adds a pungent, savory kick to dishes without the need for peeling and chopping. Want a stronger garlic flavor? Replace each teaspoon of garlic with a teaspoon of minced garlic in a jar.
• Ground Pepper – Add a burst of warmth with crushed peppercorn.
• Canned Tomatoes – Packed at the peak of freshness, canned tomatoes offer the essence of ripe tomatoes year-round and are a staple in my pantry. They’re a versatile base for sauces, soups, stews, and yes, this chili. When adding to your chili, make sure you keep the juice!
• Kidney Beans – This recipe calls for canned red kidney beans, so you can spend less time slow cooking beans and more time enjoying this tasty turkey chili!
• Shredded Cheese – I prefer to top my chili with this Mexican cheese blend, but opt for your cheese of choice!

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Print Recipe

Turkey Chili Recipe

Courses: Dinner Recipes, Entree Recipes

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 25 mins Total Time 30 mins

Servings: 6

Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Turkey Chili Ingredients

Servings

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 16 oz ground turkey
• 1 yellow onion
• 4 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground pepper
• 1 tbsp beef bouillon
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 14.5 oz stewed tomatoes (with liquid)
• 15.5 oz dark red kidney beans (drained)

Instructions

1. Brown meat

   In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add meat and sauté for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.

2. Add vegetables and spices

   Add onion, kidney beans, tomatoes, chili powder, garlic powder, ground pepper, and beef bouillon.

3. Simmer

   Simmer and stir occasionally for about 20 minutes or until onion is wilted.

4. Enjoy

   Serve turkey chili in a bowl and top with preferred toppings - cheese, sour cream, cilantro, sliced jalapeño, etc.

Note

• Ground turkey can be substituted with ground beef or protein crumbles.
• While this turkey chili recipe calls for stewed tomatoes, canned dice tomatoes work too!
• Add water to achieve desired consistency.