This easy chili recipe is made with ground turkey for a lighter and healthier chili loaded with tons of flavor! Turkey chili is hearty and filling with black beans, vegetables, and tons of spice from chili powder and other seasonings. Add all of your favorite toppings for a delicious dinner!
Making homemade chili is one of my favorite things to make during the fall and winter – it’s perfect for weeknight dinners, game-days, and parties. I’m not a fan of cold weather, but if I get to have a big bowl of hot chili, that makes up for it!
Turkey chili is one of my favorites because it’s leaner than chili made with beef or pork, which can have more fat. Using ground turkey is an easy way to lighten it up without sacrificing the flavor.
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The Best Turkey Chili Recipe
This ground turkey chili is loaded with tons of flavor! It’s also really filling and hearty – so good on a cold day when you’re craving warm comfort food.
I love to add some southwest flavors like green chiles and corn, which adds just a little heat and flavor. The best part is that you don’t have to do a lot of prep work to make it. It’s really easy to make, and then you leave it to simmer until it’s thick and the flavors are developed.
Ingredients
- Ground turkey
- Finely chopped onion
- Chicken broth
- Frozen corn
- Crushed tomatoes
- Canned black beans
- Green chiles
- Chopped jalapeno pepper
- Ground cumin
- Chipotle chili pepper
- Cooking spray
How to Make Turkey Chili
Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and brown the turkey. Once it’s no longer pink, transfer it to a bowl or plate.
Drain off the excess liquid in the pan and then add the onions and cook them for a couple of minutes. Add the jalapeno and cook it with the onion until softened. Add all of the other ingredients (except for the turkey), stir, and bring it to a boil.
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Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer the chili for 30 minutes. Add the cooked turkey back to the pan and stir to combine. Simmer for another 30 minutes or until it’s thickened. You can cook it longer, depending on how thick you like your chili.
Tips for Making the Best Turkey Chili
You can make the chili the same day you want to serve it, but it’s even better when it’s made a day in advance. Make the chili, cool it, and then store it in the refrigerator. The flavors will develop even more, so they are even deeper the next day.
If your chili is too thick, you can thin it with more chicken broth. If it’s too thin, just simmer it longer to allow the liquid to reduce further.
Leftover chili will keep in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Toppings for Homemade Chili
I love a big bowl of hot chili with lots of toppings – here are some ideas you might like to try:
- For heat, add some sliced jalapenos
- Shredded cheese
- Crushed tortilla chips for a little crunch
- Diced avocado
- Sour cream
- Chopped cilantro or parsley
- Diced white or red onions
I love to make a big batch of this healthy turkey chili on the weekend for easy lunches and dinners during the week. It smells amazing while it simmers and is so delicious! I hope you give this easy recipe a try – I think you will love it.
Other Dinners You’ll Enjoy:
Turkey Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 4 ounce can green chilies
- 1 jalapeno pepper seeds removed and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 1/12 tablespoons chipotle chili pepper
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground turkey until it is no longer pink. Drain excess liquid and leave off to the side.
- In a large pan add onion over medium heat. In 2-3 minutes add the jalapeno pepper. Cook until onion soften. Combine the rest of the ingredients except for the ground turkey. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the meat, combine well and then let simmer for another 30 minutes. If you want, you can simmer it longer to thicken a bit more. Note, if your chili is too thick you can add another ¼ to ½ cup of chicken broth.
- Serve hot! Leftovers will be great as the Chili will keep getting deeper flavors.
Recipe Nutrition
A healthier version of chili without sacrificing any of the amazing flavors! This Turkey Chili is easy to make, is perfect for leftovers and will satisfy your comfort food craving.
This turkey chili is a beautiful as it is delicious!!! Thanks for the great recipe!