Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe

This healthy turkey chili recipe is more like a hearty stew than a soup and is perfect over rice or macaroni. It’s a recipe my mom always used to make and one that we still love today. This is a meat and bean chili that is full of spice and flavor. It freezes well and you can make it in the slow cooker or stove top.

You might also like this one pot Mexican casserole recipe. 

I think I’ve mentioned this before but my mom was a really good cook. I never really thought about it much but I’ve noticed lately that a lot of my go to dinners are things she used to make for us, like this healthy turkey chili.

Now I like all kinds of chili but this meat and bean chili is the kind I am used to and that which I like the best. It’s a hearty and thicker chili that you can eat it on its own but it’s not a soup like you find at Wendy’s. And my mom always put beans in hers which to me is what chili is all about. Today I updated this post and made it in this turkey chili in the crock pot so I have directions for both the slow cooker and stove top.

However I’ve made all kinds of chili on the blog so if you prefer chunky beef without beans (for those on a low carb diet), a vegetarian version, lentil version and chickpea chicken version. So check those out if you are a fan of this comfort food like we are.

Recipe ingredients and substitutions.

While there are quite a few simple ingredients for this recipe you probably many in your pantry. I used green bell pepper, onion, fresh garlic, cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, black peppers, ground turkey, kidney beans, black beans, tomato paste and crushed tomatoes.

Ground Turkey
Below you can I used 93% lean ground turkey. However you can use whatever kind of ground turkey you prefer. The less lean it is the tastier it is but you will of course add more fat to the recipe. That is totally up to you.

And if you don’t have any you can try ground chicken or very lean ground beef as substitutes. Really any type of ground meat will work. Lots of people use venison!

Veggies and Fresh Garlic
I like green bell pepper and yellow onion in my chili. You could use other peppers like sweet bell peppers or poblanos for a little spice. I have used both if I had them on hand and not green peppers. And I also prefer fresh garlic but you can use garlic powder if you don’t have any fresh garlic cloves. The rule of thumb is ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder equals 1 clove so you would need ½ teaspoon as a substitute.

Beans
I always use black beans and in this particular recipe I use kidney beans as well. If you don’t like beans very much you can just use one or the other which ever is your preference. You can also try other beans like pinto beans, chili beans, garbanzo beans, etc. The beans with meat make this a protein packed meal.

Spices and Tomatoes
I used cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt and black pepper. I think these all should be used and not substituted. You can also add some hot sauce or hot pepper flakes if you want a little kick of heat.

And the tomatoes are crushed tomatoes and tomato paste both of which create a thick sauce. If you like your chili thinner you can a bit of stock or chicken broth or even water to thin it out.

Making healthy turkey chili in the slow cooker.

I usually make this recipe on the stove top and I have instructions below but today I made it in the slow cooker to save time. Here is how you make turkey chili in the crock pot.

Step 1: Dice onion and pepper into small uniform pieces and add to the crock pot. If you want you can spray the crock with nonstick cooking spray if you want to make clean up easier.

Step 2: Next add the ground turkey meat. break it up a bit and then scatter the pieces over the veggies. Next drain and rinse the beans and scatter over the ground meat.

Step 3: Pour half of the crushed tomatoes over top. Then add all the spices, water, crushed garlic and tomato paste and mix together in the rest of the crushed tomatoes left in the can. Pour into the crock pot, cover and cook.

Step 4: Let it cook for an hour or so before mixing so the meat and veggies stay on the bottom to cook. Or if you aren’t going to be around mix right away. You can cook it for 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. When the veggies are soft and the meat cooked through it’s done.

Let cool a bit before serving. Serve this cozy meal with corn bread or a simple salad. Store leftovers in an air tight container or freezer safe container if freezing portions. Please scroll down to view the printable recipe card.

How to make this turkey chili on the stove top.

1. Get out a large pot and heat on medium heat. Add olive oil and when it’s hot put in the onion and green pepper. Saute for a few minutes to soften.
2. Add the ground turkey and break it up into little pieces with a wooden spoon.
3. Just as it starts to brown a little add the spices and mix well.
4. Once the meat is just about cooked add the tomato products, water, beans and garlic. Mix well and let cook for 15-20 minutes until it thickens and all the flavors meld together.
5. In the meantime you can make your macaroni or rice if you are having it and by the time it’s done, the chili should be done.

Ways to eat this tasty healthy chili recipe.

• Eat over rice or macaroni. – We like to eat it over white rice or elbow macaroni. You can mix it together with the macaroni to make chili Mac.
• Eat as is with your favorite toppings. – Try some melted cheddar or Mexican blend shredded cheese on top. Other toppings are sour cream, thin sliced fresh jalapenos, pickled jalapeños, diced green onions, chives, fresh cilantro, sliced black olives, etc.
• Serve with tortilla chips or strips. – Some people like it to eat this with tortilla strips on top or just along side tortilla chips. We sometimes make nachos with leftover chili.
• Serve on top of hot dogs. – My husband always like to save a small container of this to make chili dogs. We just freeze a bit of it so he can make them on nights we don’t want to cook.
• Serve on top of baked potatoes or French fries. – We don’t eat baked potatoes very often but I remember Wendy’s used to have potatoes topped with chili that I liked. And you can make loaded chili fries and top with melted cheese, sour cream and green onions. Delicious!
• Make quesadillas with them. – I made these chili quesadillas and they were a big hit. They would be great for a game night.

This chili freezes well so you can freeze leftovers and have it on make any of the dishes above. I do it all the time. It should be good for 3 months or so.

I hope you like this healthy turkey chili as much as we do. When the weather starts to get cooler, a big pot of chili is a regular weeknight dinner and part of our regular meal planning. I like it because it’s so thick and delicious and protein packed. Plus it makes a great freezer meal. Enjoy!