Description
This BEST Turkey Chili recipe is a healthy and hearty dish packed with ground turkey, three types of beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a blend of chili spices. Perfect for a satisfying meal, it offers rich flavors and versatile cooking methods including stovetop, Instant Pot, and slow cooker.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons chili powder (use 1 tablespoon for less spice)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 ¾ cups low sodium chicken broth (or one 14.5 ounce can)
- 28 ounce can fire roasted crushed tomatoes (or fire roasted diced tomatoes)
- 15 ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
Toppings (Optional)
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Cilantro
- Chopped onions
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Begin by chopping the yellow onion and mincing the garlic cloves. Rinse and drain the kidney, black, and pinto beans to reduce excess sodium and improve texture.
- Sauté Aromatics and Turkey: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Then add the ground turkey, cooking until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks.
- Add Garlic and Spices: Stir in the minced garlic, brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another 1-2 minutes to allow the spices to bloom and become fragrant.
- Incorporate Tomato Elements: Mix in the tomato paste, stirring well for 1 minute to caramelize slightly. Then add the fire-roasted crushed tomatoes and chicken broth, stirring everything to combine thoroughly.
- Simmer the Chili: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer uncovered for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. This step helps develop deep flavors and thicken the chili.
- Add Beans and Final Simmer: Add the rinsed and drained kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans to the pot. Stir gently and continue to simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes to heat the beans through and blend the flavors.
- Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste the chili and adjust seasoning with additional salt or chili powder if desired. Serve hot with optional toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, cilantro, and chopped onions for added freshness and creaminess.
Notes
- This Turkey Chili is healthy, hearty, and delicious with a great balance of protein and fiber.
- You can make this chili on the stovetop as described, or alternatively use an Instant Pot or slow cooker following adapted methods.
- For less spice, reduce chili powder to 1 tablespoon.
- Using three kinds of beans adds texture and nutrition variety.
- Low sodium chicken broth and rinsing canned beans help control the sodium content.
- Optional toppings can be customized to your preference for extra flavor and richness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 459 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 834 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 18 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 79 mg
