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This Ground Turkey Chili is a hearty, flavorful meal that always gets rave reviews! It’s easy to make with ground turkey, tomatoes, black beans, and plenty of spices. It simmers for just 30-minutes and is guaranteed to be your go-to recipe for cooler weather.
I love chili, and I am always looking for ways to make a variety of it. But this ground turkey chili is one of the best chilis you will have. The meat is tender, it’s thick and hearty, the heat level is perfect, and there’s a huge depth of flavor from the different spices. It’s the perfect meal for a cold day, with minimal prep work.
This turkey chili is an easy chicken chili recipe that is loaded with protein and fiber, simple, flavorful, and will keep you full for hours.
Why I love Chili!
Since I was born and raised in Africa, I didn’t grow up eating chili or even know what chili was until I moved to the States at 19. I was awe-struck at how delicious it was. In fact, when I was pregnant with my first baby, I craved it so much that my ex-husband would take me to restaurants just to have chili. I wasn’t really a food blogger back then, nor did I know how to even cook much. Lol.
Here’s why I love making this chili all the time:
- Wholesome: Made with lean turkey and plenty of veggies, this chili is filling without feeling heavy.
- Quick and easy: Minimal prep and mostly pantry ingredients. Everything simmers together and is ready in about 30 minutes.
- Full of flavor: Warm, comforting, and satisfying, this is the kind of chili you’ll want to make on repeat.
Ingredients needed
Below are the ingredients I used for this turkey chili. Full measurements are listed further down in the recipe card.
- Olive oil: For sautéing the onion. Feel free to use any preferred oil like avocado oil
- Onion & garlic: A must for any flavorful chili recipe!
- Ground turkey: I recommend using 93% ground turkey, which is a blend of both breast and thigh meat. The 99% lean ground turkey breast dries out quickly and lacks flavor.
- Spices: I used a blend of chili powder, cumin, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. If you like a spicier chili, you can add a dash or two of cayenne pepper.
- Broth: Use a low-sodium chicken or beef broth so that you can control the amount of salt in the chili.
- Tomatoes: I like to use crushed or stewed tomatoes, which are larger and softer than diced tomatoes. You can totally use either, though! Fire-roasted tomatoes would be great too! You’ll need 28 ounces, so one of the larger cans or two regular-sized 14.5-ounce cans.
- Black beans: The recipe calls for black beans, but feel free to use any beans you’d like. Pinto beans, kidney beans, or chili beans would also work great.
- For serving: Top your chili with any favorites! We love sour cream, jalapeños, shredded cheese, lime wedges, and cilantro.
How to make ground turkey chili
This chili recipe made with ground turkey is incredibly flavorful and super easy to make! Here’s the simple process, but for the full, printable recipe, reference the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Sauté the onion & brown the meat: Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion for 3-4 minutes. Add the ground turkey and cook, mincing the meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink. Stir in the garlic and seasonings.
✏️ If you do not have a Dutch oven, any pot you have on hand will work, so don’t worry.
Simmer: Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, and beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. When I simmer, I like to keep the lid on so the beans get really tender and the flavors meld.
Serve: Once cooked to your liking, pour the chili into bowls and top with your favorite chili toppings. Some of the topping options can be sliced jalapenos, sliced green onions, some sour cream, or chopped cilantro.
Recipe Tips
Even though this recipe is really quite simple, here are a few tips for the best results.
- You can use pre-made shredded rotisserie chicken instead of the ground turkey if you like.
- If the chili is thicker than you like, add more broth or water, 1/4 cup at a time.
- Not a fan of beans in your chili? Omit the beans and add extra veggies, or 1/2 cup of quinoa.
Customize this recipe
This chili is delicious as-is, but you can mix up the flavorings and customize the recipe to your taste. Here are some ideas:
- Protein: Use any type of ground meat you prefer. Lean ground beef or ground chicken would be great.
- Spicy: To give this chili an extra kick of heat, add about 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper when adding the other spices, or add sliced jalapeños as a topping.
- Vegetables: You can add some other veggies to the mix, such as bell peppers, corn, or diced green chilies.
- Creamy: After the soup is cooked, remove the pot from the stove and stir in 1 cup of sour cream, 8 ounces of cream cheese, or 1 cup of heavy cream.
Common questions
Yes. I used black beans, but use any beans you have on hand to make this chili.
To make it low-carb, skip the beans and add other ingredients to keep it hearty, like chopped mushrooms, diced zucchini, finely chopped cauliflower, diced bell peppers, diced celery, or even diced eggplant. My first choice would be to add some extra lean meat and chopped mushrooms so the chili still feels thick and satisfying.
I do have a vegan chili recipe you can check out. To make this chili vegan, replace the ground turkey with lentils, crumbled tofu, diced mushrooms, or plant-based crumbed sausages. Also, replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
Storage recommendations
- Storing: Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the fridge. It will last about 4 to 5 days, making it great for meal prep. If you plan to keep it longer than that, this chili freezes well.
- Freezing: To freeze the chili, place it in freezer-safe containers or resealable gallon-sized freezer bags. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stovetop over medium heat. You can also reheat it for about 2 minutes in the microwave.
More chili recipes
- White Bean Pumpkin Chili
- Sweet Potato Chili
- White Bean Turkey Chili
- Keto Beef Chili
- Vegetarian Bean Chili
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Ground Turkey Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or avocado oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
- 2 1/2 cups chicken or beef broth
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, one can
- 30 ounces black beans, 2 (15 oz) cans, rinsed and drained
Optional toppings:
- sour cream, jalapeno, shredded cheese, lime wedges, cilantro
Instructions
- Heat the 1 tablespoon olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté the 1 medium onion (diced) for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey and cook, mincing the meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink. Stir in the 3-4 garlic cloves (minced) and seasonings. (1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, and Kosher salt and ground pepper)
- Add the 2 1/2 cups chicken or beef broth, 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, and 30 ounces black beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add toppings of choice (sour cream, jalapeno, shredded cheese, lime wedges, cilantro) and enjoy!
Notes
- Use any beans of your choice.
- Instead of ground turkey, you can use ground beef or ground chicken. To save time, you can use chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken.
- To make it even more heart, add in some chopped mushrooms or corn.
- Instead of chicken broth, you can use beef broth or vegetable broth. Don’t have broth? Use water.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I loved it 👍
Delicious..but I feel like if something is missing I don’t know what though. Super easy and quick to make. I sliced avocado & made some white rice on the side.
Made this last night. Everyone loved it
Recipe says 1 serving is 279 calories. How many cups or grams is considered 1 serving?
one bowl = close to 2 cups