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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.

top view of turkey chili in a round white bowl topped with green onions and jalapeno peppers
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There are tons of chili recipes out there, but this ground turkey chili is one of the best chilis we’ve ever enjoyed. 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. We have many other easy homemade chili recipes that we will share with you further down below.

Why you should make this chili recipe

  • Healthy: Loaded with wholesome ingredients that keep you satisfied while nourishing your body. This meal has it all from the protein-packed turkey to the nutrient-rich veggies.
  • Quick & easy to make: There’s no chopping, other than the onion and garlic. Everything else gets dumped into a pot and simmers away in just 30 minutes.
  • Full of flavor: This cozy bowl of deliciousness is incredibly delicious, comforting, and filling. You will want to make it on repeat all season long!
Bowl of chili topped with green onions and sliced jalapeños.

Ingredients needed to make this turkey chili

This turkey chili recipe is made with simple, wholesome ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen and pantry. Here’s the lineup:

  • Olive oil: For sautéing the onion. Feel free to use any preferred oil.
  • Onion & garlic: A must for any flavorful chili recipe!
  • Ground turkey: We 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 is not as flavorful.
  • Spices: We’re using a delicious blend of chili powder, cumin, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Feel free to use as much or as little as you prefer. If you like a spicier chili, you can add in a dash or two of cayenne pepper.
  • Broth: We recommend using a low-sodium chicken or beef broth because then you can control the amount of salt in the chili.
  • Tomatoes: We 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.
Ground turkey, spices, and canned ingredients for making chili.

How to make this recipe

This homemade chili recipe 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.

Adding spices to browned turkey meat.

Simmer: Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, and beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Adding black beans and tomatoes to a large pot.

Serve: Once cooked to your liking, ladle chili into bowls and top with your favorite chili toppings. Enjoy!

Stirring a large pot of ground turkey chili.

Tips for recipe success

Even though this recipe is really quite simple, here are a few tips for the best results.

  • To save a bit of time and effort, buy pre-cut onion from the produce department or the frozen food aisle. You can also buy jarred minced garlic.
  • 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 another 1/2 pound of ground meat or extra veggies.

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 done cooking, remove the pot from the stove and stir in 1 cup of sour cream or 8 ounces of cream cheese, or 1 cup of heavy cream.
White bowl filled with chili made with black beans.

Frequently asked questions

Is ground turkey a good substitute for ground beef?

Yes, ground turkey can be used interchangeably for any ground meat. Chili is traditionally made with beef, but in this recipe, we’ve lightened things up by using ground turkey.

What can I add to ground turkey for flavor?

In this recipe, we’re adding plenty of flavor to the ground turkey. We’ve got savory flavors from the onion, garlic, and veggies and plenty of spices to really season this dish.

Is chili healthy to eat?

It really depends on the specific recipe. This ground turkey chili is very nutritious – it’s packed with protein, fiber, iron, and other vitamins and minerals. However, it is a good idea to not add too many high-fat toppings like sour cream and cheddar cheese.

top view chili recipe in a white bowl

Servings suggestions

Once the chili is ready, it’s time for the fun part – the taco toppings! Set out all of the topping choices and let everyone choose their favorites! We recommend any of the following:

  • Shredded cheese
  • Cilantro
  • Sliced jalapeño
  • Green onions
  • Avocado or guacamole
  • Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • Lime wedges

Storage recommendations

  • Storing: Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store it 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 it on medium heat on the stovetop. You can also reheat it for about 2 minutes in the microwave.
Spoon in a bowl of chili topped with avocado and jalapeños.

More chili recipes to try

Recipes we think you will love

top view chicken chili topped with jalapeno and sliced green onions in a white bowl

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5 from 4 votes

Ground Turkey Chili

By: Rena
Servings: 6 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
top view of turkey chili in a round white bowl topped with green onions and jalapeno peppers
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.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 1/2 lb ground turkey
  • 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp chili powder, or to taste
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken or beef broth
  • 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • Optional toppings: sour cream, jalapeno, shredded cheese, lime wedges, cilantro

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a dutch oven 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.
  • Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, and beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Add toppings of choice and enjoy!

Notes

  • Storing: Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It will last about 4 to 5, making it great for meal prep. If you plan to keep it longer than that, this chili freezes so 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 it on medium heat on the stovetop. You can also reheat for about 2 minutes in the microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 279kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 34gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 941mgPotassium: 1040mgFiber: 9gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 738IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @healthyfitnessmeals or tag #healthyfitnessmeals!

About Rena Awada

Hi, I’m Rena! Welcome to my blog. I am here to help you prepare delicious, light, fresh meals that your whole family will love!

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5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    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.