Slow Cooker Southwest Turkey Chili Recipe

By Rena Awada | Updated On October 30, 2022

This Slow Cooker Southwest Turkey Chili recipe is the perfect go-to for a simple weeknight dinner. This a filling, warm, and comforting chili recipe that even the kids will love. Super easy to make and packed with flavor.

Slow Cooker Southwest Turkey Chili in a white bowl


A thick and bold chili full of ground turkey, vegetables, beans, and spices that will wow your taste buds every time you make it. You can start it around lunchtime and enjoy the amazing aroma throughout the day until dinner when you serve up this Slow Cooker Southwest Turkey Chili Recipe. Perfect for a weeknight meal that is filling and delicious.

Why you will love this slow cooker chili recipe

  • Easy and hassle-free: Making this turkey chili recipe is really simple and hassle-free. Prep it in the slow cooker, go about your day running errands, and come back home to a comforting dinner.
  • Healthy and filling: No hidden ingredients. This slow-cooker turkey chili is made with all-around healthy pantry staples that will keep you full for hours.
  • Flavorful: You will really love this flavor-packed chili recipe.

Ingredients you will need

  • Onion: use white cooking onions.
  • Red bell pepper seeded and chopped- you may use green peppers if that’s all you have but red would taste better.
  • Ground turkey: go as lean as you can find. We used 93% lean but you can get leaner.
  • Olive oil: or any oil of choice like avocado oil.
  • Seasonings: chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  • Chicken Broth: vegetable broth will also work.
  • Tomato sauce: canned will be fine or make your own at home.
  • Diced tomatoes: fresh or canned. We used canned.
  • Black beans drained and rinsed
  • Frozen corn: you may use canned if that’s what you have handy.
  • Cilantro chopped: gives it a flavor boost. Skip if you don’t like cilantro.

How to make this slow cooker chili

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  • Cook for 5-7 minutes until the turkey is browned. Break up the turkey into smaller pieces with your spoon as you stir.
  • Place the turkey in a slow cooker along with the onion, bell pepper, chicken broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes.
  • Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
  • Stir in the black beans and corn, and cook, uncovered for an additional 20 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
turkey chili in slow cooker

Frequently asked questions

Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker?

Yes of course. The best way and easiest way to actually cook any raw meat is to put it in the slow cooker for 6-8 hours and forget about it. Depending on what you are trying to cook the time may vary. The end result is amazing. Tender and juicy chicken or meat served for lunch or dinner without too much effort. Like this Slow cooker chili recipe, you can easily put all your ingredients in the slow cooker and go about your day.

What can be cooked in a slow cooker?

So, the question should be what can’t you cook in the slow cooker? The options are endless really. From, red meats, chicken, veggies, and so on. Decide what you want to cook ( or make this slow cooker turkey chili recipe)  and dump it in the slow cooker to do its thing for you. Come back to a flavor-packed and tender meal.

Do you have to put water in a slow cooker?

It is recommended to add very little water to your slow cooker. The excess water added doesn’t have a way to boil off and escape into the air since it’s tightly sealed so only a very small amount of water is usually needed. Most meals don’t need any added water.

spoon in turkey chili recipe in a white bowl

More slow cooker recipes

Recipes you may like

Finally, Share this Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe if you make and love this recipe. Tag me on Instagram with your remakes. Do you have a favorite chili recipe? Share it with me below.

spoon in turkey chili recipe in a white bowl

Slow Cooker Southwest Turkey Chili

A thick and bold chili full of ground turkey, vegetables, beans, and spices.
4.86 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Fat
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 357kcal
Author: Rena

Ingredients

  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • 1 pound ground turkey 93% lean
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 Cup frozen corn
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  • Cook for 5-7 minutes until turkey is browned. Break up the turkey into smaller pieces with your spoon as you stir.
  • Place the turkey in a slow cooker along with the onion, bell pepper, chicken broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes.
  • Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
  • Stir in the black beans and corn, cook, uncovered for an additional 20 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Notes

  • use lean ground turkey or ground chicken 
  • any bell pepper of your choice
  • if you don’t have chicken broth, use vegetable broth
  • frozen corn is preffered, if not you may use canned corn

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 2207mg | Potassium: 1497mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2770IU | Vitamin C: 71.7mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 6.2mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @HealthyFitnessMeals or tag #HealthyFitnessMeals!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura Simpson says

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for dinner and all I can say is wow! This is absolutely delicious I made mine in my instant pot/slow cooker and the only thing I did different was add fresh garlic instead of garlic powder. Don’t skip the cilantro it makes it! After it cooked according to slow cooker directions I put the beans and the corn in and brought it up to pressure for 4 minutes and then released the pressure but I’m sure this is not a necessary step it’s just something I added. Wonderful just as it is cannot say enough how many more times we will be making this …my husband loved it!!!

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