Turkey chili is the perfect compromise on a cold day when you want a warm bowl of comfort food with fewer calories than beef chili. Turkey chili has the same hearty texture as beef chili, but it yields only 200 calories (and just 4 grams of fat!) per serving. Here’s how to make the best turkey chili at home, with all of the flavor.
Turkey Chili Ingredients
- Lean ground turkey
- Celery, onion and green pepper
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Jarred meatless pasta sauce
- Canned hot chili beans
- Water
- Frozen corn
- Kidney beans
- Canned pinto beans
- Optional toppings: Sour cream, cubed avocado, diced jalapeno peppers
Directions
Step 1: Brown the turkey
First, cook the ground turkey. In a large skillet, start by crumbling together the turkey, celery, onion and pepper over medium-high heat. Cook until the turkey is no longer pink, about 6 to 8 minutes.
Editor’s Tip: Lean ground turkey contains 53% less fat and 38% less saturated fat than regular ground turkey. It works great in casseroles, tacos and other dishes that use crumbled meat.
Step 2: Transfer to the slow cooker
Next, get the slow cooker in on the action. Transfer the turkey and vegetable mixture to a 5-quart slow cooker. Stir in the seasonings, tomatoes, pasta sauce, chili beans, water and corn. Cook the chili, covered, on high for 1 hour.
Step 3: Cook low and slow
The secret to this chili isn’t in the ingredients as much as it’s in the cooking method. To really build flavor, cook the chili on low for an additional 5 to 6 hours. You can also elevate your dish with one of these chili flavor boosters.
Step 4: Add remaining ingredients
To finish the chili, stir in the kidney and pinto beans. Cook covered on low for an additional 30 minutes or until hot.
Step 5: Top it off
Serve chili in bowls and, if desired, top with sour cream, avocado and jalapeno.
How to Make Turkey Chili in an Instant Pot
Short on time? You can use a pressure cooker to make this recipe, too. This version cooks in just 25 minutes!
To make, simply select the saute or browning setting on a 6-quart electric pressure cooker and adjust it for medium heat. Add the turkey and cook until it’s no longer pink, about 6 to 8 minutes, breaking up the turkey into crumbles as you go. Drain away any fat, then add the water and cook for 1 minute, stirring to loosen any browned bits from the pan.
Return the turkey to the pressure cooker and stir in tomatoes, pasta sauce, beans, celery, onion, green pepper, corn and seasonings. Lock the lid and close the pressure-release valve. Pressure-cook the chili on high for 5 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Quick-release any remaining pressure and serve with desired toppings.
Turkey Chili Variations
You can easily customize this chili to suit your tastes. Add some favorite ingredients, sub some others, add your favorite spices—the options are limitless! Use coffee or beer instead of water to add depth of flavor. Add lime or orange zest at the end of cooking for a citrus twist. Simmer chili with a cinnamon stick for extra spice. For an extra spicy kick, add sliced fresh jalapeno or serrano peppers, ground cayenne pepper or canned chipotles in adobo. Not a fan of red chili? This white turkey chili recipe is another healthy favorite.
Can you freeze turkey chili?
Can’t finish up a batch of chili (or just want to prep in advance)? You can freeze it! Simply cool the chili and place it in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, then heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary.
Turkey Chili Tips
Can I use ground beef instead of ground turkey in this chili?
Yes, but it will affect the nutritional value of the chili as ground beef has more fat than ground turkey. To substitute, simply replace the turkey with 1 pound lean ground beef. Or, check out our best chili recipes of all time to find a new favorite.
Can you make turkey chili without beans?
Yes, but the end result will be more like a soup than a chili. Consider using a little less water if you omit the hot chili beans and adjust the spice levels to your taste. You can also substitute different types of beans—such as black beans—if you’d like.
What seasonings can you use in turkey chili?
Our recipe calls for chili powder, cumin, pepper and cayenne pepper—and it also gets some flavor from the hot chili beans. Feel free to adjust the spice level to your individual tastes. For more spice, we recommend adding additional chili powder, 1/4 tablespoon at a time, until you’ve reached the desired spice level.
What toppings go well with turkey chili?
We love to serve this turkey chili with sour cream, cubed avocado and diced jalapeno peppers. But it’s also delicious topped with tortilla chips, bread cubes (we’re big fans of these cornbread recipes), green onion or pepper jack cheese. Go ahead and use whatever chili toppings you love!
