Chili and ground turkey are a match made in heaven. The lean meat provides a great base for the chili, while the combination of spices brings out its natural flavor. It’s a perfect hearty soup for the fall and winter months. Ground turkey chili is easy to make, and you can make it for just about any occasion like a party or potluck. You can even transform this into an easy weeknight dinner. In this article, you are going to learn how to make “The Best Ground Turkey Chili Recipe.”
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Why use ground turkey?
When you’re working with ground turkey, you can expect a very different experience from what you might be used to if you use ground beef. Ground turkey has a milder flavor than beef, which makes it great for adding some extra protein to your chili without overpowering the other flavors.
The best part is that it’s also lower in fat and calories than regular ground beef, so you will still taste a delicious pot of chili, but just more healthy for you. Below is the list of ingredients you’ll need for your ground turkey chili.
Ground turkey chili ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 15oz cans red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 10oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles.
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups chicken broth
Chili Seasoning
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Place oil in a large pot and place over medium-high heat. Add in ground turkey and break up the meat; cook until no longer pink.
- Push your cooked meat to one side of the pan. Add in onion, green bell pepper, and garlic and saute for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Next add in chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic and onion powder, salt, and pepper; stir for about 20 seconds.
- Next add tomato paste, diced tomatoes and green chiles, kidney beans, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until chili thickens and flavors come together. Taste and adjust seasonings and salt as necessary.
- Garnish with anything you’d like. Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each.
Variations
After you’ve mastered the basic recipe, you can start to play around with it. You can use different types of beans or add more veggies like corn or bell peppers. Here are some ideas for changing up your chili:
- Add a little extra chili powder for an extra kick.
- Sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes on top for a spicy kick.
- For a smoky flavor, try adding a bit of liquid smoke in place of some water or broth and stir into the pot before serving (be sure to taste test).
Chili topping ideas
There’s nothing wrong with the classic ground turkey chili, but it can be fun to play around with toppings and mix up the flavors. Try some of these suggestions:
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Shredded cheese (My favorite is sharp cheddar)
- Chopped green onions or chives
- Crushed tortilla chips
- Salsa and lime wedges
- Cilantro
There is no limit to what you can make with chili.
Cooking tips
- Use a large pot to cook the chili. This will allow for more room for the ingredients to mix and mingle.
- Stir constantly while cooking to prevent burning or sticking—this will also help blend flavors together as they stir together in their own juices during cooking time.
- If you prefer a thicker consistency, use less liquid (water, broth, etc.). If you want your chili to be thinner and more soupy, use more liquid.
- Don’t forget to taste test! Chili is a dish that benefits from different levels of spice depending on your preferences—if something isn’t quite hitting the spot yet after simmering on low heat then feel free to add more seasoning as needed (or even switch it up and try something new).
- Adding vegetables at the end creates texture and helps them retain some bite.
Storage tips
Ground turkey chili is a great meal to make for dinner, but it’s also a great option for leftovers. The following tips will help you get the most out of your leftover chili:
- Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking up to three days.
- Freeze leftover chili in individual portions for up to 3 months.
- Reheat frozen chili in the microwave or on the stovetop, stirring occasionally until warm.
Ground Turkey Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground turkey
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 medium Onion, diced
- 1 medium Green bell pepper, diced
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- 2 15 oz Can of red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 14.5 oz Can of diced tomatoes
- 1 10 oz Can of diced tomatoes with green chiles.
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups Chicken broth
- 2 tbsp Chili powder
- 1 tbsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Dried oregano
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Place oil in a large pot and place over medium-high heat. Add in ground turkey and break up the meat; cook until no longer pink.
- Push your cooked meat to one side of the pan. Add in onion, green bell pepper, and garlic and saute for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Next add in chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic and onion powder, salt, and pepper; stir for about 20 seconds.
- Next add tomato paste, diced tomatoes and green chiles, kidney beans, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until chili thickens and flavors come together. Taste and adjust seasonings and salt as necessary.
- Garnish with anything you'd like. Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this ground turkey chili recipe as much as I did. This ground turkey chili recipe is a healthy, veggie-filled, and hearty way to fill up on a cold day. If you haven’t made ground turkey chili before, then you may be surprised at how easy it is, and how delicious it can taste.
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