Turkey Chili

kitty | June 8, 2023   SKIP TO RECIPE  

A bowl of Turkey Chili topped with a shredded cheese, cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream.

As a worthy stand-in main star, turkey chili is every bit as flavorful and delicious as the more popular beef chili. If you’re interested in a lower-fat option or just really love ground turkey, give this a try. An easy, set-it-and-forget-it recipe, the most active part of this dish is the prep, and even that’s minimal; just some chopping and you’re all set. You could even use a slow cooker and make this ahead of time. This recipe is also the perfect way to use up some of that ground turkey you eagerly bought in bulk when you thought you’d struck upon a fool-proof food for your toddler; but really your toddler just faked you out and didn’t really love turkey as much as you thought. (For the record, I’ve never bought (or eaten?) ground turkey in my life before having a kid.) Needing a change from the go-to turkey meatball, I decided chili should be this fowl’s fate. 🐔

Since turkey is less rich and more bland than beef, it can really handle being heavily seasoned with spices and vegetables. Turkey can use a good bit of help from everyone else in the pot and assumes flavors really well. I was generous with the blend of seasonings and threw in more peppers than I normally do with regular beef chili, to create a warm, savory stew with lots of texture and interest from the different veggies. 

The end result is a simple, comforting bowl of chili that is a respectable alternative to its classic cousin, beef, and one of the best ways to enjoy ground turkey. Serve topped with shredded cheese and sour cream alongside some tortilla chips or crusty bread and dig in!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 2 jalapeńos, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 4 tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon taco seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup water or chicken broth
  • 1 can black beans, drained and washed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Shredded cheese, for topping
  • Sour cream, for topping

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground turkey until it is no longer pink, breaking it up while stirring, about 7-10 minutes. Carefully drain out the fat.
  2. Stir in the onions and peppers and cook them until they are tender, about another 5 minutes. Add in the tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.
  3. Next, stir in the tomato paste until it is well-incorporated. Add in the cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, taco seasoning, chili powder, salt, and pepper and water or chicken broth. Mix well and allow to come to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour or until the liquid has reduced by half.
  4. After 1 hour, add in the black beans and cook for another 10 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat, mix in the chopped cilantro and serve topped with shredded cheese and sour cream. Enjoy!

A top down shot of a bowl of Turkey Chili
Closeup shot of a bowl of Turkey Chili topped with shredded cheese, cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream.
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