Healthy Turkey Chili

Made with ground turkey, this healthy turkey chili still is a bowl full of comfort! Whether you need an easy weeknight meal, you’re entertaining, or you need something for the big game, this slow cooker turkey chili is a show stopper. 

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This version of chili uses lean ground turkey, fresh bell peppers, and a variety of beans. A few, but flavorful spices complete this dish to pure perfection! You probably already have the ingredients in your pantry.

Chili is a big favorite around here. We have several varieties we love to rotate through.  This award winning white chili is the easiest chili recipe you’ll ever make (it really did win an award), and if you like a more unique recipe for chili, you’ve got to check out this Turkey Chili with butternut squash. 

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Ingredients

• Lean ground turkey
• chopped onions
• garlic
• prepared beans (start from dry or use canned)
• colored bell peppers – I like red, yellow and orange
• chopped green chilis
• chicken broth (homemade bone broth is my favorite)
• tomato sauce
• chili powder
• cumin
• oregano
• optional toppings: cheese, avocado, cilantro, non-fat plain Greek yogurt, jalapeno

Preparing dried beans for chili

I have a friend who’s parents own a bean farm. So for the last several years I’ve opted for dried beans because I can buy them in bulk from her, and they are in their purest form. They’re very fresh and they keep a long time.

Canned beans work great in this recipe, but if you’re more of a purist and like to use dried, you want to prepare them in advance. Because of the tomato sauce and the acidity in it, the beans will not soften if you try to slow cook them with everything else.

It’s easiest to cook them ahead of time, but you can do the same day too. It just depends on how much time you have. I often cook big batches of beans and then freeze them.

Here are some easy instructions for cooking them in the instant pot or pressure cooker. Alternatively, you can boil them on the stove until they are soft.

1. Rinse beans in a strainer
2. Optional: soak in 4-5 inches of water overnight. I have skipped this step many times and it’s fine. Better for your digestive system if you soak, but if you don’t, it’s okay.
3. place beans in the pressure cooker with 6-8 cups of water. Seal and set manual pressure for 5-15 minutes depending on the type of beans. Here’s a handy chart for all types of beans.
4. You can either natural release or rapid release. If the beans are not soft enough, just add a couple more minutes and pressure cook again.

If you opt for canned beans, I recommend a natural or organic brand that doesn’t have a lot of preservatives, then rinse them very well.

How to Make Healthy Turkey Chili

STEP ONE: brown the onions and ground turkey. Depending on how lean your ground turkey is, you may not need to drain it. I like to use either 99% lean or 93% lean. After the turkey is browned, add the garlic and stir until fragrant.

STEP TWO: Transfer the meat mixture to the crockpot. Add the broth, tomato sauce, peppers, green chilis, and seasonings. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.

STEP THREE: Serve! Garnish it with all your favorite toppings such as shredded cheddar, sour cream, yogurt, cilantro, jalapeno, avocado.

Can you put raw ground turkey in the slow cooker?

Yes! You can put the ground turkey in the slow cooker raw. You’ll just need to break it up a bit after it’s cooked. Ground turkey is quite lean, so you usually don’t need to drain it.

What to serve with turkey chili

• This Fall Salad pairs perfectly and I love the fresh fruit in it, it rounds out the meal so well.  
• You can also serve it over a big scoop of brown rice. 
• Chips and salsa (my weakness!) and easy guacamole.
• Cornbread is absolutely delicious with it too.

Notes for Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

This turkey chili recipe is so versatile, there are plenty of ways to change it up. It can be made in the crockpot, Instant pot, or on the stovetop.

• Use less beans for a low carb option. I limit it to 2 cups when going for low carb chili.
• Time-saving tip– cut up the onions and peppers the day before.
• you can replace the ground turkey with ground beef (you can even lower the fat content by rinsing the browned beef in really hot water, keeping it a bit more healthy).
• Use turkey broth, chicken broth or beef broth, they all work great! The bone broth is super healthy and good for your gut.
• I like to use a variety of beans for color and texture, but you can use one kind, or change the combination that I have. Black beans are always good.
• non-fat plain Greek yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream and much lower in fat, but either one works.

More Ground Turkey Recipes

• Turkey Burgers
• Cottage Pie
• Turkey Skillet Dinner
• Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers
• Turkey Meatball Noodle Bowl

For more recipe inspiration, follow me on Pinterest and Facebook. Like behind the scenes action? Check out my stories on Instagram.

See you next time!

~Chellie

Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Made with ground turkey, this healthy turkey chili still is a bowl full of comfort! Whether you need an easy weeknight meal, you're entertaining, or you need something for the big game, this slow cooker turkey chili is a show stopper. 

4.5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-mex

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 10 people

Calories: 310kcal

Author: Chellie Schmitz

Equipment

• ▢
  Slow Cooker
• ▢
  Frying pan

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 lb lean ground turkey
• ▢ 1 cup onion chopped
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic pressed
• ▢ 1 cup yellow pepper chopped
• ▢ 1 cup orange pepper chopped
• ▢ 1 cup red pepper chopped
• ▢ 4 oz can mild chopped green chilis
• ▢ 2 cups navy beans
• ▢ 2 cups pinto beans
• ▢ 2 cups kidney beans
• ▢ 2 cups Turkey broth can use chicken or vegetable
• ▢ 2 15 oz cans tomato sauce all natural, no sugar
• ▢ 1 Tbs chili powder
• ▢ 1 tsp cumin
• ▢ 1 tsp oregano

Optional toppings

• ▢ cheese, non fat plain Greek yogurt, cilantro, jalapeno, avocado

Instructions

Slow Cooker Instructions

• In a frying pan, saute onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. (Alternatively, you can just crumble the raw ground turkey in the bottom of the slow cooker, add the onions and garlic, stir, then go on to step 5.
• Add ground turkey, and brown until cooked through.
• Add garlic, stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Transfer to slow cooker.
• Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
• Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
• Serve garnished with shredded cheese, cilantro, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, jalapeno, avocado.

Instant Pot Instructions

• Turn the instant pot on the saute' function. Heat teaspoon or so of olive oil and saute' the onions until translucent.
• Add the ground turkey and cook until browned. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds
• Turn the saute' function off
• Add the peppers, chilis, beans, broth, tomato sauce and seasonings and stir to combine
• Place the lid on the pot and turn the knob to the sealed position. Turn the instant pot on manual pressure for 20 minutes.
• When it's finished cooking use the rapid release and serve.

Stovetop instructions

• In a large pot heat a teaspoon of olive oil, add the onions and saute' until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking up while you go, until browned.
• Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds
• Add the peppers, chilis, beans, broth, tomato sauce and seasonings. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil.
• Turn the heat down to medium-low, cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes. The longer it simmers the more the flavor builds.

Notes

• Use less beans for a low carb option. I limit it to 2 cups when going for low carb chili.
• Time-saving tip– cut up the onions and peppers the day before.
• you can replace the ground turkey with ground beef (you can even lower the fat content by rinsing the browned beef in really hot water, keeping it a bit more healthy).
• Use turkey broth, chicken broth or beef broth, they all work great! The bone broth is super healthy and good for your gut.
• I like to use a variety of beans for color and texture, but you can use one kind, or change the combination that I have. Black beans are always good.
• non-fat plain Greek yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream and much lower in fat, but either one works.

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 819mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1281IU | Vitamin C: 75mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 4mg

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