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Turkey Chili

This healthy turkey chili recipe is the perfect comfort food for cold winter nights, game-day feasts, and everything in between. Made in the slow cooker or on the stovetop, it features lean meat, hearty beans, fresh veggies, and tons of flavor. Pairs well with chips, corn muffins, and more! 

Turkey Chili with Tortilla Chips
This healthy turkey chili is perfect for weeknight dinner, gameday, and every occasion in between.

Watch us Make Turkey Chili in the Crockpot

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe

  • Made with pantry staples, it’s budget-friendly and great for meal prep and tastes even better the next day. 
  • One batch makes 10 servings and is easily doubled, making this turkey chili recipe a great option for feeding even the hungriest of crowds.  
  • With two cooking options, it can be made on the stovetop or in the slow cooker for a hands-off meal. 
  • The addition of warm spices and Siracha makes it the most flavorful and delicious turkey chili recipe you’ll ever taste. 
  • Guaranteed to warm you up from the inside out, this healthy turkey chili packs in tons of protein, nutrients, and fiber for comfort food you can feel good about. 

Tips to Make Turkey Chili (2 Ways)

Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight meal you can whip up on the stove or need a warm slow cooker dinner waiting for you when you come home, this is the recipe for you! No matter which method you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a winning meal, especially when you follow the tips below!

  • Brown the Meat. Whether you’re making this turkey chili recipe on the stovetop or in the slow cooker, you’ll want to start by browning the meat. This helps lock in flavor and ensures it cooks all the way through. 
  • Adjust the Spice. Thanks to the use of Sriracha and warm spices, this healthy turkey chili recipe is bursting with flavor. However, feel free to use more or less of any ingredient to suit your preferences. 
  • Simmer the Chili. If you prefer your chili on the thicker side, let it simmer uncovered until your desired consistency is achieved. 
  • Customize the Ingredients. The great thing about chili is that you can easily mix and match ingredients to use up anything you have on hand and make it your own! For instance, for this healthy turkey chili recipe, some of our favorite variations include using beef instead of turkey, adding in corn kernels, switching up the types of beans, and stirring in extra vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, and celery! 
Healthy turkey chili with sriracha
Serve this chili with tortilla chips, corn muffins, bread, and more!

Serving Suggestions

This turkey chili recipe is unbelievably satisfying on its own, but it tastes even better loaded up with all your favorite toppings like Cheddar cheese, sour cream, and green onions! Then, to make it extra filling, try pairing it with a side like: 

  • Sweet Corn Muffins – these are always a hit, and are perfect for pairing with chili.
  • Tortilla Chips – use regular tortilla chips or lime flavored tortilla chips for extra zest.
  • Rustic Bread – this hearty bread is absolutely perfect for serving with chili, soups, and stews.
  • Baked Potatoes – these are easy to make in the oven or even microwave, for an easy side.

How to Store Turkey Chili 

Healthy turkey chili tastes even better the next day! So, go ahead and make a double batch to enjoy throughout the week, and follow the tips below to keep it fresh. 

Refrigerator: Once fully cooled, leftovers can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for 3-4 days

Freezer: Place your chili in an airtight container, and keep it frozen for up to 3 months

To Reheat: When you’re ready to eat, let your chili thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, warm up individual portions in the microwave. Or, add it back to a saucepot over medium heat or a slow cooker set to warm until your desired temperature is reached. 

Chili being scooped up with a tortilla chip
Leftover turkey chili tastes even better the next day!

Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe Common Questions

Can I make this recipe vegetarian? 

You can omit the meat from this turkey chili recipe. However, if you’re looking for a vegetarian option, we recommend making our Vegetarian Chili or this Lentil Chili with Black Beans instead. 

What can I add to turkey chili to make it more flavorful? 

This turkey chili recipe is plenty flavorful on its own, but if you want to kick it up a notch, try adding an extra dash of Sriracha, or use your favorite hot sauce.

Does turkey chili taste the same as beef chili?

Turkey chili is similar in taste to beef chili but not quite the same. Due to its leanness, turkey chili tends to adopt the flavor of the spices added more easily while beef chili often has a heartier, fattier flavor. 

Can I make turkey chili in advance?

Turkey chili is the perfect meal prep recipe, as you can make a big batch and divvy it up into separate containers to use throughout the week. Cooked chili can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to a month.


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crockpot turkey chili with tortilla chips

Turkey Chili

5 from 59 ratings
This healthy turkey chili recipe is the perfect comfort food for cold winter nights, game-day feasts, and everything in between. Made in the slow cooker or on the stovetop, it features lean meat, hearty beans, fresh veggies, and tons of flavor.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

Instructions

Stovetop Option:

  • In a large, heavy pot over medium heat, brown the meat with the garlic powder and 1 tspsalt.
  • Add the remaining ingredients, stirring to combine.
  • Increase the heat to medium-high, bringing the ingredients to a simmer. Cover, and continue to simmer for 3-4 hours.
  • Portion into bowls, and serve hot with garnishes of choice, if desired.

Slow Cooker Option:

  • In a skillet over medium heat, brown the meat with the garlic powder and 1 tsp salt. Drain excess fat.
  • Place all ingredients in a slow-cooker, stirring to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours.
  • Portion into bowls, and serve hot with garnishes of choice, if desired.

Equipment

Notes

*This recipe works just as well with ground beef. 
*Use more or less Sriracha as desired, and feel free to use any hot sauce of choice. 
*Option: Include sweet corn kernels or vary the types of beans, if desired. 
*If you enjoyed this recipe, come back and give it a rating ♡

Nutrition (per serving)

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 617mg | Potassium: 1555mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 770IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 5mg
Course: Dinner, Main
Cuisine: Amerian
Diet: Gluten Free
Method: Crockpot, Slow Cooker

Add a comment

Recipe Rating




32 comments

    • Monica
    • 5 stars

    This turkey chili looks absolutely divine – and I love that you included the slow cooker option! With spring sports coming in, I am going to need more slow cooker meals than ever. This one is going to be a big hit for sure. 🙂

    • Ann
    • 5 stars

    Turkey chili is one of my favorite types of chilis! I feel the turkey meat just adds a different type of flavor!

    • Dennis
    • 5 stars

    I made this for the games today and everyone love your turkey chili! Perfect for a chilly winter day,

      • Amy Dong

      That’s awesome!

    • Erin
    • 5 stars

    This chili was so quick and easy to make! My husband made it as a surprise and we were all thrilled. So much flavor!

      • Amy Dong

      Thank you, Erin!

    • Tristin
    • 5 stars

    The sriracha gave this turkey chili the perfect amount of kick! Made it in my slow cooker so it would be ready at dinner time, perfect winter meal!

      • Amy Dong

      So glad you liked it!

    • Veronika
    • 5 stars

    This is my favorite comfort meal during the winter! Your version looks so delicious, going to make it tonight 😉

    • Veronika
    • 5 stars

    Talk about comfort food! This chili was amazing! I like that it yields a lot so I can freeze the leftovers for busy days. Definitely making this again as soon as I run out of my leftovers!

      • Amy Dong

      Thank you!

    • Elaine
    • 5 stars

    One of the most comforting recipes, if you ask me 😉 Definitely a keeper – perfect for my slow cooker!

    • Kathryn
    • 5 stars

    The sriracha in this chili added SO much flavor and the perfect amount of heat. We made this chili with beef and it was devoured!

      • Amy Dong

      Yay, Kathryn!

    • Amanda Dixon
    • 5 stars

    Ohhh, I love sriracha. What a great idea to add it to chili. It adds the perfect spice kick.

    • Lauren Michael Harris
    • 5 stars

    We really loved the flavor and spiciness of this chili. It will definitely be a chili we make every winter!

      • Amy Dong

      So glad you liked this!

    • Pam
    • 5 stars

    We’ve been cutting back on red meat, so I was searching for a healthier version of chili. This one is perfect, you don’t even miss the beef!

    • Dove0024
    • 5 stars

    Thank you for the recipe! I won the first place in office chili event with it. Mine was made with ground turkey, doubled seasoning (except salt) for more spiciness and a chicken broth cube.

      • chewoutloud

      Awesome! So glad everyone enjoyed 🙂 Thanks for coming over and congrats 🙂

    • Patti

    Can I ask what substitutes for chili powder in this recipe? The Sriracha sauce? I have always used both cumin AND plenty of chili powder in my chili. This looks awesome!

      • chewoutloud

      Yes, Sriracha sauce for sure gives you that kick 🙂 Enjoy, and thanks for coming over today, Patti 🙂

    • Stephanie G

    How much of the chili is considered one serving?

      • chewoutloud

      Good Q, Stephanie! I’m guestimating about 1 cup or so, based just on how many ppl in our party are able to help devour 🙂

    • Niki

    This looks fantastic especially with the hot sauce! What kind of onions do you suggest ?

      • chewoutloud

      Niki, I like the regular yellow onions for this, but really any variety will work…white, red, etc. Thanks so much for coming over today, and hope you love this chili as much as we do 🙂

    • Alencia J

    I just cooked this. It tastes amazing when I sampled it from the crockpot. Can’t wait to have a bowl-full tommorow!

      • chewoutloud

      YAY, way to go, Alencia! 🙂 So glad you you like this. Thanks for coming over to let us know, and hope you continue finding things you enjoy here 🙂

    • Johnny

    Are the Green peppers bell peppers?

      • chewoutloud

      Yes, Johnny, green bells 🙂 Hope you enjoy it 🙂

    • azra
    • 5 stars

    Turkey or beef chilli sriracha sounds yummy, can’t wait to try this recipe

      • chewoutloud

      It’s yummy! Hope you guys like it as much as we do, Azra! Thanks for coming over today, and hope to see you here soon 🙂

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