I don’t know how the weather is where you live, but it’s bitterly cold here in Connecticut. That weather calls for a bowl of hot soup or chili to keep you warm. I think that turkey chili is the ultimate comfort food. This turkey chili is a delicious, flavorful dish made with ground turkey, tomatoes, spices, and beans all simmered together.
Turkey Chili Recipe
Making this turkey chili is as simple as it can be. There’s no need to buy prepackaged chili seasoning. Only a few spices are needed to give this chili its signature flavor. Because it’s a one-pot meal, there’s no need to make a big mess, and cleanup is a breeze. You must make this if you enjoy quick, tasty, and comforting recipes.
Turkey Chili
To make this chili, I use canned beans. If you prefer not to use canned beans, I recommend cooking your dry beans separately first and then using those cooked beans in this recipe. Per 15-ounce can, you’ll need about 1 ½ cups of cooked beans. While kidney beans are a common addition to chili, I chose pinto beans instead. Oh, wait, you’re not a fan of beans in your chili? Just omit the beans and add another 1/2 pound of ground turkey.
Making this turkey chili ahead of time and freezing it for later is highly recommended. Allow the chili to cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. You can freeze for as long as three months. Before reheating the chili on the stove or in the microwave when you’re ready to eat, defrost it in the refrigerator.
Can this recipe be made in the slow cooker?
You can quickly adapt this recipe to make it in your slow cooker. I suggest browning the ground turkey on the stovetop first, adding garlic and onions, and then transferring it to the slow cooker, where you will add the rest of the ingredients. It will give your chili more flavor.
TIP: When making chili in a slow cooker, it tends not to be as thick as when made on the stovetop. One recommendation to avoid this is to remove the lid and leave it on high for 30 to 60 minutes to let it thicken a little more.
How to Make Turkey Chili on the Stovetop:
The first step is to season the ground turkey. To make this chili flavorful, I use my Sofrito. It’s made with an aromatic blend of garlic, onion, peppers, salt, black pepper, and more that infuse so much flavor into the meat. Of course, you can use any seasoning of your preference. Combine and set aside.
Next, in a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Cook the turkey for 3–4 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Then, add the onion and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until softened. My sofrito already has garlic, so I omit it in this step. If you end up not using my sofrito recipe (which I highly recommend), then this is when you add garlic ( 2 garlic cloves minced).
Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, chili powder, smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir and then add a secret ingredient, cocoa powder. The cocoa flavor adds an incredible depth to this dish.
Then, add the beans. I like to drain and rinse the canned beans to remove any metallic flavor sometimes found in cans. Continue cooking for 30–35 minutes, stirring occasionally or until the chili has thickened. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired. Serve immediately with your preferred toppings. I garnished my plate with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and a few slices of jalapeño pepper for a little more kick!
Topping ideas:
- Shredded Cheese
- Sour cream
- Chives
- Green onions
- jalapeño
- Avocado
- Chips
Give this recipe a try, and then leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out. I hope that your family enjoys it as much as we do!
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EASY FLAVORFUL TURKEY CHILI RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 lbs ground turkey 93% lean
- 3 tablespoons of my Sofrito or your preferred seasoning
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 1 (28 oz ) can of diced tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth low sodium
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoons salt divided
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- 2 (15 oz ) cans of pinto beans drained and rinsed
Instructions
How to Make Turkey Chili on the Stovetop:
- The first step is to season the ground turkey. To make this chili flavorful, I use my Sofrito. It’s made with an aromatic blend of garlic, onion, peppers, salt, black pepper, and more that infuse so much flavor into the meat. Of course, you can use any seasoning of your preference. Combine and set aside.
- Next, in a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Cook the turkey for 3–4 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Then, add the onion and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until softened. My sofrito already has garlic, so I omit it in this step. If you end up not using my sofrito recipe (which I highly recommend), then this is when you add the garlic.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, chili powder, smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir and then add a secret ingredient, cocoa powder. The cocoa flavor adds an incredible depth to this dish.
- Then, add the beans. I like to drain and rinse the canned beans to remove any metallic flavor sometimes found in cans.
- Continue cooking for 30–35 minutes, stirring occasionally or until the chili has thickened. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
- Serve immediately with your preferred toppings. I garnished my plate with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and a few slices of jalapeño pepper for a little more kick!
Notes
Topping ideas:
- Shredded Cheese
- Sour cream
- Chives
- Green onions
- jalapeño
- Avocado
- Chips
Nutrition
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Tell me what you think about this recipe, and don’t forget to contact me if you have any questions. It’s always a pleasure to hear from YOU!
Until the next one…
