This easy turkey chili recipe is packed with lean ground turkey, three kinds of beans, and a medley of spices that come together for a robust, hearty flavor! This one-pot meal is ready in 30 minutes, making it our go-to recipe for a comforting quick weeknight dinner.
Why We Love This Easy Turkey Chili Recipe
Whenever we are in the mood for something warm and comforting, we turn to this ground turkey chili. The mix of lean turkey, three kinds of beans, and spices is not only flavorful, but also loaded with protein and fiber. We often make this turkey chili when we have friends over for a casual dinner. It’s perfect for making ahead and serving with a variety of toppings and a side of cornbread! Here’s why we think you will agree this is the best turkey chili recipe:
- Quick and Easy: Just brown your meat, add the rest of the ingredients, and let it simmer! Everything cooks in one pot in 30 minutes, which means fewer dishes to clean up after dinner.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with affordable ingredients like ground turkey and canned beans, this recipe won’t break the bank.
- Hearty and Filling: This chili is loaded with ground turkey and beans, making it a satisfying meal that will keep you full for hours.
- Meal Prep: This chili tastes even better the next day, making it ideal for meal prep or leftovers. We always make a double batch to freeze!
If you love chili as much as we do, make sure to check out our easy crockpot chili mac and cheese, flavorful crockpot chicken chili, or this easy ground beef chili recipe.
Key Ingredients
Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this ground turkey chili recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!
- Turkey: We use ground turkey, but you can use any kind of ground meat you like in this recipe. If it is a fattier cut, make sure to drain off any excess grease when it’s done browning.
- Chili Seasoning: Our homemade chili seasoning recipe will add the perfect flavor, but you can use store bought if you prefer! Make sure to taste your chili before serving and add extra chili powder, salt, or cayenne pepper, if needed.
- Beans: We used a mixture of three kinds of beans: black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans. You can use any type of canned beans you prefer, just make sure to rinse and drain them well.
- Rotel: If you make our recipes often, you know we love a can of Rotel! It just adds so much flavor! However, a can of fired roasted tomatoes or even diced tomatoes will also work.
- Bell Pepper: Using a yellow, orange or red bell pepper will give a milder flavor, while a green bell pepper will add a more pungent pepper flavor.
How To Make Turkey Chili
This easy turkey chili recipe is ready in just three quick and easy-to-follow steps. Don’t forget to toss a batch of our cheesy jiffy cornbread into the oven while you make your chili! Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions and to watch the step-by-step video.
- Brown the turkey: Cook the ground turkey, onion, and bell pepper over medium heat, breaking up any large pieces of meat.
- Add the seasonings and vegetables: Add the garlic and chili seasoning, cooking for 5 minutes. Then stir in the beans and rotel tomatoes.
- Add broth and simmer: Pour in the beef broth and give everything a good stir. Bring the chili to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until thickened.
- Serve and enjoy: When ready to serve, ladle into bowls and top with all your favorite toppings!
Cook’s Tips and Variations
- Slow Simmer for More Flavor: If you have extra time, let the chili simmer over low heat for up to an hour. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors develop!
- Mix Up the Beans: Don’t be afraid to try different beans — white beans, garbanzo beans, or even chili beans can add a unique twist.
- Add More Veggies: Bulk up your chili with extra vegetables like corn, zucchini, or carrots for added nutrition.
- Make it Spicy: For those who love heat, add some chopped jalapeños, leaving the seeds in for extra heat. You can also use a can of hot or extra hot Rotel, or add cayenne pepper or hot sauce to taste.
- Richer Tomato Flavor: Stir in up to 2 tablespoons of tomato paste for a more intense tomato flavor.
- Crockpot: If you’d prefer to use the slow cooker, try our crockpot turkey chili recipe instead! However, if you are making this chili ahead, you can transfer it to a crockpot to keep warm.
What to Serve with Ground Turkey Chili
- Toppings: There are so many optional toppings, but there are a few of our favorites: sour cream, shredded cheese, jalapeños, cilantro, sliced avocado, crushed fritos, and red or green onions.
- Bread Sides: Sweet potato cornbread or serving your chili over cornbread waffles are a fun and unique option, but we always go with our favorite beer bread!
- Salad: This roasted beet salad is a great way to up your daily vegetables, but you also can’t go worth with this retro wilted lettuce salad!
Yield: 6 servings
Best Easy Turkey Chili Recipe
Our favorite easy turkey chili recipe is made with lean ground turkey, three kinds of beans, and a medley of spices for a rich and hearty flavor! This one-pot meal is ready in 30 minutes, making it our go-to quick dinner recipe when we are craving comfort food.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 large bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chili seasoning
- 1 (10.5 oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes, do not drain
- 1 (15.5 oz) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15.5 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15.5 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven, or large heavy bottomed soup pot, over medium-high heat, add the ground turkey, onion, and bell pepper. Cook stirring often and breaking apart the meat as it cooks, until turkey is cooked through.
- Add garlic and chili seasoning and simmer for 2 minutes more. Then stir in the Rotel tomatoes, pinto beans, black beans, kidney beans, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and tomato sauce.
- Bring to a simmer once more and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes, until thickened. Serve warm with your favorite toppings. If you have extra time, allowing the chili to simmer for longer over medium-low heat will allow the flavors to intensify!
Notes
Store: Transfer cooled leftover turkey chili to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat: If reheating a large amount, reheat chili in a pot on the stove, adding a splash of broth or water to maintain the chili’s consistency. For single servings, the microwave works great.
Freeze: This chili freezes beautifully, just let it cool completely before transferring it to freezer-safe containers. It’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight for best results before reheating.
Make Ahead: If you’re planning to serve this chili at a gathering, you can make it ahead of time and keep it warm in a slow cooker for hours!
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 515kcal, Carbohydrates: 64g, Protein: 58g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 83mg, Sodium: 603mg, Potassium: 1745mg, Fiber: 21g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 2272IU, Vitamin C: 46mg, Calcium: 122mg, Iron: 8mg
