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Healthy Turkey Chili

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Recipe Type:
Difficulty: Beginner
Description

My healthy turkey chili recipe is an easy one pot meal full of fiber and protein. All you need are some pantry staples, peppers, onions, and ground turkey!

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp butter or oil, divided
  • 1 lb ground turkey (I used 93% lean)
  • 1 red onion, diced
  • 2 bell peppers, diced (green is my favorite for this recipe but any color works. You can even use poblano peppers!)
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced (very mild spice if you discard the seeds first)
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1.5 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano, or fresh
  • 1 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes (14 oz)
  • 2 cups chicken broth, low sodium
  • 1 can dark red kidney beans, low sodium (15 oz)
  • 1 can pinto beans, low sodium (15 oz)
    • Toppings
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Plain greek yogurt or sour cream
  • Cilantro
  • Sliced green onions
  • Fritos or corn chips
Directions
  1. 1
    Heat a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Once heated up, add in 1 tbsp of butter or oil. Then add in the ground turkey. Break apart while it cooks until it's fully crumbled. Let it brown for about 5 minutes until it is just about fully cooked and browned. Set meat aside but leave as much of the oil as you can.
  2. 2
    Next, add in the other tbsp of butter or oil. Put in the diced onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno peppers. Cook about 7-8 minutes or until browned and soft.
  3. 3
    Once the pepper and onions are softened, add in the garlic and all of the spices, brown sugar, cocoa, and mustard. Stir to coat everything. Let toast for a couple minutes.
  4. 4
    Add the can of crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and beans. Make sure to drain and rinse the beans off. Stir well.
  5. 5
    Put on the lid and let simmer for about 15 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add back the turkey meat and stir well. You can add additional water or broth to reach your desired consistency.
  6. 6
    Serve and enjoy - personally, I think the cheddar cheese and fritos are a must!
Notes

Feel free to use diced tomatoes if you don't mind chunks of tomato in your chili. You can also use the fire roasted kind for additional smoky flavor.

You can replace one of the bell peppers (or both!) with poblano peppers for a more savory pepper flavor. Poblano peppers are mildly spicy whereas bell peppers are purely sweet. When I have used poblano pepper I will typically leave out the jalapeno peppers because I don't like too much spice.

Keywords: turkey chili, healthy chili, hearty meals, high fiber meals, high protein meals, meal prep recipes
Read it online: https://leetherd.com/recipe/healthy-turkey-chili/
Lee Warstler
Registered Dietitian

Hey there, I’m Lee! As a registered dietitian, I’m passionate about creating easy, nutritious recipes that inspire a balanced approach to eating. I love to experiment with new dishes in the kitchen and am a true chocolate enthusiast. I aim to demystify nutrition misinformation and share recipes that nourish your body and soul. Join me on this journey to make healthy eating simple, enjoyable, and delicious!