This Turkey Chili Recipe has been on the regular rotation for years. It is hearty – loaded with ground turkey, beans, and veggies in a flavorful tomato base. It’s an easy weeknight meal that comes together in one pot – after the turkey and onions are sauteed, the rest is just dumped and simmered. Get those tortilla chips ready for dipping into the best turkey chili!
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The Best Turkey Chili Recipe
My friend Gina from nursing school (did you know I used to be a registered nurse?), shared this award-winning slow cooker chili recipe with me that she learned from her mother. She made it for a chili cook-off fundraiser at the university, and I couldn’t stop refilling my bowl. It’s delicious! When she told me how easy it was, I could hardly believe it but it’s become a staple on our menu. I’ll share all of my best tips to really amp up the flavor of your chili!
This turkey chili recipe is loaded with great ingredients–like lean ground turkey, veggies, and high-fiber beans that make it a little lighter than traditional chili but just as satisfying. It also reheats well, so it’s great for meal prep (see my storage tips below).
Turkey Chili Recipe Video
After you watch the video, two things will happen: you’ll realize how easy it really is, and you’ll crave it until you make it. Dinner = solved!
We love filling, warming, one-pot meals, like our Beef Stew, Chicken Tortilla Soup, and Slow Cooker Chili. This turkey chili recipe will quickly become one of your family’s favorites since it’s so easy and is packed with nutritious ingredients without sacrificing that crave-able chili flavor.
Helpful Reader Reviews
“Probably the most flavorful turkey chili I’ve had/made. I’ll definitely make it again. And it will probably replace my beef chili!” – Josie ★★★★★
“Two thumbs up from my entire family! Including two teenagers. This was great!” – Lori ★★★★★
Ingredients for the Best Turkey Chili
One of the things that makes this recipe so simple is it uses a ton of canned pantry staples, but you can substitute with homecooked beans and veggies if you prefer. I usually always stock the cans so I can make chili anytime the craving starts and I don’t mind it now that more companies offer BPA-free cans
- Ground Turkey – Since ground turkey is naturally pretty lean, there usually isn’t a need to drain it after browning. Any ground turkey will work here.
- Onion – dice a medium red or yellow onion. Gina recommended red onion for chili because it sweetens as it cooks.
- Chili Spices – here’s where you can really amp up the flavor with chili powder, cumin powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. This recipe is pretty mild but if you prefer spicy, add 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper.
- Tomato Base – I combine a 28 oz jar of canned diced tomatoes with their juice (seasoned or plain), and a 15 oz can of tomato sauce. You can substitute the tomato sauce with crushed tomatoes if that is what you have on hand.
- Beans – I like a mix of 3 beans-black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans, but you can substitute with what you have on hand. I often swap in some white beans or use a canned blend of beans. It’s best to rinse and drain beans to remove excess salt and any tinny flavor.
- Green chilis (or) Jalapenos – for more flavor, add a small 2oz can of diced jalapenos or green chilis. I use mild, but you can use hot if you like more heat.
- Corn – you can use 1 can of sweet corn, frozen corn, or fresh corn from 2 ears of corn. I’ve always loved the sweet bite that corn adds to chili, but you can omit it if you’d prefer.
How to Make Turkey Chili
Stovetop chili is the quickest and easiest way to make chili. It all comes together in one pot and the cooking time is minimal.
- Add oil to a pot or Dutch oven and brown ground turkey.
- Add diced onion and spices and sautee until onions are softened.
- Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, then partially cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
Toppings for Turkey Chili
Every good chili needs a “chili bar” to go along with it so everyone can customize it just the way they like it. Set the toppings out in separate bowls so people can pile on their favorites. We love turkey chili with tortilla chips, but it’s amazing over Baked Potatoes (or Air Fryer Baked Potatoes) with a side of cornbread or Homemade Biscuits.
- Shredded cheese (Mexican, cheddar, Colby Jack, etc)
- Sour Cream
- Sliced Avocados or Spicy Guacamole
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Chopped green onion
- Sliced jalapeños (fresh or canned)
- Hot Sauce – a splash of Tobasco or Cholula
- Sliced olives
Can I Make Turkey Chili in a Slow Cooker?
I love crockpot chili recipes; set ’em and forget ’em. I make this slow cooker turkey chili in the morning and it’s ready for my children to enjoy when they get home from school.
- Start steps 1 and 2 on the stovetop (or use a slow cooker with a sautee function)
- Transfer ground turkey mixture to crockpot, add remaining ingredients and 1/2 cup of broth or water and stir to combine.
- Set on low for 3 to 4 hours until piping hot. Season to taste and serve.
Storing and Reheating
Once leftovers are cooled, transfer portions to an airtight container or a freezer-safe ziptop bag.
- To Refrigerate: store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days
- Freezing: store in the freezer for 3 months.
- To Reheat: You can reheat from frozen, but start with lower heat as it thaws. Heat in the microwave or on the stove until hot. Thin with Chicken stock or water if needed.
This satisfying Turkey Chili Recipe will quickly become a favorite for your family since it is so easy to make and cooks in just 30 minutes on the stovetop.
Turkey Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1 medium red onion, diced, or yellow onion
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp fine sea salt , or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste
- 28 oz canned diced tomatoes, seasoned or plain, with their juice
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz pinto beans with their juice, or white beans with their juice
- 2 oz jar of diced jalapeños or mild green chilis, or to taste
- 15 oz canned corn, drained, or use frozen or fresh corn kernels
- 1/2 cup chicken stock or water, or as needed, to thin the chili
Instructions
- In a 5 Qt pot or Dutch oven over medium/high heat, add 1 Tbsp olive oil and sautee ground turkey until cooked through (5 min).
- Add diced onion, chili powder, cumin powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Sautee 5 minutes or until onions are softened.
- Add canned diced tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, beans, diced jalapeños or chilis, and corn.
- Stir to combine and bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add water or chicken stock towards the end if you prefer a thinner chili. Keep in mind it thickens slightly as it cools. Season to taste towards the end of cooking (I like to add an extra 1/2 tsp salt).
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Comforting Stew & Chili Recipes
- Easy Stovetop Beef Chili
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
- Lamb Stew
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Potato Soup
- Split Pea Soup
- Borscht Recipe
Hey there! I’ve used this recipe many times. I noticed this version is a bit different than the one I printed a couple years ago. Or am I thinking of another recipe? Thanks so much!
Hello Erin! The best way to look at old versions of a recipe is to go to this site and paste the URL of the recipe in the search bar.
Just assembled this chili. Huge pot! It’s already wafting a wonderful scent in the kitchen. Natasha, your recipes are simple and delicious.
I hope you love it, Christa!
Just copied this GREAT looking recipe for the weekend, and can hardly wait, thanks SO much!
You’re very welcome, Susan! I hope you love it!
Dear Natasha, Just FYI, turkey is for Thanksgiving, but, this is a kickin’ recipe with ground beef. 🙂
P.S. Your’s is the only cooking website I subscribe to. I pay more attention to you than Food Network. Recipes are some of my favorites. Also, I find you to be a little goofy…in a good way.
Thank you, Robert!
Haha! This is so great! I just saw a notice at work that we’re having a chili lunch next week, now I have a great recipe! Thanks Natasha! You’re The Best! Always coming up with something Delicious!
Hi Steven! You’re very welcome! Perfect timing! I hope you love this recipe!
Natasha, I’ve made several of your dishes and they have all been great. And tonight I made Turkey Chili dish which was also great. Thanks!
You’re very welcome, Mary! I’m happy you are enjoying the recipes.
My Family Loves Your Turkey Chili Recipe! Thanks Natasha! It doesn’t say anything about draining the cooked ground Turkey. I’ve been using 85/15. I do drain it.
Hi Richard! You’re very welcome. So glad tonhwts it’s being enjoyed.
Great recipe to bring into the fall weather. It doesn’t have the heaviness of a regular chili. The different type of beans and turkey makes it non greasy. Delicious! Paired this with Pone bread from Mountain cooking with Missy! So many good family chefs on FB & IG. These two are my go to cook books. Just acquired Ambitious Kitchen cookbook too. All 3 have great recipes that a cook appreciates.
I absolutely loved this! I am a big beef eater since I was a kid, but I’ve been trying to cutback on beef now that I’m in my mid sixties. 😕
I didn’t have everything in this recipe, but it was a recipe I could use to easily sub what I had on hand. Some turkey chili recipes I found were over the top with complicated with double the ingredients you really need for chili!
So, to start, I had the ground turkey. I subbed 3-10 oz cans of Rotel fire roasted tomatoes with chiles for the 30 oz can of diced tomatoes. No purple onion, only Vidalia. I subbed a jar of bruschetta sauce for the tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning for oregano. I had to go with what I had!
I did have all the other seasonings and it came out perfect.
I don’t usually rate recipes if I don’t follow them exactly, but I really believe what I got was solely because I used this recipe as a template and I’m so grateful I found it!
Thanks so much for this info. I’m glad that it was a success! We appreciate your review, Josephine.
I made this last night and it was AMAZING!
I don’t love corn but it was fine in there. Wondering if I could sub chickpeas instead.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, A!
This is soooo good and is a great way to use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. The corn really adds a great flavor too. My husband says it is the best turkey chili he’s ever had. I used a can of Peruvian beans which also added a slightly sweet taste. Yummy
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Andrea!
Natasha, our family truly enjoyed this. We ate it with cornbread. Yummy! I doubled it so we can have it for dinner tomorrow! 🙂
Yummy indeed! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I’m cooking this again tonight! How do I order your cookbook?
Hi Kelly! You can click on Cookbook at the top of the page.
I am wondering if leftover Thanksgiving turkey can be used in this recipe? If so, when should it be added? Would about 2 cups cooked turkey sufficient?
Hi Deanna! I think you could make that work. I would add it toward the end. Without having tested it myself, I do not have an exact quantity but you can add it to your preference.
Deanna, you can make it with leftover turkey. First time I had turkey chili was in the Navy….I was hesitant, but it was pretty good. Just shred the meat by hand and add it. You won’t be disappointed.
I made two versions of this chili today for a group of 15 people for a long day of watching sports. One in the crockpot and one in dutch oven on stove top. Made 2 adjustments, 1/2 lb more of turkey and substituted 1/2 of tomato sauce for “el pato sauce” to add spice. I paired the turkey with Ina Garten jalapeño cheddar cornbread. The meal was a big hit but the stove top version received the better reviews. This recipe is a keeper for sure!
Nice! Thanks for sharing that with us, it is helpful and useful info!
I made two pots of this chili today for a whole day of watching sports( Baseball NCLS & Sunday NFL games) with a large group of people. One version in crockpot and one version in stove top in Dutch oven. Both were very good but the stove top version received the better reviews from other people. I made minimal adjustments to the recipe; added 1/2 lb more turkey, and substituted half of tomato sauce for el pato sauce to add some spice. I paired it with Ina Garten’s jalapeño cheddar cornbread… everyone loved the meal and asked for the turkey chili recipe!
8 servings is a lot for the two of us. Can I freeze half of it?
Thanks,
Andrée
Hi Andree, I haven’t tried freezing it, but the ingredients are pretty freezer friendly so I think it would work well. 🙂 Also, I recommend clicking “Jump to recipe” at the top of the post, it will take you to our printable recipe where you’ll have the option to change the number of servings. Hover over the number of servings highlighted in red and slide it to how many servings you would like to make. I hope that helps!
Hi Natasha!
Made your turkey chili today and loved it! The only change I made was using one can of diced tomatoes and one large can of crushed tomatoes because that’s what I had. The flavor was fabulous! Thanks for another great recipe!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Jennifer! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
I’m so excited to try this but I only have beef not turkey 🙁 could I use that instead?
Hi Cecilia, I think the process will be very similar and it is doable. We have a stove top beef chili recipe here and the directions should be pretty similar.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing and simple recipe! I nailed it the first time haha! planning to keep it as a go-to dish. Do you have any suggestions on how to ease the gassiness caused by the beans?
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Drain and Rinse all the beans – it forsure helps with that problem! If it gets too thick and needs more liquid, just add some broth or something
Hi sweetheart I know I’m not on the right recipe,it’s your meatloaf I was never crazy about meatloaf but after doing your recipe I’m hooked.so once a month my family wants me to do meatloaf 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰thank you Natasha I will send you a pic of my meatloaf next month…..
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review! It sounds like you have a new favorite!