Ground Turkey Chili

Some people are afraid of ground turkey and I just don’t understand why. It is so easy to make and your family won’t even realize it is turkey and not beef.

You can also try this recipe in your crockpot. The flavors still blend perfectly and your family will come home to dinner done. If you love this ground turkey slow cooker recipe, check out these 18 Easy Ground Turkey Soup Recipes.

Why This Recipe Works

We love to cook with ground turkey because it is not only healthier for you, but it is much cheaper too. The ground turkey takes on the flavor of all the other ingredients and makes a delicious and healthy turkey chili recipe.

Once the colder weather hits, homemade chili is always on the menu. If you love chili as much as I do, you must try my other favorite Instant Pot White Chicken Chili Recipe.

Ingredients

• Lean Ground Turkey – You can substitute the meat for ground beef or chicken. You can always do a combination of meats.
• Olive Oil – Use oil of your choice
• Yellow Onion – See Best Onion Substitute if you are out
• Red Bell Pepper – You can also use green bell pepper
• Red Kidney Beans – Use other types of beans such as black beans or pinto beans
• Chili Powder – See The Best Chili Powder Substitute if you are out
• Cumin – Check out Best Substitute for Cumin if you are out. You can also add in paprika if you would like.
• Minced Garlic – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

How to Make Ground Turkey Chili in the Crock Pot

Step 1 – Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.

Step 2 – Add in the onion and red bell pepper. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes until the veggies are soft. 

Step 3 – Add in the ground turkey and brown the ground turkey. Break up the turkey as it cooks and cook until the ground turkey is no longer pink.  

Step 4 – Add in the remaining spices and ingredients and stir to combine. 

Step 5 – Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and allow the mixture to simmer for about 20-30 minutes until the flavors are combined and the chili has thickened.  

Step 6 – Spoon into a bowl and serve with your favorite chili toppings and enjoy!

Step 7 – You may need to add more water or broth if you don’t want the chili to be as thick. See How to Thicken Chili for even more tips

Recipe Tips

• Prepare Veggies – My favorite time saving tip is to use a small food chopper or food processor to quickly and easily chop onions. We chop the onions and peppers at once and then freeze them. Saves me so much time in the kitchen.
• Sneak in Vegetables. Your kids will never know and it is great way to throw in vegetables that might be close to getting bad.
• Leftover Cooked Meat – This is also a great way to use up already cooked meat. Just throw it in the crock pot with your other chili ingredients and you are set.
• Brown Sugar – Some recipes call for brown sugar. It is not needed but you can definitely add in a tablespoon.

Serving Suggestions

Did you know that I also make my own homemade cornbread mix to make preparing cornbread even easier?  I love having these cornbread mixes on hand so I can whip up some delicious cornbread in no time at all!

• How to make Homemade Biscuits
• Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Cheesy bread recipe
• Frito Chili Wraps – Layer your ground turkey chili in a tortilla with Fritos and shredded cheese and wrap for a delicious variation.
• You can also serve it with crackers and a simple salad.

Topping Ideas for Easy Turkey Chili

We love having a chili bar when our friends come over. Chili is a crowd pleaser and easy on me to pull together.

• Shredded Cheese – I like to use different cheeses. Try Cheddar Cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese or Pepper Jack Cheese.
• Chives
• Sour Cream – You can even top with plain Greek yogurt.
• Hot Sauce – If you need more heat in your chili – use some hot sauce
• Diced Jalapeno Peppers
• Saltine Crackers – Crushed up crackers is always a family favorite.
• Corn Chips
• Tortilla Chips
• Cornbread
• Cilantro – We love cilantro and we love the extra flavor it brings out for the tex mex flavor.
• Onions – Chop some onions or green onions for extra flavor
• Flour Tortillas – We love making Frito Chili Wraps.
• Slice Avocados – Topping your chili with avocados can take some of the heat off. You can ever top with Easy Guacamole Recipe with Salsa.

What to Make with Ground Turkey?

We love cooking with ground turkey. It is healthier than ground beef so I just feel better feeding it to my family. Here are some of our favorite Ground Turkey Recipes:

• Crock Pot Ground Turkey Lasagna
• Easy Turkey Sweet Potato Chili
• See 17 Easy Ground Turkey Soup Recipes