Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (2024)

This turkey chili is deeply layered with flavor. It’sthick, hearty, and super comforting! It’s loaded with ground turkey, beans, and great vegetables. The seasoning is spot on and brings a true chili flavor to this turkey version of everyone’s favorite bowl of comfort food.

This recipe has been entered into many chili competitions and it’s a true award winner! Try it and you’ll know why.

This family loves chili! Here are a few more recipes I hope you try. ♥

  • Texas Chili
  • Classic Chili
  • Instant Pot Turkey Chili
  • Chicken Chili

Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (1)

Best Turkey Chili Ingredients

  • Vegetable Oil
  • Ground Turkey
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Onion
  • Bell Peppers
  • Jalapeno Pepper
  • Garlic
  • Chili Powder
  • Red Pepper Flakes
  • Cumin
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Coriander
  • Oregano
  • Cocoa
  • Instant Decaf Coffee Crystals
  • Petite Diced Tomatoes With Green Chilies
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Beer Not only will you use the beer to deglaze your pot, but it’ll add to the flavor of the base ingredients. Trust me on this one. It’s an Ah-ma-zing flavor enhancer, all the alcohol evaporates, and there’s absolutely no beer taste.
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Liquid Smoke
  • Corn
  • Pinto Beans

Optional Toppings:

  • Shredded Cheese
  • Red Onion
  • Cilantro Leaves
  • Jalapeno
  • Corn Chips Or Fritos

Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (2)

Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead

  • How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?This can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. I think it always tastes better the next day, once the ingredients have had time to settle, so this makes a great next-day lunch leftover meal!
    • You can shake up the flavor combination day to day by using different toppings. One day, go for cheese; the next, do avocado and salsa for a Mexican splurge. The possibilities are endless!
  • Can You Freeze This?Yes! This recipe will last you up to 6 months in the freezer. Be sure to thoroughly cool the chili before you freeze it. If not the residual heat will create steam during the freezing process, which will lead to freezer burn.
  • Make-Ahead Tips:The flavor in this chili only gets better over time! Making it a day or two ahead and letting it sit in the fridge will create an even better chili!
  • Food Safety:If you’d like more info on food safety check out thislink.

Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (3)

How to Make Turkey Chili Recipe

Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (4)

  1. Brown the turkey.
  2. Add the veggies. Sprinkle the spices.
  3. Stir and cook until the spices are fragrant.
  4. Add turkey back to the pot. Add the remaining ingredients.
  5. Cook and simmer. Adjust seasonings.
  6. Serve with toppings.

See full instructions below.

How to Make Turkey Chili In The Slow Cooker

  1. Follow the stovetop instructions on the recipe card (below) through step #3
  2. Add the beer to sauteed vegetables and toasted spices, bring to a boil and cook for 30 minutes. (This will cook off most of the alcohol in the beer). If that isn’t a concern or you choose not to use the beer, you can skip this step.
  3. Pour vegetable mixture into crockpot and stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, cocoa, coffee crystals, diced tomatoes with green chilies, 1 can tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and beans.
  4. Add the cooked turkey to the crockpot.
  5. Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
  6. Ladle into individual bowls and top with optional toppings as desired. Serve!

More Seriously Wonderful Chili Recipes

  • Boilermaker Tailgate Chili
  • Crockpot Chicken Chili
  • Green Chicken Chili
  • Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
  • Pioneer Woman Chili

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Turkey Chili

This turkey chili is deeply layered with flavor, thick, hearty, and super comforting! It’s loaded with ground turkey, beans, and great vegetables.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Author: Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 pounds ground turkey
  • 3 1/2 teaspoons salt divided
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2 red bell peppers seeded, ribs removed and chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded, ribs removed and minced
  • 2 tablespoons garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons dried chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon dried ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon coriander
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa
  • 1 tablespoon instant decaf coffee crystals
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans petite diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 12 ounces beer
  • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 1 (15.25-ounce) can corn, drained and rinsed
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed

Optional Toppings:

  • shredded cheese
  • red onion chopped
  • cilantro leaves roughly chopped
  • jalapeno slices
  • corn chips or Fritos

Instructions

  • Heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat and add the ground turkey (2pounds) and 2 teaspoons salt, and black pepper (1teaspoon). Cook turkey until there is no longer any pink. Transfer the turkey to a plate and set aside.

    Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (6)

  • In the same pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat and add onion (1), red (2) and green peppers (1), jalapeno (1), and garlic (2tablespoons).Cook until veggies are soft, 5-7 minutes.

    Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (7)

  • Sprinkle chili powder (2tablespoons), red pepper flakes (1/2teaspoons), paprika (2teaspoons), cumin (1tablespoon), coriander (1tablespoon), and oregano (1tablespoon) over the top of the vegetables and continue to cook, stirring constantly, 1-2 minutes or until spices are fragrant.

    Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (8)

  • Add the turkey back to pan then stir in the remaining 1 ½ teaspoons salt, cocoa (2tablespoons), coffee crystals (1tablespoon), diced tomatoes with green chilies (2 cans), 1 can tomato sauce, beer (12ounces), Worcestershire sauce (1tablespoon), and liquid smoke (1teaspoon) until combined. Add beans (2 cans) and corn (1 can). Partially cover the pan and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for about 1 1/2 hours.Adjust seasonings as needed. Ladle into individual bowls and serve with toppings.

    Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (9)

Fans Also Made:

  • Alton Brown Chili

  • Instant Pot Chili (Comfort Food!)

  • Mole Turkey Chili

  • Steak Chili

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Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 1099mg | Potassium: 1057mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1621IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 5mg

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I'D LOVE TO SEE!Tag @GonnaWantSeconds or #gonnawantseconds on Instagram!

© Gonna Want Seconds. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media/website/blog is strictly prohibited.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (14)Jamie says

    Ooooh this is soooo good! It snows so bad here right now. Me and my kids need this.

    Reply

    • Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (15)Kathleen says

      Thanks, Jamie! Stay warm and enjoy this chili!

      Reply

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Turkey Chili {Award Winning Recipe} Gonna Want Seconds (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to amazing chili? ›

Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight.

What is in the turkey chili at Panera? ›

Turkey Chili. A hearty blend of dark-meat turkey raised without antibiotics and chickpeas and kidney beans slow cooked in an ancho and pasilla stock with tomatillos, tomatoes, edamame, carrots, cilantro, cumin and lime.

How do you fix bland turkey chili? ›

But deepen that meat color just a little with the soy sauce and you are back in the land of Real Meaty Chili. The soy sauce also adds tons of rich, savory meaty flavor, a big benefit for a meat that can taste a little flat. Final tip: Add a bit of unsweetened cocoa powder, which deepens both the color and the flavor.

What makes Texas chili different? ›

What primarily distinguishes Texas chili from other chili recipes you might find is a lack of beans, but it also doesn't feature any tomatoes. It is, largely, a ground beef dish that's seasoned with a spicy chili paste made of dried peppers.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

Is turkey chili healthier than beef? ›

Ground turkey, when compared to ground beef, has lower levels of saturated fat—making it a better choice for heart health—and is lower in calories. Lentils are well-known to vegetarians and are a solid option for adding texture, protein, and deliciousness to chili; plus, they're good for you.

What brand of turkey does Panera use? ›

"I am pleased Panera Bread will continue to serve Plainville Farms turkey as we work on several other initiatives to provide organic and natural product offerings from Hain Celestial's portfolio of brands."

Is turkey chili better for you than beef? ›

Turkey chili is much lighter and lower in calories. Most recipes call for ground turkey, which doesn't have nearly the fat content of beef. The turkey meat you'll find at the grocery store contains 15%, 7%, or even no fat.

Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

Traditionally, we expect a robust, spicy base, meat and/or beans, perhaps some bonus veggies, and a thick, rich consistency. Unlike soups, which are brothy, or even bisques, which are creamy yet thinner, chili is meant to be more stew-like; it's a definite stick-to-your-ribs creation.

How do you make chili more interesting? ›

I like to give my chili a little more complexity, so I'll often add canned chipotle chili peppers, a touch of cinnamon or Chinese 5 spice, chocolate and cilantro or coriander. A few other flavor boosting ingredients could be: smoked sausage, grilled corn kernels, coffee, beer or roasted tomatoes.

Should I cook onions before putting in chili? ›

Sautéing onions, garlic, and other veggies first coaxes maximum flavor out of them. So make sure your onions, for example, are soft and translucent before you add your liquid.

Do tomatoes belong in chili? ›

Chili, also referred to as chili con carne is a hearty beef stew made with spices, peppers, meat, tomatoes, and beans (in some cases). Most homemade chili recipes are made up of the same basic ingredients like ground beef, onion, spices, beans, and some type of tomato product.

What is Texas Roadhouse chili made of? ›

Texas Roadhouse Chili Ingredients

Ground Chuck (80/20 ground beef) Garlic – minced garlic – you can use jarred or fresh. Onion – diced yellow onion is best. Jalapenos – I used 1 jalapeno and removed the seeds.

Should chili have beans in it? ›

The majority of us believed that beans are an essential part of our favorite chili recipes, but there were a few caveats. According to our Associate Culinary Producer Justin Sullivan, "BEANS GO IN CHILI unless it's specifically called 'Texas' chili."

How can I make my chili more exciting? ›

  1. Adding beer to your chili can make it more complex. ...
  2. Mix in cocoa for a deeper flavor. ...
  3. Fresh, chopped ingredients are excellent chili toppings. ...
  4. You can also top your meal with cooked bacon. ...
  5. Roast and mix in some chiles. ...
  6. Common spices and pantry staples can also upgrade your meal.
Oct 16, 2022

Why would you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

Why do you put brown sugar in chili? ›

The brown sugar gave it a sweet/tangy flavor that reminded me of BBQ-sauce! Th chili was so good - it was hard to stop eating it! I did had some extra veggies (1 cl. garlic, 1 celery stalk, 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, 1 hot pepper) and used a can of diced tomatoes rather than tomato juice.

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