Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe

This easy Turkey Chili comes together in just 1 hour with lean ground turkey, beans, and veggies, and a SECRET INGREDIENT that enhances the flavors! A delicious dish that’s perfect for dinner and game days!

All About This Healthy & Delicious Turkey Chili

Make your game days more exciting and the cooler days warmer with this quick and delicious Turkey Chili! This easy-to-make chill recipe is even one you can count on for a family-pleasing dinner or a protein-packed meal prep for the week!

Made in just one hour on the stovetop, this dish can be loaded up with toppings, made in the crock pot, or smothered onto other foods as you cheer on your favorite team!

Turkey Chili Ingredients

• Olive Oil
• Yellow Onion
• Red Bell Pepper
• Garlic Cloves
• Jalapeno Pepper
• Ground Turkey
• Chicken Stock
• Diced Tomatoes
• Tomato Sauce
• Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
• Dark Red Kidney Beans
• Chili Powder
• Paprika
• Ground Cayenne Pepper
• Bittersweet Baking Chocolate
• Light Brown Sugar
• Salt
• Ground Black Pepper

Ingredient Notes

Did you catch the secret ingredient in the list? That’s right; it’s CHOCOLATE! I know what you’re thinking, chocolate in my chili? Yup, and it’s awesome!

An ounce of 60% dark chocolate is just the thing to smooth out this chili recipe and marry the spices together. If you think about it, chocolate and peppers were made for each other. Mexico totally got it right with their hot cocoa!

A little heat and a little sweet, and you’re in for a wicked good treat!

Another key ingredient that makes this the best chili is the raw apple cider vinegar. This vinegar creates a great depth of flavor and drives this recipe home, making it incredibly delicious!

How To Make Turkey Chili Step-By-Step

1. Simmer diced yellow onion and red bell pepper in olive oil until the onion becomes translucent and the pepper softens. Afterward, add in the minced garlic cloves and diced jalapeño pepper if using.

2. Add in the pound of ground turkey and increase the heat to medium; cook until the meat has browned.

3. Add the chicken stock, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and raw apple cider vinegar to the pot and stir to combine.

4. Stir in dark red kidney beans, chili powder, paprika, ground cayenne pepper, bittersweet baking chocolate, and light brown sugar.

5. Simmer the turkey chili over medium heat while stirring occasionally. Lastly, turn off the heat to allow the chili to rest on the stovetop before serving.

Slow Cooker Instructions

In a large skillet over medium-low heat, simmer the diced onion and red bell pepper in olive oil until the onions become translucent and the pepper softens. Then stir in the minced garlic cloves and jalapeno pepper.

Next, increase the heat to medium and add in the ground turkey; cook until browned. Afterward, transfer this to the crock pot. Add the dark red kidney beans, chili powder, paprika, ground cayenne pepper, bittersweet baking chocolate, and light brown sugar to the crock pot as well and stir to combine.

Cook on high for 2 to 4 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours

How To Serve Turkey Chili

A bowl of this hearty chili is great as is served in a bread bowl or with a nice homemade bread:
– Classic Drop Biscuits
– Best Buttermilk Cornbread
– Easy Bannock Bread
– Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

You can also set up a toppings bar! This ensures that everyone finishes their bowl of chili exactly the way they want.

You could include your favorite chili toppings such as sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions, corn chips, tortilla chips, or saltine crackers. You could even serve this chili up in delicious bread bowls!

Some also enjoy their portion served over spaghetti or a bed of rice. For game days, try pleasing the crowd by serving the chili as a sloppy joe on buns, smothering hot dogs or French fries, or over plates of nachos.

Turkey Chili Substitutions & Variations

• Kick Up The Heat – For chili that has a stronger kick of heat, you can sprinkle in additional chili powder, use smoked paprika in place of regular paprika, add a few splashes of tabasco sauce, or more diced jalapeno.
• Looser Chili – If you enjoy chili that’s looser, you can add in additional chicken stock.
• Dairy Free – For a dairy-free turkey chili, skip the cheese and sour cream.
• Meat Choice – Ground turkey can be replaced with ground beef, ground chicken, sausage, or a meat substitute.
• Light Brown Sugar – Granulated sugar can be used in place of light brown sugar if needed.
• Kidney Beans – Though this recipe calls for dark red kidney beans, feel free to use your choice of kidney beans. Both light or white kidney beans would work in this chili.
• Chicken Stock – An equal amount of chicken broth can be used instead.

How To Store Chili

Store leftover cooled chili in the refrigerator in airtight containers to enjoy for up to 3 to 4 days. Leftovers can also be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.

To freeze, transfer the cooled chili into quart-sized Ziploc bags and squeeze the excess air out of them.

Try These Other Delicious Recipes

• Stuffed Acorn Squash – Filled with chopped apples, kale, ground turkey, and dried cranberries!
• Burger Bowls – A Keto-friendly recipe made with crisp veggies, and a 4-ingredient special sauce!
• The Best Taco Salad – Packed with seasoned meat, fresh ingredients, and crunchy tortilla strips!
• Slow Cooker Chili – Hearty chili made with Tabasco sauce and three different kinds of beans!

This recipe was originally published in 2015 and was updated in April 2023 with fresh photos.