This healthy turkey chili is hearty, flavorful, and it’s made in the slow cooker! Made with ground turkey, fire roasted tomatoes, kidney beans and more. It’s great for game day, meal prep, and it’s sure to become your favorite turkey chili!
If you love slow cooker recipes, be sure to try my slow cooker beef barbacoa, slow cooker green chile chicken enchilada soup, and slow cooker mashed potatoes.
This post and recipe have been updated since it was originally published on 1/25/2016
Why You’ll Love This Healthy Turkey Chili
Slow cooker – This chili is made in the slow cooker, which means once it’s prepped you can set the timer and forget about it.
Hearty and healthy – Chili is a great dinner to make on a cold night. Not only does it warm you up, but it’s super filling and full of protein and fiber.
Perfect for a crowd – Chili is a great meal to make for big gatherings. Set out an assortment of toppings and let people customize their bowl. It won’t disappoint!
Leftovers are even better – Chili is one of those meals that tends to taste better the next day. All of the flavors have time to sit and meld together.
Freezer-friendly – Chili is a great meal to make ahead of time and freeze. It also makes a large amount so you can freeze half for another time.
Ingredients for Turkey Chili
- Ground turkey – Avoid using extra lean ground turkey. The fat gives keeps the turkey from drying out and gives it flavor. I use 93% lean.
- Onion, poblano pepper, garlic – The flavorful aromatics. Saute them for the best flavor and texture.
- Chili powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, smoked paprika – This flavorful blend of dried spices gives the chili tons of flavor. Be sure the chili powder is mild, I don’t recommend using a spicy chili powder.
- Fire roasted tomatoes – Fire roasted tomatoes give the chili a rich smoky tomato flavor.
- Green chiles and fire roasted corn – Both are a nod to the southwest flavors I absolutely love. The corn is also a great way to add a bit of sweetness to balance the heat.
- Kidney beans – A great source of fiber.
- Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce – Spicy, smoky, and a little tangy from the adobo sauce.
- Chicken broth – Use low sodium so the chili doesn’t get too salty.
How to Make Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Saute the onion, poblano, and garlic in a skillet until they’re soft. Add them into the slow cooker. In the same skillet crumble and cook the ground turkey.
Add the turkey to the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients. Stir everything together and cover with a lid. Cook on low heat for 6-7 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.
Substitutions and Variations
- Poblano chile peppers are mild, but feel free to substitute with a red or green bell pepper.
- For a less spicy chili, omit the chipotle pepper and just use the adobo sauce.
- Kidney beans can be swapped with black beans or a combination of both.
- If you don’t like beans in your chili, omit them and add an extra 1/2 pound of ground. turkey and reduce the chicken broth by a 1/2 cup.
- Ground turkey can be substituted with ground chicken or ground beef.
Toppings for Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
- Tortilla chips are a great topping, plus they’re great for scooping up the chili.
- Avocado slices or chunks
- Cheese such as cheddar, monterey jack, colby jack or pepper jack are all good choices.
- Greek yogurt or sour cream are a great way to add something cool and creamy to the chili.
- Cilantro and green onions for freshness and crunch.
- Jalapenos or pickled jalapenos for an extra spicy kick.
Storage, Freezing and Reheating
Storage – Chili will keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. It’s a great option if you meal prep.
Freezing – Once the chili has cooled completely, store it in an airtight container or freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it.
Reheating – If you’re in a hurry, you can always microwave the chili in the microwave. If you’re reheating a large amount I like to do it in a saucepan or pot on the stove. Heat it over medium heat until warmed through. If it’s too thick, add a little chicken broth to loosen it.
More Chili Recipes
Did you make this healthy slow cooker turkey chili? I’d love if you’d leave a recipe rating and review below.
Preheat a skillet with a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot add in the onion, poblano, and garlic. Saute until the veggies have softened, about 3 minutes. Dump the veggies into the slow cooker.
Add the ground turkey to the skillet and crumble it. Season with salt and pepper and cook until it’s browned and cooked through. Dump it into the slow cooker.
Add the remaining ingredients into the slow cooker and stir everything together. Cover with the lid and set on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Serve the chili topped with shredded cheese, avocado, cilantro, tortilla chips, and plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if desired.
Calories: 358kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 31gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 838mgFiber: 9gSugar: 5g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
