The Easiest Turkey Chili is Healthy, Too!
One of the first things I learned how to cook was chili. My grandmother had her “secret” recipe, and my mom has her version, too. So, when it came to making my own chili recipe, I worked with the recipes I grew up with. No matter how much I play with it, though, the version I return to time and again is just the easiest turkey chili ever.
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The only equipment you need is a soup pot (This is the one I have). Everything cooks in there. Then, the ingredients are relatively simple. I mean, you’ve seen chili recipes that involve toasting and blending chilis, too, right (I still love Binging with Babish, though)?
So, this chili is pretty self-explanatory. That’s the appeal of a really easy recipe. But, it’s a little different from most other recipes, and I know some of you are hesitant to deviate from the chili you already know and love.
Keeping it Healthy with Turkey
First things first, we need to address the protein situation. Yes, of course, you can use ground beef. Here’s the but… turkey is healthier. But, Elle Jay, you can buy extra lean ground beef. Why isn’t that good enough?
Well, frankly, extra lean ground beef is expensive. Holy cow… literally! We keep a pretty tight food budget around here, and while your standard 85/15 mince is the cheapest you can buy, that 90/10 lean ground beef rivals the cost of gold.
Meanwhile, a pound of regular ground turkey has a fat ratio of 93/7, which I feel good about, but it’s also a heck of a lot cheaper than lean ground beef. There’s also just the fact that whenever we have needed to eat better for our health, we’ve had to cut out red meat.
The Mystery of Chili Seasoning
How many of us have relied on the chili seasoning packets from the store? It’s fine. The chili comes out pretty darn tasty, but you can do better.
The basic ingredients for chili seasoning are paprika, chili powder, and cumin. Personally, I think garlic powder and onion powder are pretty necessary. You’re already going to use real onions and garlic, but the powders really amp up the flavor. Then, obviously, you need salt and pepper.
It seems like something that should be more complicated, but honestly, it’s easy as can be. In the recipe below, I’ll give you measurements. However, I want you to experiment with your ratios, and give other things a try.
On any of the occasions that I’ve made chili, I’ve tried adding in turmeric, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Really! It’s okay to play and make it your own.
Other Add-In Opportunities
Seasonings aside, I’ve also experimented with adding in a ton of other ingredients, too. You’re here for the easiest turkey chili recipe, right? Well, I want you to think of it as a basic turkey chili recipe that you build on.
Some of my favorites are:
- Beer
- Bourbon
- Liquid Smoke
- Tomato Paste
- Hot Sauce
- Buffalo Sauce
- Shredded Cheddar
- Macaroni and Cheese
Oh, and if you really want to wow your family, make a small batch of garlic cheddar biscuits, too.
Wait… Hold up… Go back! Did that say macaroni and cheese? It sure does.
The Easiest Turkey Chili Mac
My husband likes chili once. However, we usually have a lot of leftover chili. For me, it’s a great way to have dinner and lunches for the week, too. So, if I have to serve lunch for the both of us, we’ll mix one pint jar of leftover chili with macaroni and cheese.
Now, we’re big fans of the kind that comes in a box. There’s nothing wrong with it. Plus, it’s like 50¢ so why not? But for your more refined tastes, I’ve got two recipes for great mac and cheese here on Elle Jay at Home you can try…
There’s not much more to discuss. It’s just the easiest turkey chili ever. I hope you love it!
I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Please let me know what you do with your chili, and don’t forget to subscribe for weekly updates on new blog posts.
The post was first published in January of 2020, but was updated on September 29, 2020 for content and photos.
The Easiest Turkey Chili
Equipment
- 4 quart soup pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound 93/7 ground turkey
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1 large green bell pepper
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- 30 oz canned pinto beans
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp pink himalayan sea salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp ground cumin
Instructions
- Over medium heat, brown the ground turkey. Remove and set aside.
- Dice onion and green bell pepper, and add them to the pot. Sautée until soft. Add in the garlic, and stir to combine. Add the turkey back into the pot.
- Dump the contents of the canned pinto beans (including the liquid) and the canned crushed tomatoes into the pot.
- Add seasonings, and stir to incorporate.
- Bring to a simmer, and partially cover for 1 hour. The liquid will cook down.
- Serve with toppings of your choice. I suggest shredded cheddar or sour cream and green onion.
