The Best Healthy Turkey Chili
User Reviews
4.6
The Best Healthy Turkey Chili
Description
The Best Healthy Turkey Chili starts by browning lean ground turkey with olive oil, then incorporates diced onions and red bell peppers sautéed to soften. Garlic and spices including cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and bay leaves are added for depth of flavor. A combination of red kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and fire-roasted green chilis creates a robust base as the chili simmers to blend the ingredients.
The dish features a balance of savory spices and mild heat from the chiles, with the beans and turkey providing a satisfying texture. It can be topped with optional garnishes like sour cream, shredded cheese, or crushed crackers to customize richness and crunchiness.
Stored airtight, this chili can be refrigerated for up to five days or frozen for up to four months, with flavors improving when reheated after resting. Adjust salt levels depending on the salt content of canned ingredients to ensure balanced seasoning.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 pounds ground turkey I used extra lean
- 1 vidalia onion diced small, medium/large, sweet
- 1 red bell pepper diced small, medium/large
- 3 to 5 garlic finely pressed or minced, cloves
- 2 to 3 teaspoons kosher salt or to taste* (see Note below)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste, freshly ground
- red kidney beans I used low-salt, drained and rinsed if desired, canned 15.5-ounce
- black beans I used no-salt added, drained and rinsed if desired, canned
- diced tomato I used no-salt added, one 14.5-ounce can, petite diced
- tomato sauce plus 8 ounces water used to rinse out can (I used no-salt added, canned, 8-ounce can
- water chicken or vegetable broth, optional (see step 5 below, about 8 ounces
- green chili peppers I used fire-roasted, two 4-ounce cans, diced
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika regular paprika may be substituted
- 2 to 4 bay leaf
- 1 to 2 teaspoons granulated sugar optional and to taste
Optional Toppings
- sour cream green onions, shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips or crackers
Instructions
- To a large Dutch oven, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, turkey, and cook over medium-high heat to brown, crumbling it with a spatula as it cooks and tossing it to ensure even cooking. Cook through, about 5 minutes or as necessary.
- Add the onions, red pepper, drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons over the top, stir, and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until vegetables have softened, stir intermittently.
- Add the garlic, salt (Note because I used all low-salt or no-salt added products I use 3 teaspoons salt total; if you’re using salted versions of the other ingredients reduce salt level to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon to start with and add more if necessary), pepper, and cook for about 1 minute, stir intermittently.
- Add the beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, rinse can out with 8 ounces water and add the water, green chilis, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, bay leaves, and stir.
- Depending on how thick you like your chili and if you prefer more broth, you may wish to add up to 8 additional ounces water, chicken or vegetable broth.
- Bring to boil and cook for about 10 to 15 or until chili has reduced and thickened some.
- Stir, taste, optionally add sugar to taste (I added 2 teaspoons because the sugar balances the acid from the tomatoes and peppers), and add more salt, pepper, or seasonings to taste.
- Remove bay leaves.
- Ladle into bowls and optionally garnish with sour cream, green onions, shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips or crackers.
Notes
- Store chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days or freeze for up to four months.
- The flavors meld and deepen after a day or two, making leftovers taste even richer.
- Adjust added salt according to the saltiness of canned beans and tomatoes used.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 266 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 266kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 15g | 5% |
| Protein | 31g | 62% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 0.02g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 62mg | 21% |
| Sodium | 866mg | 36% |
| Potassium | 635mg | 14% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 1054IU | 21% |
| Vitamin C | 23mg | 26% |
| Calcium | 48mg | 5% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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