Best Slow Cooker Turkey Chili is an easy crock pot recipe made with lean ground turkey, peppers, fire roasted tomatoes, beans, and simple kitchen spices. This healthy ground turkey chili is quick to throw together and a hit with kids and families!
How To Make Easy Crock Pot Turkey Chili
Who doesn’t love an uncomplicated recipe that turns out robustly tasteful and bursting with flavor? This bowl-licking ground turkey chili recipe is a breeze to throw together in the slow cooker or instant pot (directions below) and perfect for busy weeknights!
- Saute the lean ground turkey in a nonstick skillet. Usually I don’t find a need to add any oil or cooking spray to my favorite pan, but feel free if food tends to stick.
- Transfer the cooked turkey to a slow cooker. Add chicken broth, undrained diced tomatoes, beans, onion, red pepper, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, and molasses. Stir to combine.
- Cook on LOW heat for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.
- Uncover chili and stir in crushed tortilla chips. Let stand, uncovered, for 15 minutes for chili to thicken.
Ingredients in Best Turkey Chili
I love this recipe because, although it uses a simple list of affordable ingredients, the flavor is complex and robust.
- Ground Turkey – For healthy chili, use 93% lean ground turkey
- Chicken Broth
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes – If these aren’t available, substitute diced tomatoes.
- Garlic
- Onion
- Bell Pepper – I prefer the sweeter flavor of red, yellow, or orange bell peppers, but green may be substituted as well.
- Black Beans – Substitute any beans, such as kidney or great northern. Alternatively, omit for turkey chili without beans.
- Chili Powder
- Ground cumin
- Molasses – This adds a hint of smoky, sweet flavor, but can be left out.
- Crushed tortilla chips – Added at the end to thicken chili.
Why Add Crushed Tortilla Chips to Chili?
This is a great chili hack to add flavor and thicken chili. Since the chili cooks in a crockpot, more condensation forms over the extended cooking time and adds extra liquid to the pot.
Adding crushed tortilla chips to the end product is a naturally gluten free way to thicken chili. The chips soften, absorb liquid, and meld into the chili. It also adds a salty corn flavor to the sauce, while thickening the soup.
What Type of Ground Turkey Should I Use?
Some home cooks prefer using ground turkey over ground beef because it contains less saturated fat, calories and cholesterol. However, there are a few options to choose between at the grocery store.
- Lean Ground Turkey – Usually made up of a mixture of white and dark meat with 93% lean protein and 7% fat. This still contains enough fat to add flavor, but less calories and fat than ground beef.
- Extra Lean Ground Turkey – Mostly made of white meat with 99% lean protein and 1% fat. When sauteing extra lean ground turkey, use some sort of cooking spray or oil in the pan so it doesn’t stick.
- Frozen Ground Turkey – Turkey made up of mostly dark meat and can contain as much 15% fat. While flavorful, this is not the best choice if you are wanting a healthy turkey chili recipe.
Can I Make Slow Cooker Turkey Chili in the Instant Pot?
Yes! If you would to cook the chili in less time use a pressure cooker following these directions:
- Turn 6 or 8 quart instant pot to SAUTE setting and add a small amount of oil. Saute ground turkey, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients, except crushed tortilla chips. Stir to combine.
- Close lid and seal valve in place. Cook on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes, then quick release pressure.
- Hit CANCEL and stir in crushed tortilla chips. Let stand for 10-15 minutes for chili to thicken.
How to Make this Recipe on the Stove Top
Ground turkey chili may also be made on the stove following these directions.
- In a large pot heat 1/2 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add ground turkey, onions, and peppers, breaking up meat with a spoon until no longer pink. Stir in garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.
- Add remaining ingredients, except crushed tortilla chips. Stir to combine.
- Bring mixture to boil and then lower heat to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Turn off heat and stir in crushed tortilla chips. Let stand for 10-15 minutes for chili to thicken.
Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Using 93% ground turkey and regular tortilla chips results in each 1 cup serving having 219 calories and 5 grams of fat. This is without adding any toppings, such as cheese or sour cream.
For a lighter version of chili, use 99% extra lean ground turkey and baked tortilla chips. Also, the toppings may be omitted or lightened by substituting light sour cream and shredded cheese.
Modifications, Substitutions, and Flavor Enhancers
- Omit beans for a no bean chili recipe.
- Add bite-sized sweet potatoes to simmer with other ingredients.
- Substitute ground beef or ground chicken.
- For a spicier chili use ancho chili powder or add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- Replace some or all of the chicken broth with beer.
- Check out more more chili recipe flavor enhancers!
Turkey Chili Topping Suggestions
If serving this chili at a party, or for a more complete meal, you may be interested in side dishes to go with it. Be sure to check out all the best side dishes and finger foods in the this what to serve with chili article!
- Sour Cream
- Tortilla chips or fritos
- Shredded cheese, such as colby jack, sharp, cheddar, or pepper jack.
- Cilantro
- Avocado
- Sliced jalapenos
- Green onions
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step-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!
More (Slow Cooker and Instant Pot) Soup and Chili Recipes
- Instant Pot Baked Potato Soup
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
- Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Pulled Pork Chili
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Best Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Ingredients
- 19 ounces lean ground turkey
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 red or yellow pepper, seeded and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces can fire roasted tomatoes, undrained
- 14 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
- For serving: shredded cheese, green onion, cilantro, sour cream, additional tortilla chips
Instructions
- In a large nonstick skillet, brown ground turkey, breaking up with silicon spoon, until no longer pink. Remove from heat.
- Transfer cooked ground turkey to slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients except crushed tortilla chips. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours. Remove lid and stir in crushed tortilla chips. Let stand, uncovered, for 15 minutes for the chips to soften, absorb liquid, and thicken chili. Adjust salt and pepper, if necessary. Serve with desired toppings.
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Equipment Needed
- Silicone Spoon
Recipe Notes
Instant Pot Turkey Chili
- Turn 6 or 8 quart instant pot to SAUTE setting and add a small amount of oil. Saute ground turkey, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients, except crushed tortilla chips. Stir to combine.
- Close lid and seal valve in place. Cook on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes, then quick release pressure.
- Hit CANCEL and stir in crushed tortilla chips. Let stand, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes for chili to thicken.
Stove Top Turkey Chili
- In a large pot heat 1/2 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add ground turkey, onions, and peppers, breaking up meat with a spoon until no longer pink. Stir in garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.
- Add remaining ingredients, except crushed tortilla chips. Stir to combine.
- Bring mixture to boil and then lower heat to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Turn off heat and stir in crushed tortilla chips. Let stand, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes for chili to thicken.
Nutrition
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