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A close-up, top-down view of a healthy turkey chili recipe in a white dutch oven. Coarse ground turkey, red kidney beans, and bell peppers are visible in the thick red sauce. (Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe)

Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe That's Rich, Hearty, and Ready in an Hour

This Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe delivers a thick, hearty, and flavorful one-pot meal. Made with lean ground turkey, kidney beans, and a rich, glossy red sauce, it's a nutritious and satisfying dinner ready in under an hour.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil (15ml)
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion diced
  • 1 medium Red Bell Pepper diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 lb Lean Ground Turkey (450g), 93/7 recommended
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste (30g)
  • 2 tbsp Chili Powder (30g)
  • 1 tbsp Ground Cumin (15g)
  • 1 tsp Smoked Paprika (5g)
  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano (5g)
  • 1 28-ounce can Crushed Tomatoes (794g)
  • 1 cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth (240ml)
  • 1 15-ounce can Kidney Beans (425g), rinsed and drained
  • Kosher Salt & Black Pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley (15g), finely chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot
  • 1 Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook for 5-7 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and diced bell pepper and cook for 2 more minutes until fragrant.
  2. Add the ground turkey to the pot. Use a spoon to break it into coarse crumbles and cook for 6-8 minutes, until browned. Do not over-mix to ensure large crumbles.
  3. Stir in the tomato paste and all spices (chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pot. Bring to a low boil.
  4. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 30 minutes. Stir in the rinsed and drained kidney beans and cook for 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish generously with finely chopped fresh parsley.

Notes

Don't Over-Mix the Turkey: To get those satisfying, coarse crumbles of meat, break the turkey up gently and let it brown properly without constantly stirring it.
Let It Simmer: The 30-minute simmer is the minimum. If you have time, letting it go for a full hour will make the sauce richer and the flavors more cohesive.
Taste and Adjust: Always taste your chili before serving. It might need a little more salt, an extra dash of chili powder, or even a squeeze of lime juice to brighten it up.
Bloom Your Spices: Sautéing the spices and tomato paste for a minute before adding liquids is a professional technique that unlocks a deeper level of flavor you can't get otherwise.