This simple turkey chili–a satisfying favorite–is a recipe you want to have on hand for cold-weather dinners, lunches, and tailgates.

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Looking for a recipe that will both warm and satisfy hungry friends and family? This simple turkey chili recipe is a favorite of my friends.

Bring Back the Simple Turkey Chili

This recipe was originally developed by my friend Krisha for our first website, CooksAid.com. While that site no longer exists, we still have all the recipes…somewhere.

So when another friend of mine asked if there was any chance I had the turkey chili recipe I did some digging and found it in on my old, no longer connected to the internet laptop. Recovering this recipe inspired me to make it available to all of my readers once again.

Alas, I have added this simple turkey chili recipe to this site. It’s a perfect recipe for families with hungry tweens and teens or anyone looking for a recipe that is great to have on hand for dinners and tailgates alike.

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Suggestions

It’s hard to go wrong with this simple turkey chili, but one important tip is to taste test and adjust the seasoning to your liking. There are a lot of variations in things like canned tomato flavor, the size of your garlic cloves, and the sodium content of canned beans. Even ground turkey may be pre-salted a bit. So always start with a lower amount of salt and then adjust as needed. (This is a great tip for any soup, stew, or chili!)

In addition, here are some other important suggestions:

Don’t Forget Toppings and Sides

Don’t forget the toppings and sides. I recommend the standard chili and taco add-ons, such as tortilla chips, sliced avocado, sour cream, shredded cheese, and fresh cilantro.

And for a delicious pairing try simple cheese quesadillas or cornbread!

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Make a Double Batch of this Simple Turkey Chili

Feed a crowd by making a double batch of this recipe. Or, make a double batch and freeze for a night when you don’t feel like cooking.

Veggie Lover?

Make this a more plant-forward meal by adding extra veggies. Whether you double up what’s in the ingredients or add some new veggies, such as zucchini, corn, or celery. You could also decrease the turkey and add an extra can of beans.

For a completely plant-based chili check these delicious vegetarian options:

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Simple Turkey Chili – A Satisfying Favorite

This simple turkey chili–a satisfying favorite–is a recipe you want to have on hand for cold-weather dinners, lunches, and tailgates.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  

• 1 tablespoon canola oil (or avocado or olive oil)
• 1 medium white onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 medium red or yellow bell pepper, chopped optional
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• ½-1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
• ½ teaspoon salt
• freshly ground pepper to taste
• 2 pounds ground turkey or use 1 pound ground turkey and add an extra can of beans!
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 15-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

Topping Suggestions

• shredded cheese
• sliced avocado
• sour cream
• tortilla chips
• fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

 

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Saute for 2-3 minutes, until tender. Sprinkle with cumin, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. Cook for another minute.
• Add turkey to the pan and cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes, crumbling the meat as it cooks.
• Stir broth, tomatoes, and tomato paste into the pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, add kidney beans, cover, and let simmer for about 25 minutes. Taste and season with salt, pepper, or additional chili powder as needed.
• Serve with toppings and enjoy!

Keyword chili, football, tailgate, tex-mex, turkey