Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving filled with all the turkey and pie your heart desired! We had originally planned to go to Napa for the holiday, but ended up cancelling to continue saving up money for a house. Honestly, we’re glad – I think we both needed a break from work and a jam-packed weekend in Napa would probably not have been ideal. We had a great holiday, caught up with family and friends, got a start on our Christmas shopping, AND still managed to find time to make some delicious turkey chili!

Chili is one of the ultimate comfort food dishes especially as it starts to get chilly outside! We love making a big batch over a weekend and having some extra for the week. It’s also a great recipe to make in the crockpot for an easy weeknight dinner. While we love chili, we recognize that it isn’t the healthiest dish depending on how it is made. We love this lightened up version that is chockfull of veggies and uses lean ground turkey instead of traditional ground beef. It’s also a perfect way to use up any leftover Thanksgiving turkey you have in the fridge!

We made the turkey chili in our handy Le Creuset dutch oven, but if you’re a crock pot fan, you can easily throw the ingredients in early in the morning and have dinner waiting for you when you get home. We still recommend browning the meat first before adding to the crockpot, but otherwise the rest of the ingredients can go right in.

Once you’ve browned the turkey, you’ve just got to let the chili cook low and slow for awhile. Chili needs at least 1-2 hours to simmer to really develop the flavors. This recipe is for a fairly mild chili, but it depends on how spicy your jalapeños are. If you like it spicier, you can add a bit of cayenne powder or some of your favorite hot sauce. Don’t skip the cornmeal at the end – it really helps to thicken the chili up a bit to get the perfect consistency.

We like topping our turkey chili off with a bit of shredded cheddar and green onions. Sour cream and cilantro are great options too! We don’t have any leftover cornbread from Thanksgiving, but it’s the ultimate side to a great bowl of chili if you’re wanting a heartier meal. We served ours with a few blue corn chips for good measure.

Cheers to the holiday season!

Easy Turkey Chili

This dish can also be easily made in a crock pot. Simply brown the turkey, then add all ingredients (except cornmeal) into crockpot and cook on low for about 6-8 hours. Add corn meal before serving.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound lean ground turkey
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 red bell pepper Diced
• 1/2 Green Bell Pepper Diced
• 3 Small Jalapenos Sliced (Can de-seed for reduced heat)
• 1 Small Yellow Onion Diced
• 4 Cloves garlic Minced
• 1 14.5 Ounce Can Red Kidney Beans Rinsed and Drained
• 1 14.5 Ounce Can Pinto Beans Rinsed and Drained
• 1 28 Ounce Can Diced Tomatoes With Juice
• 1 Bottle Light Beer
• 2 Cups Beef or Chicken Broth
• 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
• 1/2 teaspoon Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Chili Powder
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal

Method

 

1. First start by cooking the ground turkey in a dutch oven or large pot until browned. Remove from heat. Set aside in separate bowl.
2. Return pot to medium heat, adding 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add onions and peppers and cook for about 2 minutes, then add garlic and continue to cook for about 8 minutes, until softened.
3. Add tomato paste and stir, allowing paste to thicken and darken slightly, about 2 minutes.
4. Next add diced tomatoes, beer, broth, reserved ground turkey, and all spices (except cornmeal).
5. Bring to a simmer over low-medium heat and cover for 1 hour.
6. Next, add both cans of beans and stir to combine. Simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, allowing liquid to reduce.
7. Stir in 2 tablespoons cornmeal and continue to simmer and thicken for another 10-15 minutes.
8. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. May add cayenne powder for extra spice.
9. Serve with your favorite toppings!