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Crockpot Turkey Chili

Made with kidney beans, ground turkey, and veggies like peppers, onions, carrots, and tomatoes, this Crockpot Turkey Chili recipe is hearty, filling, and oh so simple to make! With seasonings like chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and cinnamon it has a mild yet robust flavor that’s perfect for the whole family.

Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Turkey Chili Recipe

  • The crockpot does almost all of the work. The only “cooking” you do is sauté the turkey but then you just throw everything into the crock pot and let it cook for 4 hours! That, my friends, is a time saver and one of my favorite parts about this recipe.
  • Robust and savory flavor. This turkey chili features a combination of classic ingredients combined with a few twists. Namely there is ground cinnamon in here along with chipotle peppers, both of which add a fun element to the flavor profile of this chili.
  • Stores well. The only thing better than freshly made turkey chili is the leftovers the next day! This recipe lasts in the fridge for several days, making it ideal for meal prep, and freezes well too.

If you love easy chili recipes then you should also try this recipe for Easy Crock Pot White Chicken Chili.

What You’ll Need

This crockpot turkey chili is made with ground turkey, veggies, and a handful of spices. See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

  • Olive oil
  • Ground turkey – I prefer the 93/7 lean fat ground turkey.
  • Veggies – Red onion, red pepper, green pepper, and carrots add flavor, nutrients, and texture to this turkey chili recipe.
  • Chipotle pepper – A chipotle pepper in adobe sauce adds a bit of heat to the chili.
  • Spices – Ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, cilantro, garlic powder, and ground cinnamon flavor the base of this chili.
  • Diced tomatoes – I like the Muir Glen brand.
  • Tomato sauce – Use low sodium to control the salt level of the chili.
  • Water
  • Beans – I use one can each of dark kidney beans and light kidney beans. Be sure to drain and rinse them before using.
  • Garnishes – If desired, you can add sliced green onions, cheddar cheese, and avocado as garnishes.

How to Make Turkey Chili in the Crockpot

This crockpot turkey chili recipe requires just minutes of hands on time. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions.

Process shots of how to make crockpot turkey chili
  • Cook the turkey. Sauté the ground turkey in olive oil until no longer pink.
  • Combine the ingredients. Add the turkey and all other ingredients except for the beans to the crockpot. Stir to mix.
  • Cook. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours.
  • Add the beans. Stir in the kidney beans. Cook for an additional 30 minutes.
  • Enjoy. Add your favorite garnishes and enjoy.
A ladle of turkey chili over a crockpot

Tips & Variations

  • Adjust the heat level. This turkey chili is on the mild side. If you like spicy chili, add in some cayenne pepper with the seasonings.
  • Use broth instead of water. I opted for water instead of broth but feel free to use chicken broth or stock if that’s what you prefer.
  • Switch up the beans. While I used dark and light kidney beans, you can opt to use just one of the two or add in other beans like black beans and pinto beans instead.
A bowl of crockpot turkey chili topped with shredded cheese and green onions

What To Serve With Turkey Chili

When it comes to serving this crockpot turkey chili recipe, I love to load it up with toppings. Here are a few ideas:

  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Sliced green onions
  • Avocado slices
  • A dollop of sour cream
  • Jalapeno slices

You may also want to consider a side of cornbread or crusty bread to soak up all the goodness! Corn chips are also fun for added crunch and to scoop the chili from the bowl.

A cup of crockpot turkey chili topped with shredded cheese and green onions

Proper Storage

  • Fridge. Store leftover turkey chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Freezer. You can also freeze this chili. Once it has cooled completely, transfer to freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.
  • Reheat. Individual servings can be reheated in the microwave while the stovetop works best for larger amounts.

More Easy Chili Recipes

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The BEST Crock Pot Chili you'll ever make and under 300 calories a serving! Plus it has a surprise spice you would've never thought to add. This Chili Recipe will blow your mom's out of the water ... sorry mom! |joyfulhealthyeats.com

Crockpot Turkey Chili

  • Author: Krista
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 4 hours 38 mins
  • Total Time: 4 hours 43 mins
  • Yield: 911 servings 1x
  • Category: Crock Pot
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Made with kidney beans, ground turkey, and veggies like peppers, onions, carrots, and tomatoes, this Crockpot Turkey Chili recipe is hearty, filling, and oh so simple to make! With seasonings like chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and cinnamon it has a mild yet robust flavor that’s perfect for the whole family.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 lbs ground turkey (93/7 lean fat)
  • 1 red onion, diced
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 1 green pepper, diced
  • 2 large carrots, diced
  • 1 large chipotle pepper (in adobe sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dry cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 28 oz. Muir Glen diced tomatoes
  • 14 oz. low sodium tomato sauce
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 14 oz. dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 14 oz. light kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • salt to taste
  • Optional Garnish: sliced green onions, shredded cheddar cheese, avocado

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet to medium high heat, add olive oil and ground turkey. Saute until turkey is no longer pink, approximately 6-8 minutes.
  2. In a crock pot, add ground turkey, red onion, red pepper, green pepper, carrots, chipotle pepper, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, dry cilantro, garlic powder, ground cinnamon, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water. Stir to mix.
  3. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours.
  4. Next add in dark & ligh kidney beans, stir and cook an additional 30 minutes.
  5. Serve!
  6. Optional: garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, or avocado


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
  • Calories: 247
  • Sugar: 7 g
  • Sodium: 476 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22 g
  • Fiber: 7 g
  • Protein: 21 g
  • Cholesterol: 58 mg

Keywords: turkey chili, turkey chili recipe, crockpot turkey chili

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The BEST Crock Pot Chili Recipe