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Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe – Easy 20-Minute Cozy Dinner

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This Healthy Turkey Chili is a quick, 20-minute weeknight dinner that’s hearty, flavorful, and nutritious. It’s the perfect cozy meal for chilly evenings, made with lean ground turkey, beans, and a smoky spice blend.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey (93/7)
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 can (15 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 ounces) dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (for serving, optional)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for serving, optional)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for serving, optional)
  • Diced avocado (for serving, optional)
  • Lime wedges (for serving, optional)
  • Crushed tortilla chips (for serving, optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil. Place your pot over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Let it warm up for about 30 seconds until it shimmers.
  2. Sauté the aromatics. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Brown the turkey. Add the ground turkey to the pot. Break it up with a wooden spoon into small crumbles. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink.
  4. Add the peppers. Toss in the diced red and green bell peppers. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until they start to soften.
  5. Toast the spices. Sprinkle the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper over the turkey and vegetables. Stir constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Add the tomatoes and broth. Pour in the fire-roasted diced tomatoes (with their juices), tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  7. Add the beans. Gently stir in the drained kidney beans and black beans.
  8. Simmer and thicken. Bring the chili to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. For a thicker chili, simmer for 15 minutes.
  9. Taste and adjust. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, lime juice, or cumin as desired.
  10. Rest and serve. Remove the pot from the heat and let the chili sit for 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and add your favorite toppings.

Notes

Don’t skip toasting the spices—it deepens the flavor. For a thicker chili, let it simmer longer. For a leaner chili, use 99% lean ground turkey, but 93/7 gives better texture. If using regular diced tomatoes instead of fire-roasted, add an extra 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika. The chili thickens as it sits; add a splash of broth when reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: healthy turkey chili, easy chili recipe, 20-minute chili, weeknight dinner, ground turkey chili, comfort food, gluten-free chili

Find it online: https://willarecipes.com/healthy-turkey-chili-recipe-easy-20-minute-cozy-dinner/