Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Published on October 28, 2022
Quick Summary
This healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili is loaded with beans, veggies, and lean turkey. It’s the perfect meal for game day, a cold day, or any day! And the best part? The crockpot does most of the work. It’s such an easy and delicious recipe!
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili is the perfect meal for a cold day, game day, busy day, or any day. It is hearty, satisfying, and healthy.
This is the best turkey chili recipe because it’s full of flavor AND made in the crockpot. Throw all of the ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning, let it simmer all day, and you will have a delicious dinner waiting for you.
Serve with your favorite chili toppings and make sure you have a big piece of easy cornbread on the side. Chili and cornbread are a match made in heaven.
Table of Contents
Healthy & Delicious
This chili recipe uses lean ground turkey, which is a healthier alternative to the typical beef or sausage chili. It also has black beans and red kidney beans. This chili is a protein powerhouse!
And I promise the chili isn’t lacking any flavor because it also has onion, tomatoes, peppers, corn, and lots of spices. You get a well-rounded meal in one bowl.
Chili Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Ground turkey– you can use ground chicken or ground beef if you wish.
- Onion
- Bell peppers– I use red and yellow, they are nice and sweet. Orange peppers are also a good option.
- Tomato sauce
- Diced tomatoes
- Beans– black beans and red kidney beans
- Deli-sliced tamed jalapeño peppers– the peppers aren’t spicy, they have a little heat, but add GREAT flavor. Look for them in the pickle aisle. Pickled jalapeños also work.
- Corn– I use frozen corn because I always have it in the freezer.
- Spices– chili powder and cumin
How to Make Turkey Chili
This is a REALLY simple recipe–you just have to brown the turkey, chop the onion and peppers, and toss everything into the slow cooker. We use a 6-quart slow cooker and it works perfectly!
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place turkey in the skillet, and cook until brown. Pour turkey into slow cooker.
- Add the onion, peppers, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beans, jalapeños, corn, chili powder, and cumin. Stir and season with salt and pepper.
- Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 6 hours.
Chili Toppings
What’s chili without toppings?! It’s the best part! Set out a variety of toppings and everyone can customize their bowls.
- Shredded cheese
- Chopped green onions
- Avocado or Guacamole
- Cilantro
- Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Jalapeño slices
- Radishes
- Tortilla chips or crackers
More Chili Recipes
- Hearty Vegetarian Chili
- Vegetarian Quinoa Chili
- Slow Cooker Beef Chili
- Dad’s Spicy Chili
- Smoky Bacon Chili
- White Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb 99% lean ground turkey
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 red pepper, seeded, stemmed, and chopped
- 1 yellow pepper, chopped
- 30 ounces tomato sauce
- 30 ounces petite diced tomatoes
- 30 ounces canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 30 ounces canned red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 16 ounce jar deli-sliced tamed jalapeno peppers, drained
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional toppings: green onions, shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream/Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place turkey in the skillet, and cook until brown. Pour turkey into slow cooker.
- Add the onion, peppers, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beans, jalapeños, corn, chili powder, and cumin. Stir and season with salt and pepper.
- Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or low for 6 hours. Serve with toppings, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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Photos updated by Growing Up Cali
This is my go to chili recipe. I make a few adjustments. I use poblano pepper instead of jalapeno and add in cayenne for some more heat. I also add in 2-3 cloves garlic and canned corn instead of frozen.
How much is one serving? A cup?? Do you happen to know in grams?
Did you figure out how much a serving is? Thanks!
Chili was amazing. You list it serves 10. What serving size is that based on?
I’ve been making this for a few years, but we use 2# of turkey. It makes right at 5 quarts which is 160 Oz. This recipe says 10 servings, so that makes a serving 2 cups. I added up all the macros from the ingredients and got the following: 351 Cal, 29P/38C/9F. (Again, these are the macros for using 2# of turkey)
Hope that helps.
I happened upon this turkey chili recipe on Pinterest around 9 years ago. I wanted a hearty, warm but easy for dinner on a busy Halloween with a 1 year old. I showed this to my husband and he agreed to it. We leave the jalapeños out and on the side for those who like spicy. Other than that I have never changed one other thing about this recipe and it is the only chili recipe I have used ever since that day. Everyone I have ever shared it with falls in love with it too. Thank you for sharing and I just came back again to double check the ingredients to make this tomorrow. I have the website memorized, it’s such a witty name! Made me realize I should explore and try more of your recipes as well so I’ll be doing that this year. Much love and thank you for sharing your passion with us!
I am so glad you found us!
the best classic chili recipe! so easy, so delicious, makes lots of left overs. Perfect for Fall
Perfect fall meal!
This is delicious! The jalapenos don’t make it too hot, either. Just right.
I see the calorie break down but how big of a serving is that reflecting? I’m guessing one cup but does anyone know?
10 Servings but what is the serving size?? 1 Cup? Numerous comments asking the same thing with no reply.
I like this recipe but I like more turkey in my chilli. I felt like there was no turkey in the chilli, I almost used 2 lbs of turkey but decided not to, will definitely do that next time. Also, I will as a little bit less of tomato sauce maybe just once can. Other than that I like this recipe.
YUMMY!!
Try this- switch out one 15oz can of pumpkin (yes you read that right), for one of the 15oz cans of tomato sauce. its not a big difference, but just a slight twist. and i prefer to use not-tamed jalapenos, and one sliced fresh jalapeno. i like it spicier than this.
I made this for Super Bowl Sunday today. Delicious recipe! My grocery store was sold out of the tamed jalapeño peppers so I used a combination of hot and banana peppers. Just enough heat for my family. Thanks for a great chili recipe!
You are welcome!
We love this turkey chili! It’s our go-to chili every winter!!!
Yay!
delicious results! I made some modifications: sauteed onions, garlic and bell peppers before adding. I added canned green chilis and a blitzed can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to add some dimension. I added some chicken broth to loosen it up, and chopped up some kale really finely to add some vitamins.
Glad you loved the chili.
My family loved this! The tamed jalapeño adds great flavor, don’t leave it out.
Yay!
I swear there used to be cayenne pepper in this? Also don’t recall jalapeño. Was it changed?
I haven’t changed it. Of course, you can add more spice if you like!
Hello! Love the recipe and have used many times. Can you share what the serving size is, please? Thank you!