This slow cooker turkey chili is made with ground turkey, beans and veggies then cooked low and slow crockpot until flavorful. It’s hearty, filling and healthy!
Healthy Turkey Chili in the Crockpot
Homemade chili is a classic comfort meal that everyone loves, so it’s an easy go-to when I need something simple, delicious, and healthy!
I’ve made crockpot chili before and healthy turkey chili recipe before, but this time, I’m combining the two for a slow cooker turkey chili. It is now one of my favorite healthier recipes with ground turkey!
Having a wholesome meal ready to eat at the end of a long day and gathering with family over a crockpot full of hearty ground turkey chili may be one of the best things to come out of the cold weather. It doesn’t get more comforting or warming than that!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthy. Slow cooker turkey chili is packed with so many nutrients plus high in fiber and protein.
- Easy and freezer friendly. It’s basically a dump-and-set recipe and the slow cooker does most of the work plus this crockpot turkey chili recipe makes a lot and freezes well for another meal!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Ground turkey: Turkey is lean meat that is pretty mild in flavor on its own, so we’re not skimping on the seasoning in this chili! It’s a lighter version than traditional beef chili which is great if you’re looking for a lower calorie option.
- Beans: I use a combination of red kidney beans, black beans, and white chili beans. You can use the same combination or just one or two of them. Whatever you prefer or whatever you have handy.
- Seasoning: We’re using spices such as chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and dried oregano for the herbs. If you’d like to take a shortcut, use a blend of homemade chili seasoning instead!
- Tomato sauce: Used to make tomato-y broth and gives it a robust flavor and a beautiful red color. If you want less tomato flavor, swap the tomato sauce for turkey or chicken broth instead.
How to Make Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
- Brown the meat. We brown the meat in a large pot or large skillet over medium heat first so we’re not adding raw turkey to the crockpot. Doing this gives it flavor as it cooks with the onion, bell peppers, and eventually garlic too. Once it’s no longer pink, drain any excess grease and transfer everything to the crockpot.
- Add remaining ingredients. Pour in the tomato sauce (or broth), tomatoes, and all the beans and stir in the seasoning and 1/2 cup to 1 cup of water, just to make sure everything is covered.
- Cook on low. Once everything has been added to the pot, cover it and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Season and serve. Once it’s done, do a little taste test and sprinkle it with a little extra salt if needed. Ladle it into bowls and serve with your favorite toppings and sweet cornbread or a cornbread muffin!
Recipe Variations
This crockpot turkey chili can be customized to your family’s tastes.
- Have leftover Thanksgiving turkey or smoked turkey? This slow cooker turkey chili recipe is the best way to use the extras!
- Other ground protein can be used such as ground chicken or ground beef. Make it vegetarian by adding more beans or stirring in cooked quinoa near the end.
- Add 2-3 teaspoons of brown sugar for a little added sweetness. It also helps to cut the acid from the tomatoes.
- You could also make it a little spicier by adding a can of diced green chilis or deli-sliced tamed jalapeno peppers plus a full 3 Tablespoons of chili powder.
- If you want to add more veggies, load it up with about 1 cup of frozen corn or mixed veggies.
Favorite Optional Toppings
Here are some of my favorite chili toppings!
- Sour cream/Greek yogurt
- Green onions
- Tortilla strips
- Cheddar cheese
- Cilantro
- Diced avocado
- Cornbread croutons
Recipe FAQs
Yes, this is great for meal prep. You can prep the ground turkey mixture on the stove top, store in the fridge, then just add everything to the slow cooker in the morning. You could also make the entire meal in advance and set it to cook the next day.
Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days or in the freezer for 3 months. Once it has completely cooled, transfer it to an airtight container or zip-top bag for maximum freshness. You can even use leftovers in my Frito pie recipe!
Need more family-friendly chilli recipes? Wendy’s chili copycat recipe or slow cooker crack chicken chili are favorites, too!
More Chili Recipes
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Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion , chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper , chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce , or broth (for less tomato flavor)
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans , drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce) can white chili beans , drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce) can dark red kidney beans , drained and rinsed
- 2-3 Tablespoons chili powder , plus more to taste
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin , plus more to taste
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt , or 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2-1 cup water
Optional toppings: Cheese, Sour cream, Cilantro, Avocados, Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Brown turkey, onion and garlic. In a large pot, heat 1 Tablespoon oil over medium heat. Stir in 1 medium onion and 1 red bell pepper. Cook 3 minutes, or until softened. Add in one pound turkey and 2 teaspoons garlic. Cook until lightly browned. Drain, if needed. Transfer to your crockpot.
- Add tomatoes, beans and seasonings. Pour in the can of tomato sauce, can of diced tomatoes, can of black beans, can of chili beans, and can of kidney beans. Stir in 2-3 Tablespoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, 3/4 teaspoon oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 to 1 cup water (depending on how much liquid you need to cover everything). Cook on low 4 to 6 hours.
- Season to taste. Ladle into bowls and top with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- To make a little sweet, add in 2 to 3 teaspoons brown sugar.
- To make a little spicier, add in 1 can diced green chiles or deli-sliced tamed jalapeno peppers + the full 3 Tablespoons chili powder.
- Add in 1 cup frozen corn for some more vegetables.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Crockpot, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, One Pot, One Pot, Soups
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This is a great slow cooker chili recipe. You’re right- a day where you can throw things in the slow cooker and have a delicious dinner ready to go before the kids get home is a serious win! We enjoyed the chili and will have fun experimenting with different levels of heat the next time we make it.
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes you can definitely add more heat to your liking!
Love this turkey chili recipe! My family loved it too! I will have to make it again! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it :)
Will surely have this delicious turkey chili again! Super easy to make and tasted so amazing! Loved this!
Glad to hear the recipe was a success for you, Allyssa!