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Healthy Turkey Chili for Game Day (Easy, Best Recipe)

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This healthy turkey chili for game day is the perfect balance of flavor and nutrition, featuring lean ground turkey, beans, and a smoky chipotle kick. It’s quick to make, feeds a crowd, and pairs beautifully with all your favorite toppings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb ground turkey (93/7 lean)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 bell peppers (any color), diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (fire-roasted preferred), undrained
  • 1 can (15 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced, plus 1 teaspoon sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), diced avocado, fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, lime wedges, crushed tortilla chips

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first: dice onion and bell peppers, mince garlic, drain and rinse beans, measure out spices.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering (about 2 minutes).
  3. Add ground turkey to hot oil. Break into large chunks and let cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until deeply browned on the bottom.
  4. Flip and break up turkey into smaller pieces. Continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until most pink is gone and there are brown bits throughout.
  5. Push turkey to one side of the pot. Add diced onion and bell peppers to the empty space. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to brown.
  6. Add minced garlic and stir everything together. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  7. Add tomato paste directly to the meat and vegetable mixture. Stir in and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until paste darkens and becomes fragrant.
  8. Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook for 1 minute until spices are fragrant.
  9. Pour in diced tomatoes (with juice) and crushed tomatoes. Add minced chipotle pepper and adobo sauce. Stir, scraping bottom of pot to release browned bits.
  10. Add chicken broth and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  11. Add drained and rinsed kidney beans and black beans. Stir gently. Simmer for another 10-15 minutes uncovered until chili thickens to your liking.
  12. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more salt, pepper, or chipotle if needed. Optionally add a squeeze of lime juice.
  13. Let chili rest off heat for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with desired toppings.

Notes

For best flavor, brown the turkey properly and toast the spices. Chili tastes even better the next day. To make it less spicy, start with half a chipotle pepper and skip the adobo sauce. For a slow cooker version, brown turkey and vegetables on stovetop first, then transfer everything except beans to slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, adding beans in the last 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: healthy turkey chili, game day chili, easy chili recipe, best turkey chili, slow cooker chili, gluten-free chili

Find it online: https://twinkletaste.com/healthy-turkey-chili-for-game-day-easy-best-recipe/