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    Home Recipes Lunch

    Kid-Approved Turkey Chili

    Published: Dec 9, 2020 · Modified: Jan 26, 2022 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Warm up this winter with a savory bowl of this ridiculously delicious (and healthy) chili that will have your kids asking for more.

    Turkey chili in a white bowl with a white spoon.

    This turkey chili is made with traditional ingredients like beans, chili powder, and cumin, but then it's topped off with fresh lime and cilantro. The combination of flavors is truly amazing.

    I make this for our family and for company. It's always a hit!

    If your kids love soups and stews as much as mine, you really should make my Veggie Lentil Soup. Both are healthy filling soups that your kids will love.

    About This Recipe

    Cozy up with this delicious and healthy chili. It's the perfect meal to make around the holidays, too, because you can use leftover turkey... you know, like the turkey roasted on Thanksgiving. Yum!

    • This healthy turkey chili is made from scratch, using cooked turkey, beans, onions, garlic, broth, spices, cilantro, and lime.
    • Black beans can be substituted with more Great Northern Beans.
    • Chopped tomatoes and/or avocado can be added at the end for more color, nutrition, and texture.
    • Leftovers can easily be reheated and placed in a thermos for your kids to pack for lunch.

    Ingredient Notes

    Turkey chili ingredients, labeled.
    • Cooked turkey Lean protein. Can use cooked ground turkey or leftover roasted turkey (like from Thanksgiving). If you don't have leftover turkey, use cooked shredded chicken instead to make this more like a chicken chili.
    • Beans Good source of protein and fiber. Black beans also provide folate, magnesium, and antioxidants.
    • Broth Added for flavor.
    • Cilantro Added for flavor.
    • Lime Added for flavor.
    • Onion Added for texture and flavor.
    • Spices Added for flavor.
    • Tomato (optional). Tomatoes are high in many nutrients, most notably lycopene.
    • Avocado (optional). Avocados are full of fiber and monounsaturated fats. They also provide vitamins and minerals.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here's a quick overview of the steps to make this easy turkey chili. For the full list of ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe.

    1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, sauté onion over medium heat until tender.
    2. Add chili powder, cumin and garlic. Stir to combine. Then, add oregano and beans. Stir to combine.
    3. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes.
    4. Place two cups of bean mixture in a blender that can handle high heat and blend until smooth (see picture down below). Return bean mixture to pan. Stir to combine.
    5. Add cooked ground turkey (or chopped cooked turkey) and cook until heated through.
    6. Add chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
    7. Top with fresh avocado and/or tomato pieces (optional). Enjoy!

    Serving Suggestion

    Serve this delicious chili with a piece of hearty bread and a side salad. Or make a batch of my homemade guacamole and serve it with air fryer tortilla chips. It's so good!

    Notes and Tips

    • Do not add the turkey before the recipe calls for it. Blending the turkey with the bean mixture (in the blender) will result in a very grainy consistency that your kids will not like.
    • Pieces of leftover roasted turkey (think Thanksgiving leftovers!) can be used in place of ground turkey.
    • If you don't have turkey, cooked ground or roasted chicken can be used instead.
    • Be sure to use a blender that is made to blend hot foods (check the manufacturers instructions). My Vitamix works well for this recipe.
    Pureed bean mixture on a spoon.
    This is what the pureed bean mixture should look like

    Recipe FAQs

    Can this be made without meat?

    Yes, you can easily turn this into a vegetarian, vegan chili. Simply use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and a meat substitute (like Beyond Meat) in place of turkey.

    Or you can leave the 'meat' out altogether, as you will still get protein from the beans. It's as easy as that! So great!

    Can I stick my emersion blender into the pot instead of removing some of the bean mixture first?

    I do not suggest doing this. I tried it myself and was not pleased with the texture.

    Is chili a soup?

    This one is up for debate! I like to keep things simple, so I call it a soup. Still, by true definition, it technically meets the criteria for a stew.

    turkey chili in a white bowl with a white spoon

    Turkey Chili

    Kristi
    Warm up this winter with a savory bowl of this ridiculously delicious (and healthy) chili that will have your kids asking for more.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings (about one and one third cup servings)
    Calories 215 kcal

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven
    • Blender One that can handle hot food. I use a Vitamix.
    • Food Chopper
    • Collander
    • Can opener

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
    • 2 onions Yellow onion, diced (about two cups).
    • 4 teaspoon chili powder
    • 3 cloves of garlic minced (about one tablespoon)
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon oregano
    • 2 15oz can black beans rinsed and drained
    • 1 15oz can Great Northern beans white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
    • 4 cups low sodium chicken stock or broth to make this vegan, use vegetable stock
    • 1 pound lean ground turkey Cooked. Or about 3 cups cooked turkey, chopped. (To make this vegan, use a meat substitute or leave the meat out)
    • ⅓ cup cilantro chopped
    • 1 lime juiced (2 tablespoons)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
    • 1 avocado sliced and cut into pieces (optional for topping)
    • 1 tomato cut into pieces (optional for topping)

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oil in large pot over medium or medium-high heat*
    • Add onion and sauté until tender.
    • Add chili powder, garlic, and cumin. Saute for another 2 minutes.
    • Add oregano and beans. Stir into mixture.
    • Add broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes.
    • Using a measuring cup or ladle, place two cups of bean mixture in a blender or food processor.* Blend until smooth.
    • Return bean mixture to pan.
    • Add cooked ground turkey (or chopped cooked turkey) and cook until heated through. About 5 minutes.
    • Add chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
    • Stir well. Top with fresh avocado and/or tomato pieces (optional). Enjoy!

    Notes

    *Alternately, instead of using a blender or food processer, you can put the two cups of bean mixture in a separate bowl and use an immersion blender to puree.
    Refer to the manufacturers instructions for heat settings. Some brands (like Green Pan and Le Creuset) suggest not using medium-high heat setting with their pots and pans unless you are boiling water.
    The bean mixture should reach a pureed consistency
    This is a fantastic way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 215kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 23gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 309mgPotassium: 685mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 711IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Welcome to Carrots & Cookies! I'm registered dietitian and busy working mom of three on a mission to provide you with easy recipes and tips to make every minute you spend in your kitchen count! More about me...

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