Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
This turkey chili recipe is the ultimate dump-and-go slow cooker meal.
It’s loaded with beans and tons of chili flavor and is beyond easy to make.
The only difference compared to regular beef chili is that you make it with lean ground turkey instead. This is a great option if you’re cutting back on red meat.
I make this Crock Pot turkey chili at least a couple times a month during the fall and winter. It’s just one of those go-to meals that’s as delicious as it is easy.
Why You’ll Love this Crock Pot Turkey Chili Recipe
Healthy – If you’re avoiding red meat, or trying to eat less, this chili recipe comes out great with extra lean turkey. If you’re watching salt intake, opt for the reduced-salt or no-salt varieties of canned tomatoes and beans.
Versatile – I love that chili is so easy to switch up. Add in what you like and reduce/remove what you don’t. Swap pinto beans for kidney or black, add in canned or frozen corn, or spice it up with paprika and red pepper.
Dump-and-Go – Probably what I love most about this recipe, is you don’t need to cook the turkey before adding it to the Crock Pot, making it truly dump-and-go!
Go-to autumn and winter meal – Turkey chili is in our regular rotation of cold-weather meals. I love that you can stock up on all the canned ingredients and keep ground turkey on-hand in the freezer, so you can make a batch without going to the store.
Great for parties – A pot of hot chili is always a crowd-pleaser. After it’s done cooking, set the Crock Pot to warm, put out some chili toppings, tortilla chips and cornbread, and you have an easy self-serve chili bar.
Ingredients Needed
- Ground Turkey – Get extra lean if you can.
- Pinto Beans – You’ll need 2-3 cans, so you can mix and match the type of beans. Kidney beans and black beans are great options for chili, as well.
- Onion & Garlic – Chopped yellow onion and minced garlic cloves are a must for chili.
- Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes – You’ve got options when it comes to diced tomatoes. Fire roasted tomatoes add a little smokiness and extra sweetness. For extra heat, use Rotel Hot Diced Tomatoes with Habaneros.
- Tomato Paste – For thickening up the chili.
- Jalapeno Pepper or Canned Green Chiles – Chop up a fresh jalapeno pepper or use a can of green chiles, hot or mild.
- Spices – A mix of chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper is all you need. You can measure each separately whenever you make this Crock Pot chili or make a jar of homemade chili seasoning ahead of time.
Step by Step Instructions
You need a Crock Pot that’s at least 4 quarts to make this slow cooker turkey chili recipe.
- To a slow cooker, add uncooked ground turkey. (There’s no need to cook it in advance.) Drain the beans and pour the beans, canned green chiles, diced tomatoes and tomato paste on top of the turkey.
- Chop the onion (fine or rough) and jalapeno pepper (if using), mince the garlic, and add to Crock Pot.
- Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper to Crock Pot. Optionally, add some cayenne pepper, red pepper chili flakes, or paprika, to taste.
- Stir the meat and everything together, making sure all the ground turkey is crumbled. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours. Do not open lid while cooking.
- Serve immediately with chili toppings, such as grated cheese, sour cream, avocado, guacamole, and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread on the side.
Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.
Recipe Notes
- If the chili is too thick, add water, or add a can of corn including water in it.
- Adjust spices according to your taste. For more heat, add in red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
- Bulk up the chili more with additional beans and corn, if desired. Don’t drain the extra cans so the chili isn’t too thick.
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
This easy slow-cooker turkey chili takes under 10 minutes to dump in a Crock Pot and is ready to eat 7 hours later. This simple recipe makes a hearty bowl of chili, loaded with beans and lots of spicy chili flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 2 or 3 cans (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cans (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted
- 1 can (6 ounces) chopped chilis
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- To a slow cooker, add uncooked ground turkey. (There's no need to cook it in advance.) Drain the beans and pour the beans, canned green chiles, diced tomatoes and tomato paste on top of the turkey.
- Chop the onion (fine or rough) and jalapeno pepper (if using), mince the garlic, and add to Crock Pot.
- Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper to Crock Pot. Optionally, add some cayenne pepper, red pepper chili flakes, or paprika, to taste.
- Stir the meat and everything together, making sure all the ground turkey is crumbled. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours. Do not open lid while cooking.
- Serve immediately with chili toppings, such as grated cheese, sour cream, avocado, guacamole, and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread on the side.
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