Description
Savory Turkey Chili delivers a hearty Mexican-inspired one-pot meal packed with protein and robust spices. Comfort meets nutrition in this lean, flavorful dish that brings warmth to your dinner table with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground turkey (93% lean)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced (red, yellow, or green)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 (14.5 ounces/411 grams) can diced tomatoes (fire-roasted)
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can tomato sauce
Beans, Liquids, and Seasonings:
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ cups (355 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for topping)
- Chopped cilantro or green onions (for topping)
- Crushed tortilla chips or cornbread (on the side)
Instructions
- Warm a large pot with olive oil over medium heat, creating a sizzling surface for cooking.
- Crumble ground turkey into the pot, breaking it into small pieces while browning evenly for 5-7 minutes.
- Incorporate diced onions, minced garlic, and chopped bell peppers, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and tender.
- Sprinkle chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper across the meat and vegetable mixture, stirring to distribute spices thoroughly.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans, chicken broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce, blending all ingredients into a rich, aromatic base.
- Reduce flame to low, allowing the chili to gently simmer and develop complex flavors for 20-30 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking.
- Taste the chili and fine-tune seasoning, adjusting spice levels or salt as desired to achieve perfect balance.
- Ladle the steaming chili into serving bowls, garnishing with shredded cheese, dollop of sour cream, fresh cilantro, or crunchy tortilla chips.
- Accompany the chili with warm cornbread, fluffy rice, or a crisp side salad for a complete, satisfying meal.
Notes
- Swap lean ground turkey for ground chicken or plant-based alternatives to accommodate different dietary preferences while maintaining similar protein content.
- Dial down cayenne pepper for a milder version or increase for extra heat, ensuring each family member’s spice tolerance is respected.
- Boost nutritional value by adding extra vegetables like zucchini, carrots, or spinach during the sautéing stage without compromising the chili’s classic flavor profile.
- Enhance meal prep efficiency by preparing large batches and freezing in portion-sized containers for quick weeknight dinners that taste even better the next day.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 149
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg