No-Fuss Ground Turkey Chili Recipe

Our famous turkey chili recipe is incredibly simple and impossibly flavorful. Made with everyday pantry ingredients and lean ground turkey, this chili comes together in three easy steps and is ready in about 30 minutes. It’s a perfect weeknight meal or make-ahead option for meal prep.

Basic Turkey Chili

This turkey chili is straightforward without sacrificing flavor. It’s packed with protein, hearty beans, and a blend of spices that deliver classic chili taste without a complicated ingredient list. If you love a good chili but prefer something a little lighter than beef, this is for you.

Turkey Chili Ingredients

The ingredient list divides neatly into three groups: spices and seasonings, meat, and vegetables & canned goods. Use what you have on hand—this recipe is very forgiving.

Spices & Seasonings

• Olive oil
• Chili powder
• Ground cumin
• Garlic powder
• Minced garlic
• Smoked paprika
• Salt & pepper
• Worcestershire sauce (or hot sauce)
• Apple cider vinegar
• Maple syrup (or brown sugar / honey)
• Chicken broth (or beef / vegetable broth)

Meat

• Lean ground turkey (about 1 lb)

Vegetables & Canned Goods

• Yellow onion, diced
• Celery stalks, diced
• Crushed tomatoes (24-oz can)
• Diced tomatoes (15-oz can)
• Pinto beans, drained and rinsed (15-oz can)
• Red kidney beans, drained and rinsed (15-oz can)

A Little Sweetness — Our Secret Ingredient

A touch of sweetness helps round out the spice and tomato acidity in chili. We prefer a tablespoon of maple syrup for its warm, unrefined flavor, but brown sugar or honey work well as substitutes if needed.

How to Make Turkey Chili – In 3 Steps

This recipe is intentionally simple. Follow these three steps and you’ll have a comforting pot of chili in about half an hour.

1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion, celery, and minced garlic and sauté about 1 minute until fragrant.
2. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it up, for about 5 minutes or until nearly browned.
3. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, both beans, chicken broth, and all seasonings and flavorings. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low and simmer 5–10 minutes to meld flavors. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve with preferred toppings.

Easy Ingredient Swaps

• Lean ground turkey: Any ground meat (chicken, beef, pork) can be used instead.
• Chicken broth: Substitute beef or vegetable broth.
• Yellow onion: Use white or red onion if preferred.
• Worcestershire sauce: Swap with a little hot sauce for heat.
• Maple syrup: Brown sugar or honey are fine substitutes for sweetness.

Chili Toppings

Toppings make chili fun and customizable. Popular choices include:

• Shredded cheese
• Tortilla chips or Fritos
• Green onions or chives
• Greek yogurt or sour cream
• Hot sauce

How to Store Turkey Chili

This recipe yields 6 servings, making it ideal for meal prep. Store cooled chili in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to five days. To freeze, cool completely and transfer to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty bags, removing as much air as possible; frozen chili keeps well for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently on the stove.

Slow Cooker or Instant Pot?

You can adapt this turkey chili for the slow cooker or Instant Pot. For the slow cooker, brown the turkey and sauté the aromatics first, then combine everything and cook on low for 4–6 hours. For the Instant Pot, brown the turkey using the sauté function, add remaining ingredients, and cook on high pressure for about 10 minutes, followed by a quick release. Adjust liquids and seasoning as needed.

If you make this chili, share a photo and tag your posts with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds—we love seeing your versions and toppings!