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Home » Slow Cooker » Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Published: June 17, 2020 Last Modified: June 17, 2020 By Sara 60 Comments

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

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Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe | Crockpot Chili | Turkey Chili | Chili With Beans Recipe | Healthy Chili Recipe #turkey #chili #beans #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #dinneratthezoo

This slow cooker turkey chili is a blend of ground turkey, beans and spices, all simmered together in a crockpot to make a hearty meal. The perfect easy dinner option that’s great for feeding a crowd!

When it’s cold outside, I turn to soup for dinner. Some of my favorite recipes include alphabet soup, chicken and wild rice soup, and this thick, rich turkey chili with the perfect amount of spice.

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe | Crockpot Chili | Turkey Chili | Chili With Beans Recipe | Healthy Chili Recipe #turkey #chili #beans #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #dinneratthezoo Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe | Crockpot Chili | Turkey Chili | Chili With Beans Recipe | Healthy Chili Recipe #turkey #chili #beans #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #dinneratthezoo

A bowl of slow cooker turkey chili topped with sour cream and cheese.

I’m just gonna cut to the chase: this slow cooker turkey chili is the best chili I’ve ever made. The meat is tender, it’s thick and hearty, the heat level is perfect, and there’s a huge depth of flavor from all the different spices. It’s the perfect meal for a cold day with minimal prep work.

Ground turkey and onions in a slow cooker.

How to Make Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

First, start by cooking ground turkey, onions and garlic in a pan. Place the turkey in a crockpot along with tomatoes, chicken broth and spices. Let the chili simmer over low heat for 6 hours. Add the beans, and cook the chili for an additional 20 minutes or until the beans are warmed through. Serve the chili with your favorite toppings and watch the rave reviews come in!

Tips for the perfect crockpot turkey chili

  • I recommend using 93% lean ground turkey which is a blend of both breast and thigh meat. I find that the 99% lean ground turkey breast dries out quickly and is not as flavorful.
  • This is a mild chili without much heat. If you prefer a spicy chili, you can use hot chili powder, or add in spice in another form such as a tablespoon of hot sauce or 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Chili stays fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days, which makes this dish great for meal prep.
  • I like to offer a variety of toppings with chili including shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, diced tomatoes, tortilla strips and avocado.
  • Not a fan of beans in your chili? Omit the beans and add another 1/2 pound of ground turkey instead.

Turkey, tomatoes and spices in a crockpot.

Make Ahead Instructions

This recipe makes a lot of chili! I typically make the full batch and freeze half for another night by simply placing it in a resealable gallon sized freezer bag. This slow cooker turkey chili will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. You can also make the chili up to 2 days before you plan to serve it; it actually gets more flavorful on the second day because the spices have had even more time to meld. The leftovers also make for a great lunch!

Kidney beans and chili in a slow cooker.

SLOW COOKER TURKEY CHILI VARIATIONS

This recipe is delicious as written, but you can absolutely add other ingredients to customize it to your tastes.

  • Protein: This recipe can be made with lean ground beef, ground chicken or Italian sausage. You can also use diced or shredded chicken breast, or even cubes of beef stew meat.
  • Vegetables: You can add some veggies to the mix such as bell peppers, corn, diced roasted green chilies or diced zucchini.
  • Beans: While kidney beans are a common ingredient in chili, you can use other types of beans such as pinto beans or Great Northern beans for a different flavor.

A ladle serving up a portion of slow cooker turkey chili.

If you’re a chili fan, you’ll also want to check out my comprehensive list of the best 75 Slow Cooker Chili Recipes on the internet, with tons of different ideas for you to choose from!

More amazing slow cooker recipes

  • Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup
  • Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
  • Crockpot Pulled Pork Sandwiches
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Slow cooker turkey chili video

A bowl of slow cooker turkey chili topped with sour cream and cheese.
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5 from 30 votes

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

This slow cooker turkey chili is a blend of ground turkey, beans and spices, all simmered together in a crockpot to make a hearty meal. The perfect easy dinner option that's great for feeding a crowd!
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 206kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 lbs ground turkey 93% lean
  • 1 onion finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 3 8 ounce cans tomato sauce
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt divided use
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 15 ounce cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • assorted toppings such as sour cream and cheese

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the turkey and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until turkey is browned and cooked through.
  • Add the onion to the pan, and cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
  • Place the turkey in the slow cooker along with the tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cocoa powder, sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Stir to combine, then cook on LOW for 6 hours. Add the beans and cook for an additional 20 minutes until beans are warmed through. Add toppings if desired, then serve immediately. Recipe can be made up to two days in advance.

Notes

Adapted from Cooking Classy.

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 614mg | Potassium: 575mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1165IU | Vitamin C: 3.4mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2.4mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!

This post was originally published on October 29, 2017 and was updated on June 17, 2020 with new content.

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Filed Under: Slow Cooker, Soup

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    Comments

    1. Carla says

      December 1, 2020 at 8:42 pm

      5 stars
      Easy and delicious! I served it with cornbread just like your picture.

      Reply
    2. Brooke says

      November 10, 2020 at 2:17 pm

      Question about meal prep. Can all the ingredients be prepped in a freezer bag the night before and then put in slow cooker the next day? Wasn’t sure about the cooked meat being put in the fridge and then cooked again in the slower cooker, however, I’d have a hard time finding time to cook the meat in the morning to put in the slow cooker on on a weeknight.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 10, 2020 at 7:14 pm

        Yes that should be fine as long as the meat is cooked all the way through!

        Reply
    3. Miguel lopez says

      October 26, 2020 at 10:06 pm

      5 stars
      Have maid this 2 times and my family likes it, I just add a little bit of bbq sauce.

      Reply
    4. Roselee Sadek says

      September 17, 2020 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      Hi is it ok to use unsweetened cocoa and also I started late can i cook the recipe on high as well and if so how long? Thanks so much can’t wait to eat this

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 17, 2020 at 5:10 pm

        Yes it’s unsweetened cocoa and cook on high for half the time!

        Reply
    5. Catalina says

      June 28, 2020 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      This chili seems so hearty and amazingly delicious! Yummy!

      Reply
    6. Allyson Zea says

      June 27, 2020 at 7:29 am

      5 stars
      This was so easy to make and turned out super delicious!

      Reply
    7. Cathy says

      June 26, 2020 at 9:51 am

      This has me so ready for chili season!

      Reply
    8. Beti says

      June 26, 2020 at 8:02 am

      5 stars
      My family would really enjoy this!! It looks SO GOOD!

      Reply
    9. katerina says

      June 26, 2020 at 8:01 am

      5 stars
      mmm…this looks incredibly delicious!! Can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
    10. Jen says

      June 26, 2020 at 6:24 am

      5 stars
      I could eat this every night of the week, it’s THAT good! I made a toppings bar for my family to load up on when serving. It was a hit!

      Reply
    11. Beth says

      June 25, 2020 at 10:57 am

      5 stars
      This is such a yummy dinner! My family and I love this recipe!

      Reply
    12. Joan Poulton says

      March 18, 2020 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      Such a delicious recipe. I left out the cocoa and the sugar and served it over rice. Highly recommended for even a novice home cook.

      Reply
    13. Erika says

      February 27, 2020 at 1:34 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for the nutrition info but what is a serving size??

      Reply
      • Sara says

        February 28, 2020 at 10:15 am

        1 1/2 cups!

        Reply
    14. TT2020 says

      February 4, 2020 at 9:38 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was super easy to make. Thank you so much for sharing.

      BTW: Chili taste super good on nachos too.

      Reply
    15. Cordy says

      December 13, 2019 at 12:59 pm

      Do you know directions you can use with this recipe in an instant pot?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        December 13, 2019 at 7:26 pm

        Use this recipe and substitute turkey for the beef: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/instant-pot-chili/

        Reply
    16. Staci Villa says

      May 20, 2019 at 12:22 pm

      Awesome and easy recipe! Thank you for yet another easy yet delightful recipe!

      Reply
    17. Autumn says

      February 12, 2019 at 12:39 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious recipe, but I think you may need to adjust your portion yield for the nutrition facts provided. 2pounds of turkey for 6 servings is over 200kcal alone. The calorie tracker I personally use (lose it) estimates the total calories at roughly 435kcal/serving if dividing it into 6 portions. Hopefully you get it corrected so all that enjoy this recipe will be able to accurately estimate calories/ nutrients consumed. I really liked the flavors, and plan to make it again. Thanks!

      Reply
    18. Diana (Netherlands) says

      November 3, 2018 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      Made it and family loved it! My son, 18, prefers minced beef but enjoy the thought of having leaner meat. So, yes, would make it again !

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 3, 2018 at 9:23 am

        So glad to hear your family loved it, I appreciate you reporting back!

        Reply
    19. Joanne @ No Plate Like Home says

      October 7, 2018 at 1:05 pm

      5 stars
      This looks like a delicious lower calorie chili recipe . I’d never think to use cocoa powder! I’ll have to try that. I put some honey in mine to add a tad of sweetness.

      Reply
    20. Donna says

      January 10, 2018 at 6:30 pm

      5 stars
      hi was wondering if this is a ok recipe for a diabetic?… looks delicious and I really want to try it

      Reply
      • Sara says

        January 10, 2018 at 9:38 pm

        I believe it would be ok as it’s low in carbs and sugar!

        Reply
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