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Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe

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Packed with hearty beans, lean ground turkey, and a rich blend of spices, this set it and forget it Turkey Chili simmers to perfection in the slow cooker.

Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe

This is a family favorite recipe in our household and my go to on a cold night. Whether it’s game day or a weeknight dinner, this slow cooker turkey chili is a crowd-pleaser that delivers on both flavor and simplicity to prepare.

Ground Turkey Chili Ingredients

  • Ground turkey – I usually make mine with 85% lean ground turkey but have gone leaner with success. It all depends on how health conscious I’m feeling at the time.
  • Italian turkey sausage (spicy or mild) – Choose your heat level and I don’t recommend sweet Italian sausage but I’ve also used it in a pinch.
  • Onion – Yellow or white onion works best for the flavors in this recipe.
  • Canned whole tomatoes – Use fire roasted tomatoes or fresh diced tomatoes if you prefer.
  • Tomato sauce – An essential ingredient in chili.
  • Sugar – Just a teaspoon full of sweetness.
  • Seasonings – Cumin, chili powder, and dried oregano leaves offer the perfect mix of seasonings.
  • Canned spicy chili beans – Use your favorite brand.
  • Canned cannellini beans – Also known as white kidney beans, the nutty, earthy flavor of cannellini beans pairs well with the Italian sausage. I’ve also made this chili with garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and kidney beans.
  • Optional Toppings
    • Sour cream
    • Sliced green onions
    • Shredded cheese

Refer to the Turkey Chili recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients with measurements.

How To Make Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

How To Make Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

  1. Cook Turkey, Sausage & Onions – In a skillet cook the ground turkey, sausage and onions.
  2. Add Ingredients to Crockpot – Combine the turkey mixture and remaining ingredients to a slow cooker.
  3. Slow Cook – Slowly cook the chili for 6 to 8 hours on low or for 3 to 4 hours on high.
  4. Serve – Add the chili to bowls and serve with your choice of toppings.
Slow Cooker Chili With Ground Turkey

Tips & Variations

Mix up the protein – I’ve made this recipe with ground beef, chicken, and turkey and have also used Italian pork and chicken sausage. Chicken and turkey are very comparable and combined with all the flavors from the other ingredients, it’s hard to taste the difference. Ground beef and pork sausage have bolder and juicier flavors which I think enhances the flavor slightly but not without giving up the lean benefits of turkey.

Create a chili toppings station – Instead of going with just a few chili toppings, give your friends and family a variety of options. Additional toppings ideas include corn chips, saltine crackers, tortilla chips, sour cream, greek yogurt, parsley, chopped red onion, chives, green chilis, jalapeños, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, bacon crumbles, chopped tomatoes, or avocado slices.

Use this chili as a topping – Top hot dogs with chili and cheddar cheese or make stuffed baked potatoes with turkey chili. It’s even delicious on nachos or french fries.

Thicker Chili – To thicken the chili to your preferred consistency simply remove the cover when there is 30 minutes to an hour left of cooking time.

Try these Secret Ingredients for Chili to enhance this chili and make it your own.

Storing & Reheating

After cooling, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Avoid freezing it in a slow cooker to prevent damage.

For optimal results, thaw the frozen chili overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

To reheat, warm the chili in a covered pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through. Alternatively, reheat individual servings in the microwave until warmed through using 30 second to one minute bursts and stirring in between each interval.

I don’t recommend reheating in a slow cooker as it will take hours to reheat and bacteria could form. After reheating, feel free to transfer to a pre-heated slow cooker to keep warm.

Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe

Yield: 6 servings (1 1/2 cups each)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

Packed with hearty beans, lean ground turkey, and a rich blend of spices, this set it and forget it turkey chili simmers to perfection in the slow cooker.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1/2 lb Italian turkey sausage, spicy or mild
  • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 28 oz can whole tomatoes, undrained, cut up
  • 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 2 tspns chili powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano leaves
  • 1 15 oz can spicy chili beans, undrained
  • 1 15 oz can cannellini beans, drained, rinsed
  • Sour cream, optional topping
  • Green onions, sliced, optional topping
  • Shredded cheese, optional topping

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, cook ground turkey, sausage and onion over a medium-high heat until turkey is thoroughly cooked and brown (4-5 minutes), stirring frequently. Drain.
  2. In a 3 1/2 to 4-quart slow cooker, combine turkey mixture with all remaining ingredients except the optional toppings, mix well.
  3. Cover and cook on low setting for 6 to 8 hours or high setting for 3 to 4 hours.
  4. Top individual servings with sour cream, green onions and shredded cheese.

Notes

I've used Garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and kidney beans in place of cannellini beans. All three work well.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 500Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 1499mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 10gSugar: 12gProtein: 40g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.

© Monique McArthur
Cuisine: American / Category: Soups and Stews
Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe

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