Turkey chili

Lean turkey, beans and spices. Better the next day. Makes 4.

  • Have some energy
  • Vegan option
  • Gluten-free
  • American
  • Dinner
  • Turkey
  • Legumes
  • High protein
  • Meal prep
  • High fiber
Hands-on
18 min
Total time
55 min, show breakdown
  • Prep 10 min
  • Cook 40 min
  • Clean up 5 min
Pans
1
Ingredients
9
Cost/serving
$3.16

Per serving

Calories
383
Protein
32 g
Fiber
10 g
Net carbs
23 g
Fat
16 g

High in (% Daily Value per serving): Vitamin C 67%, Vitamin B6 67%, Niacin (B3) 66%, Vitamin B12 62%, Selenium 52%, Zinc 38%, Riboflavin (B2) 37%, Iron 35%, Vitamin E 35%, Thiamin (B1) 29%, Potassium 26%, Magnesium 24%, Folate 21%

Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.

Already dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free.

Ingredients for 4

Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.

  • 500 g ground turkey, 93% lean

    Same amount as: 1.1 lb.

  • 1 medium onion (110 g)
  • 1 medium red bell pepper (120 g)
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed (9 g)

    Same amount as: 3 tsp fresh minced garlic, 1½ tsp jarred minced garlic, ⅜ tsp garlic powder.

  • 2 tbsp chili powder (16 g)

    Same amount as: 30 mL.

  • 2 tsp ground cumin (4.2 g)

    Same amount as: 10 mL.

  • 1 can canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed (240 g)

    Same amount as: about 1½ cups.

  • 1 can canned crushed tomatoes (794 g)

    Same amount as: about 3¼ cups.

  • 1 tbsp olive oil (14 g)

    Same amount as: 15 mL.

  • salt, to taste

Find alternative ingredients

Quantities are for 4 servings. Keeps 4 days in the fridge or 3 months frozen.

Nutrition Facts

4 servings per recipe

Serving size 1 plate (452 g raw)

NutrientPer serving% DV*Whole recipe
Calories383
Total fat16 g20%
Saturated fat3.5 g17%
Cholesterol92 mg31%
Sodium880 mg38%
Total carbohydrate33 g12%
Dietary fiber10 g36%
Total sugars13 g
Net carbs†23 g
Protein32 g64%
Vitamin D0.38 mcg2%
Calcium149 mg11%
Iron6.4 mg35%
Potassium1,216 mg26%
Vitamin A155 mcg17%
Vitamin C60 mg67%
Vitamin E5.2 mg35%
Vitamin K17 mcg14%
Thiamin (B1)0.35 mg29%
Riboflavin (B2)0.48 mg37%
Niacin (B3)11 mg66%
Vitamin B61.1 mg67%
Folate85 mcg21%
Vitamin B121.5 mcg62%
Magnesium99 mg24%
Zinc4.2 mg38%
Selenium28 mcg52%

Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.

* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.

Steps

  1. Dice the onion and pepper. Mince the garlic. Drain and rinse the beans.

  2. Heat the oil in the pot on medium-high. Add the turkey and break it up with the spatula. Cook 6–8 minutes.

    Done looks like: No pink left. Some brown bits on the bottom of the pot.
  3. Add the onion and pepper. Cook 5 minutes, stirring.

  4. Add the garlic, chili powder and cumin. Stir for 30–60 seconds.

    Done looks like: Spices smell toasted and coat everything. Nothing is burning.
  5. Add the tomatoes and beans. Bring to a boil, then turn it down and simmer 25 minutes, stirring now and then. Taste and add salt.

Equipment

Large pot or Dutch oven, 5 L (5 qt) $30–80

What to look for

  • Heavy base so soups and chili do not scorch
  • Lid that fits

Skip: Enameled cast iron is lovely but not needed. A heavy stainless pot works.

Chef's knife, 20 cm (8 in) $15–50

What to look for

  • Comfortable handle that does not slip when wet
  • Blade you can sharpen, or a cheap one you replace every few years

Skip: Knife blocks with 12 knives. A chef's knife and a small paring knife cover almost everything.

Cutting board $10–30

What to look for

  • At least 30 × 40 cm (12 × 16 in), so food stays on it
  • Wood or plastic; plastic goes in the dishwasher

Skip: Glass or stone boards. They dull knives fast.

Silicone spatula $5–12

What to look for

  • One-piece (no seam where the head meets the handle)
  • Stiff enough to scrape, safe on non-stick

Skip: Wooden spatulas for non-stick pans; they work but do not scrape as cleanly.

What goes wrong

WhatCauseFix
Bitter, burnt tasteSpices cooked too long or too hot.30–60 seconds only, then add the tomatoes straight away.
Thin and wateryNot simmered long enough.Simmer uncovered 10 minutes more.
Dry, grainy turkeyLean turkey browned too long.Stop browning as soon as the pink is gone. It keeps cooking in the sauce.

Versions

VersionChangesPer serving
OriginalAs written. Hands-on 18 min, total 55 min.383 kcal
32 g protein
10 g fiber
23 g net carbs
16 g fat
VeganBlack beans instead of turkey. Also vegetarian. Hands-on 15 min, total 45 min.277 kcal
14 g protein
16 g fiber
32 g net carbs
5.5 g fat

Notes

Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.

Pregnancy: Cook ground turkey to 74 °C / 165 °F.