Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Published 8/27/2023
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This slow cooker turkey chili is the easiest chili you’ll ever make! It’s flavorful, high in protein, and a great dinner option for weeknights.
There’s nothing quite like a big, cozy bowl of chili on a cool day. Of all of our chili recipes, this slow cooker turkey chili is by far the easiest. This ground turkey recipe is super high in protein and low in fat, just like our classic turkey chili and ground turkey shells.
It’s what I make for dinner when I’m feeling lazy, on busy work days, or when I know we need a simple yet nutritious high protein meal. Simply add all of the ingredients to a slow cooker, mix together, cover, and cook for 3-4 hours on high. Easy peasy!
Featured Comment
“This was such a blessing of a recipe on a Friday night when this mama was tired but still wanted to prepare a nutritious, fulfilling meal for her family. So simple yet delicious! And everyone enjoyed it, a flavorful treat!” – Katie
What is in slow cooker turkey chili?
This easy turkey chili crockpot recipe is made with 9 simple ingredients – many that you probably have on hand already:
- Ground turkey
- Onion + garlic
- Canned beans + tomatoes
- Salsa
- Chili Seasoning
- Broth
Crockpot Turkey Chili Variations
Chili recipes are always so versatile and this turkey chili is no exception:
Meat: Instead of turkey, use the same amount of ground beef or chicken. Have you tried our famous beef chili recipe?
Salsa: Use your favorite kind in this chili recipe! We love cooking with salsa because it’s a great way to add tons of flavor without very much work. And, you can control the spice level depending on how hot your salsa is.
Chili Seasoning: Make your own homemade chili seasoning or use a store bought spice mix.
Cooking Method: Make this chili on the stove-top or in the slow cooker. Instructions for both methods are included in the recipe card below.
FAQ
Yes and no. There is some spice, but we don’t think it’s too spicy. For more spice, use a spicier salsa. For less spice, use mild salsa.
To thicken the chili 1) remove the lid while the chili finishes cooking, 2) let the chili cook a little longer on low to reduce the liquid, or 3) stir in a couple tablespoons of tomato paste before serving.
Absolutely! Replace the turkey with another 15 oz. can of drained and rinsed beans (any kind) or make our recipe for vegetarian chili.
Storage
Turkey chili is a delicious leftover option and often tastes even better on day 2 or 3 once the flavors have had more time to mingle! Store leftover chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing Instructions
Chili is a great meal to keep on hand in the freezer. Your future self will thank you! Let the turkey chili cool completely, transfer individual portions to freezer-safe containers or freezer cubes, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
I love making chili when we have people over – set up a toppings bar with things like shredded cheese, Greek yogurt or sour cream, sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, and chip crumbles. Everyone can make their own bowl! It’s also incredible with a giant square of cornbread or a foil-pack baked potato. You can’t go wrong!
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil*
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 15 oz. black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz. kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz. white northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 28 oz. diced tomatoes
- 12 oz. salsa, mild, medium, or spicy, about 1.25 cups
- 3 tablespoons chili seasoning
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or water
Instructions
Slow Cooker
- Place all ingredients (except the olive oil) into a slow cooker and mix together.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours stirring periodically.
Stove-Top
- Place olive oil and minced garlic into a large stockpot and heat over medium/high heat.
- Add in the ground turkey and and sauté until fully cooked.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and let simmer for around 10 minutes.
Tips & Notes
- Storage: Store leftover chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer Instructions: Let the turkey chili cool completely, transfer individual portions to freezer-safe containers or freezer cubes, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Oil: If you are making this chili in the slow cooker, omit the olive oil from the recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This was so good! I cut the recipe in half for 3 servings, as my crockpot is small & its just me. i did however use the full cup of salsa recommended and i highly recommend doubling if youre following the recipe as is! i will say dont make my mistake and not read as i added oil (thats for the stovetop version) and the water was unnecessary to add, if you double the salsa. adding extra seasonings = chefs kiss (i added garlic power, onion powder, season all, tonys creole, paprika, and a few tbsps of sugar). thank you so much for this recipe!
Tastes great. What is the serving size for the macros?
This was such a blessing of a recipe on a Friday night when this mama was tired but still wanted to prepare a nutritious, fulfilling meal for her family. So simple yet delicious! And everyone enjoyed it, a flavorful treat!
This looks amazing! I’m essentially a flexitarian (to borrow Pollan’s witty term for those of us that are basically vegetarian but will make occasional exceptions), so i’m super psyched to rid my freezer of it’s leftover frozen turkey (which i plan to finely chop and sub for the ground turkey)!
Question:
Any advice for how to add vegetables when using the slow cooker without turning them to mush? I’m loosely thinking corn, a few carrots, and some frozen edamame – but I’ll happily take recommendations on complimentary vegetable types as well!
You can always add them like halfway through! But the ones you listed should be fine in there the whole time!
oh man that’s like a whole extra step! lol jk 🙃
Thx for the feedback!
I ended up adding the carrots at the beginning.
For the corn and edamame I cooked them separately – a fast, no-frills approach (basically targeting the five-year-old version of myself that couldn’t stand to have any of her food touching on her plate) and then added them to the chili for the last 20 or 30 minutes (for the 39-year-old that evolved to enjoy a little flavor melding, but can be pretty touchy about food texture and that rates ‘unexpectedly mushy’ low enough that a better safe than sorry approach seemed warranted – 🙄).
The end result was, basically, awesome-sauce! I might even let my mom visit for thxgvg again someday. (kidding! mostly… 😁)
Do you brown the ground turkey before putting it in the crock pot?
I made this recipe in the crockpot & it was delish! I will add a spicier chili seasoning to give it a bit more umph. It made enough to freeze half for a quick dinner in the future. Thank you for sharing yummy, easy, healthy recipes!
We have used this recipe for a few years now and it is the BEST. We take it to the our neighborhood chili cook-off every year and so far we’ve come in second every time (lost to white chicken chili….if you ask me that’s not real chili…. 😉
If you win this year I expect you to mail me the trophy 😛
This chili looks great. Did you drain the beans before hand?
I love Chili….Especially turkey Chili! I wish more people would see the light and how good it is ha-ha so when I go to super bowl parties or out to eat I could have it. I don’t eat red meat so the only chili I can really have is my own.
I never knew you could cook the turkey in the Crockpot without browning it first…. I have always read everywhere to brown it before putting it in the Crockpot. Good to know that you can go without doing that, I hate that step!
Love the pictures from this weekend! Looks like a blast!
I just made this, it is sitting on the counter cooling and I can’t stop going over with my spoon to “taste”it. I need to stop or I won’t have enough for lunches this week.
Fantastic flavor!
Patty
YAY!!!!!! I’m also making this tonight 😀
Looks like a fabulous time. I am completely in love with your crocheted scarf. I’d love to make one myself – is it hard??