We’re calling this turkey chili recipe a lazy girl chili because it’s just that easy to make! It’s made with ground turkey, beans, your favorite salsa, and chili seasoning.
Use our homemade chili seasoning in this healthy turkey chili to make it even easier!
Lazy Girl
On days when I try to be lazy (which is hopefully at least once a week), I try and stay lazy in the kitchen too. This is why I ALWAYS have plenty of canned beans and frozen ground meat on hand so that at any moment, I can throw it all in the crockpot and let it simmer.
I call this batch of ground turkey chili, lazy girl turkey chili because it’s just that…LAZY!
What makes this chili lazy?
Canned ingredients: No need to make your own beans or diced tomatoes. I like to keep canned beans and tomato products in my cabinets at all times just in case I want to whip up a batch of chili!
Salsa: Salsa is a great way to add tons of flavor without very much work. You can also control the heat of this recipe by how spicy your salsa is.
Chili Seasoning: Whether you’re using a storebought chili seasoning or a homemade chili seasoning, having this spice mix on hand will save you time and money.
Multi Cook Method: Whip up this easy turkey chili on the stove-top OR be completely hands-off and use your slow cooker. The choice is yours.
Q&A
What goes with turkey chili? Turkey chili is delicious served with cornbread, a foil-pack baked potato, chips, and all of your favorite toppings such as Greek yogurt, cheese, and avocado.
Can you freeze turkey chili? To freeze turkey chili, let it cool completely. Then, transfer it into a freezer-safe gallon size bag or Tupperware and remove as much air as possible. Seal and freeze for up to 3 months.
Is chili healthy? Turkey chili is healthy because it’s high in protein and fiber.
How can I thicken my chili? To thicken your chili you can let it simmer on low to reduce all of your ingredients or try to add a little bit of cornstarch.
More Chili Recipes
- Best Beef Chili
- Crockpot Chicken Chili
- Black Bean Quinoa Chili
- Vegan Instant Pot Chili
- Super Simple Green Chili
Lazy Girl Turkey Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil*
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 15 oz. can black beans drained and rinsed
- 15 oz. can kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 15 oz. can white northern beans drained and rinsed
- 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 12 oz. jar 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 minus the coconut oil into a slow cooker and mix.
- 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.
- Then, add in ground turkey and and saute until fully cooked.
- Add in the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and let simmer for around 10 minutes.
Tips & Notes
- Olive oil: if you are using the slow cooker, omit from recipe.
- Updated: this recipe was slightly updated on 9/8/2019.
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??
Hubby would LOVE this. Think I will make it tomorrow. One question: I presume the canned beans are NOT drained? Thanky thanky!
that grey dress is adorable!
This salsa chili looks delicious! It would be a great dish to bring to a potluck. I don’t have a slow cooker, but I’m sure I could improvise and make it in a giant pot on the stove. What size can of diced tomatoes did you use?
*fam
Beautiful photos and a great, relaxing Thanksgiving with Blake’s fan!
Looks like a great time! I love the colors in your scarf.
Fanks Courtney! I do too 🙂
Check out that lime action shot! P.S. you’re cute.
Blake helped me with that. He has prettier hands than me. I have a finger thumb.
Those cinnamon rolls look amazing! What a fun Thanksgiving weekend.
They were the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had and I’m not just saying that!
Looks like a great weekend!
Thanks Matt! It was really fun… I love Blake’s family!
I LOVE your crocheted scarf! I tried to take up crocheting a while ago and taught myself how, but eventually gave it up. My scarves turned out uneven and I didn’t end up wearing them. It was fun to do though!
Your chili looks so good! It’s one I could easily tweak. I can’t eat too many beans so I may use your recipe as a “base” and just leave out the black beans. Chili always sounds so good for winter days.
Thanks! Evenness comes with practice! When I first started everything I made was lopsided! This chili is meant to be manipulated so go for it!