Our easy breezy Turkey Chili with Beans recipe is one of our favorite warm meals for a chilly evening during the winter months in Maryland.  It is also wonderful on rainy days all year round.

Turkey Chili

We love freezer meals. This soup is perfect for a cold day. Either combine in a pot or a freezer bag for later!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 15 minutes
Course: Main Dish, Soups and Stews
Cuisine: American, Gluten Free
Keyword: Budget-friendly, Easy, Fall, Fiber, Kid-friendly, Make ahead, Meal prep, Winter
Cooking Method: Slow Cooker
Condition: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 384

Ingredients

  • 1 lb turkey ground
  • 1 15-oz can canned tomato sauce no salt/ low sodium
  • 1 15-oz can canned tomatoes diced, no salt/ low sodium
  • 1 15-oz can black beans no salt/ low sodium; rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-oz can kidney beans no salt/ low sodium; rinsed and drained
  • 1 2/3 cup corn "fire roasted" & frozen
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp cumin ground
  • 1 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes crushed

Instructions

  • Heat frying pan over medium heat. Add ground turkey to pan, cook until browned, breaking up into little chunks. Let cool slightly, and add to gallon sized freezer bag. Add remaining ingredients. Try to push as much air out of the bag as possible, and seal well. Stir well and lay flat in the freezer.
  • When ready to serve, thaw meal in fridge overnight. Place contents of bag into the slow cooker. Set on low for 8 hours. Serve each portion with a side salad or veggies of your choice.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

The hardest part is going to be browning the turkey before you put it in the bag. Other than that, you are good to go! Feel free to use low sodium chili seasoning mix to speed up the process of assembling your freezer bag.

Nutrition

Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 6g | Sodium: 407mg | Potassium: 1209mg | Fiber: 12g

This is one of my favorite chili recipes, You can prep it ahead and freeze it for a crockpot meal or you can simply put together the ingredients and cook it for dinner, It really does not take much time at all.

The added corn in the recipe makes the turkey chili more colorful and delicious.

Here are additional tasty chili recipes:

Beef and Sweet Potato chili

Lentil Chili

Three Bean Chili

Interesting to note:

Chili pepper is high in anti-oxidants which is linked to many health benefits. However, chili peppers are also high in salicylic acid, so read this in case you think you may have a sensitivity. Or if you think that you may have any other food sensitivities, you can find out more about your individual food sensitivities, we offer testing to help you avoid foods that make you feel unwell.  Hopefully, you are able to enjoy this healthy version of traditional chili.  Using ground turkey breast decreases the fat in the chili and makes the chili much lighter and the protein will help you feel satisfied and the fiber (in the beans and corn)  will help you feel full.

Please note:

Nutrition info is an estimate and may contain errors.

Klara Knezevic is a registered dietitian nutritionist based in Maryland. She has over a decade of experience in the nutrition field and currently serves as the CEO and co-owner of Rebecca Bitzer and Associates, one of the largest nutrition private practices in the country. Klara is passionate about sharing practical nutrition tips to help you feel confident in the choices that you make. Coauthor ofCooking with Food Sensitivities Survival GuideandNourished: 10 Ingredients to Happy, Healthy Eating.