This Easy Crockpot Turkey Chili recipe is the epitome of fast, filling and healthy! What combo could be better? Made with lean ground turkey, two types of beans, crushed tomatoes and a delicious homemade chili seasoning blend, this slow cooker chili is packed with comforting flavors your whole family will love!
After a busy day of errands, carpooling, and running kids to activities, there’s nothing better than coming home to dinner already waiting! This crockpot chili simmers all day, giving the flavors plenty of time to come together.
Chili tastes even better when it has time to simmer, but you don’t have to stand over the stove to get that rich flavor. Let your slow cooker do the work, and dinner is ready when you are!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Slow Cooker! – I love all things slow cooker! Toss everything in and walk away. Let the crock pot do the heavy lifting!
- No stress – Pantry staples, familiar ingredients and a crockpot make this a meal you can’t get wrong!
- Fast prep – Fifteen minutes of prep and you’re on your way to the most satisfying weeknight dinner.
- Leftovers! – A big pot of chili is so filling and satisfying and makes the BEST leftovers! In my opinion it tastes even better on day 2 because the flavors have had the extra time to meld together so well.
Recipe Notes
This Crockpot Turkey Chili recipe is as simple as promised! Just 15 minutes of prep, then don’t think about it again and you’ve got the perfect family friendly meal ready when you are.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make easy, turkey chili to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Lean ground turkey – Ground turkey is the star of this dish, but you can also use ground chicken or lean ground beef. They will both work well! You’ll need 1.25 lb
- Yellow onion – I prefer yellow onions for chili, but you can easily use a sweet onion, white onion or red onion
- Green bell pepper (optional)
- Crushed tomatoes
- Kidney beans – drained
- Chili beans – Not drained, this will help thicken your chili.
- Garlic – You can mince 3 cloves of fresh garlic or to save yourself time you can use minced garlic from a jar.
- Chili seasoning blend: chili powder, paprika, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Chili with MORE beans! – If you like your chili loaded with beans, then go for it! You can’t mess up this recipe. Black beans, pinto beans and white beans are all great options.
- Spicy Turkey Chili – Use your favorite hot sauce to add subtle heat to this chili recipe. Or consider dicing a fresh jalapeño and adding it to your chili as it’s simmering. The added heat will enhance the flavors of the seasoning blend and tomatoes.
- Smoky Chili – Subbing fire-roasted tomatoes for the crushed tomatoes would add some really great smoky flavors to your chili! If you do this, you’ll need to use 2 cans of the fire roasted tomatoes. Blend it with an immersion blender or food processor just for a few seconds to break up the tomato chunks.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Crockpot Turkey Chili.
Chop the onion and add to a large skillet and brown with the ground turkey.
Transfer the meat to a slow cooker. Add the crushed tomatoes, kidney beans and chili beans. Top with garlic, chili powder, paprika, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper.
Stir everything together to combine.
Cook on low for 3-4 hours, then serve with your favorite toppings!
Recipe Tips
- Simmer longer – The longer the chili simmers, the better! It’ll be ready to eat in 3-4 hours, but if you allow it to simmer longer, the flavors will meld together, the broth will thicken and it will only get more delicious! This is perfect if you need to get started earlier in the day.
- Brown the turkey – Although you can absolutely add the turkey straight to the slow cooker without pre-cooking it, browning it with the onion (and bell pepper) first will add more flavor to your chili.
- Double the batch! – This is the best busy-mom tip! Double the recipe and freeze the leftovers in smaller-size portions. Chili is so versatile! Serve a big bowl or turn it into a variety of other meals. See my chili leftover ideas below.
- Customize with toppings! – Offer a spread of toppings so everyone can make it their own way. This is the best way to get kids to buy in to what you’re preparing for dinner! Allow them to make it their own! Here are some great options; sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro, sliced jalapeños, diced onion, green onions, sliced avocado or tortilla chips.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Pre-chopped veggies – Buy pre-chopped onions and bell peppers to save on prep time. These are so convenient and can typically be found in the produce section of most grocery stores.
- Cook the onion and ground turkey in advance – You can go ahead and cook the onion and peppers with the ground turkey 1-2 days in advance. Then on cook day, all you’ll need to do is dump everything into the crockpot and walk away!
- (optional) Don’t pre-cook the ground turkey or onion – You can save prep time by not browning the ground turkey and onion beforehand. To do this, place the onion (and green pepper) in the slow cooker with the tomatoes, beans and spices. Then break the turkey into small pieces and stir into the mixture. Cook on high 2.5-3 hours or low 3-4 hours. Once done, use your stirring spoon to break the meat apart more as you stir to combine everything. NOTE: This method will only work with lean ground turkey (I use 93/7).
- Chili seasoning packet – You can absolutely grab your favorite chili seasoning blend, instead of measuring several individual spices. This will make your prep time even shorter! You’ll want to use 3.5-4 tablespoons of the seasoning packet.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Crockpot Turkey Chili recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Go ahead and cook the diced onion and ground turkey, so you’re not combining the turkey with other ingredients while it’s raw. After cooking, allow them to cool completely.
- Combine them with the remaining ingredients and place in an airtight container to freeze.
- When you’re ready to cook, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight then place in a crockpot for warming. It will need to be cooked longer since it will still be quite frozen. I would suggest 3-4 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low.
How to Freeze Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili After Cooking
- Allow the chili to cool completely.
- Place in an airtight, freezer-safe container and place in freezer. Or place in gallon ziptop bags and lay flat to freeze.
- When you’r ready to enjoy a second time, place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight then warm on the stove top.
What to Serve with Easy Turkey Chili
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of classic chili, it will pair well with many of your favorite comforting side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Homemade Buttermilk Cornbread– The most perfect complement to a piping hot bowl of chili!
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes– Fluffy, baked potatoes have never been easier! Make extras and then you can serve chili-stuffed baked potatoes for leftovers the next day!
- The Best Broccoli Slaw– This is so light and refreshing served alongside hearty chili!
Turkey Chili Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Baked Chili Cheese Dogs – The most effortless dinner idea that everyone will love!
- Chili Cheese Enchiladas – Turn your leftover chili into a Mexican-inspired new dinner! These enchiladas are a fun twist on a Mexican night classic!
- Cornbread Chili Pie – The best way to eat pie for dinner! Cornbread, chili and your favorite cheese melted on top. So easy and delicious!
- Cheesy Chili Tater Tot Casserole – Use this recipe for inspiration, but omit the bacon and green beans and sub in your leftover chili.
Recipe FAQ’s
Can I use ground chicken instead of ground turkey?
Definitely! Ground chicken is a great substitute for ground turkey. It will still give you a light, but hearty and filling chili.
Can I make this recipe on the stovetop?
Absolutely! The key to making any great chili is to use low heat and allow it to slow cook as long as possible. Don’t rush it. The low and slow process helps the meat stay moist, the beans stay in tact and allows all of the seasonings and ingredients to meld together for deeper flavors.
How can I make this chili thicker?
To make thicker chili, you can simply take the lid off your crockpot at the end of cooking time to allow the excess liquid to evaporate. This will help to thicken it up a bit.
Is turkey chili healthy?
Lean ground turkey, beans and vegetables that fill this chili make this a nutritious and light dinner option that’s filled with protein and fiber. The best part is that it’s packed with flavor and is very filling. You definitely won’t feel like you’re eating light!
More EASY Crockpot Soup Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy crockpot soup recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Crockpot Taco Soup
- Salsa Verde Chicken Soup
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup
- Crockpot Tomato Basil Soup
- Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Easy Crockpot Turkey Chili
Ingredients
- 1.25 pounds lean ground turkey
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, (optional)
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 16 ounce can kidney beans, drained
- 16 ounce can chili beans, (not drained)
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Chop the onion and bell pepper. Add to a large skillet and brown with the ground turkey over medium high heat until turkey is cooked and onion and pepper is soft.
- Transfer meat to a slow cooker. Add the crushed tomatoes, kidney beans and chili beans to the slow cooker. Top with garlic, chili powder, paprika, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper, then stir everything together to combine.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours, then serve warm with your favorite toppings! (see notes for ideas!)
Recipe Notes
- Place the onion and pepper in the slow cooker with the tomatoes, beans, and spices.
- Break the turkey into small pieces and stir into the mixture.
- Cook on high for 2.5-3 hours, or low for 3-4 hours.
- Once done, stir using the spoon to break the meat apart more as you combine.
- sour cream
- cilantro
- shredded cheddar cheese
- sliced jalapeno
- diced onion
- sliced avocado
- tortilla chips
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