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Want a cozy meal that you can cook on repeat all winter long? This Turkey and White Bean Chili is hearty, healthy, and packed with flavor!
This is one of those simple weeknight dinners that the entire family will devour. While it does need some time to simmer, the recipe is mostly hands-off and all made in one pot, which makes for easy clean-up. Plus, the leftovers are delicious throughout the week because the flavor really does get better with time!
Ground turkey is definitely the star in this recipe. I love incorporating this lean, high-protein staple into meals throughout the week. I also love to use boneless turkey breast when possible, as it is one of the leanest meats available with one of the highest amounts of protein. It actually has a whopping 12 percent more protein than the same serving size of boneless skinless chicken breast!
And if you’re worried that it will taste bland or dry, this chili recipe will immediately prove otherwise.
ingredients:
- Avocado Oil
- Yellow Onions
- Garlic Cloves
- Ground Turkey
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Ground Cumin
- Ground Coriander
- Chili Powder
- Dried Oregano
- Cayenne Pepper
- Canned Mild Diced Green Chiles
- Canned Cannellini Beans
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
- Bay Leaves
- Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese, For Serving
- Pico De Gallo, For Serving
- Pickled Jalapeño Peppers, For Serving
- Fresh Cilantro, For Serving
- Sour Cream, For Serving
- Lime Wedges, For Serving
step-by-step:
step one: cook the onions and garlic
Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven set over medium heat. When hot, add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
step two: cook the turkey
Add the ground turkey, salt, and pepper and cook, breaking up the meat with the edge of a spoon into smaller pieces and the turkey is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
step three: add the dried spices
Add the cumin, coriander, chili powder, oregano, and cayenne pepper, tossing until the spices are well combined with the meat. Cook, toasting the spices, for about 2 minutes.
step four: build the chili
Add the green chiles, beans, broth, and bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low and cook, lightly simmering and stirring occasionally to allow the flavors to meld and the chili to thicken, about 25 minutes.
step five: garnish and serve
Ladle the chili into bowls and top with desired toppings! Enjoy!
recipe faqs:
I haven’t made this particular recipe in a slow cooker, but here’s what I’d recommend: brown the meat in a skillet on the stovetop, then place all of the ingredients in the slow cooker (other than the garnishes) and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
Let the chili cool completely, then transfer it to a few airtight containers and store in the fridge for up to four days. If you want to freeze it, be sure to leave about an inch of room at the top to allow the chili to expand. Use it within a month or two for the best flavor!
If you are like me and are looking to incorporate more turkey into your diet, try this easy White Bean and Turkey Chili! Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments below!
want more chili recipes? try these!
Turkey and White Bean Chili
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 cups diced yellow onion
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 pounds lean ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 (4-ounce) cans mild diced green chiles, undrained
- 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini or Great Northern Beans, undrained
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
Optional Toppings:
- shredded monterey jack cheese
- pico de gallo
- pickled jalapeño peppers
- chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- sour cream
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. When hot, add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the ground turkey, salt, and pepper and cook, breaking up the meat with the edge of a spoon into smaller pieces and the turkey is cooked through, or no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cumin, coriander, chili powder, oregano, cayenne tossing until the spices are well combined with the meat. Cook, toasting the spices, for about 2 more minutes.
- Add the green chiles, beans, broth and bay leaves and bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, lightly simmering, uncovered, and stirring occasionally to allow the flavors to meld and the chili to thicken, about 25 minutes.
- Ladle the chili into bowls and top with desired toppings! Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Food Photography and Styling by Modern Food Stories.
Hi hi! I’m living abroad in Spain and don’t have access to green chilis (have looked everywhere) is there anything you would use instead ? Thank you!
I think a small poblano pepper diced would be great here!
This turkey chili is full of flavor! Thank you for a healthier version of a chili. Will be a staple!
Made this for dinner last night and it was a hit! My kids don’t always like soups or chili, but they all loved this one. Will be perfect to keep during the cold months and looking forward to making a big batch on our next ski trip. Thanks!
Thank you so much, Jennifer. So happy to hear it was a hit!
Yummy! I just made this for lunch and it’s filling, nutritious and easy. The only thing I changed was subbing a can of white hominy for one of the cans of beans because I thought “why not”? I actually loved the additional texture. Served with cilantro, sour cream and pickled jalapeños. Excited for leftovers the rest of week. This is part of meal prep for me. Thanks for all of your recipes. (Next up – pot roast!)
This soup was awesome! Great healthy meal
I’ve been making this for months and it is probably my favorite soup, I follow your recipe with toppings of homemade pico de gallo, sour cream and grated cheese. So yummy!
Glad you love it!!
My parents are in their 80s and are tired of cooking! So when I visit them I bring food or and make them something that will last them a few meals. This soup hit the spot! They loved it and I love that it was easy and healthy and packed w protein. TY Alex!
Sooo good. I used one can of mild green Chiles and one can of diced hot jalapeños. Also made a flour slurry as I like my chili a bit thicker. Holy moly. Legit one of my favorite chilis I’ve ever eaten. Sooooo good.
I add cream of chicken soup to thicken it. And anahe8m chili’s instead of canned. My family loves this chili!!!
So easy and delish! My whole family loved