This hearty Crockpot Turkey Chili is a vibrant medley of lean ground turkey, beans, corn, and crisp vegetables simmered to perfection with a blend of aromatic spices. Its rich flavors and nourishing ingredients make it a winning dish, an ideal Healthy Chilli Recipe Crock Pot for a wholesome family meal.
I’ve always loved making healthy meals that are both filling and full of flavor, and my Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili is no exception. I use lean 1.5 lbs ground turkey as the base, and I add a variety of veggies like a large chopped onion, red and green bell peppers, and 4 cloves of minced garlic.
Adding a can of diced tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans and corn not only gives a nutritious punch but also a mix of textures that makes every bite interesting. The 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth with 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin and 1/2 tsp paprika bring the dish together without the need for beef.
I like topping it off with shredded cheese, low-fat sour cream or chopped cilantro for extra flavor. This chili is packed with protein and fiber making it a powerhouse meal for any day and it cooks effortlessly in the crock pot.
Why I Like this Recipe
I like this recipe because it’s super healthy and full of flavor. The lean ground turkey and all those veggies make it a light, caring meal that doesn’t leave me feeling sluggish. I also love how easy it is to throw together in the slow cooker – I just toss all the ingredients in, and then I can relax while it cooks. The mix of beans and spices gives it an amazing hearty taste that feels both comforting and a little exciting every time. And I really appreciate how I can top it off with shredded cheese or a dollop of sour cream to make it even yummier.
Ingredients
- Ground Turkey: Lean protein that builds muscle and adds hearty texture to the chili.
- Kidney Beans: Great source of fiber and protein, improving digestion and thickening the chili.
- Black Beans: Delivers robust fiber and plant protein while creating satisfying texture and flavor depth.
- Corn: Sweet bursts from corn add crunch and extra carbohydrates for energy in every bite.
- Onion: Rich in antioxidants, the chopped onion brings aromatic flavor and a touch of natural sweetness.
- Garlic: Minced garlic deepens savory flavor and supports immune health naturally.
- Bell Peppers: Red and green bell peppers supply vitamin C and lively color that boost taste and health.
- Diced Tomatoes: Diced tomatoes bring tangy moisture and vitamins enhancing the overall delicious profile.
Ingredient Quantities
- 1.5 lbs ground turkey
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) corn kernels, drained
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional toppings: shredded cheese, low-fat sour cream, chopped cilantro
How to Make this
1. Start by chopping the large onion and both red and green bell peppers into small pieces and mincing the garlic.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground turkey. Brown it until it’s fully cooked then drain any extra grease.
3. Transfer the browned turkey into your slow cooker.
4. Add the chopped onion, bell peppers, and minced garlic into the slow cooker along with the can of diced tomatoes.
5. Rinse and drain the kidney beans, black beans, and corn kernels and then add them all into the cooker.
6. Pour in the cup of low-sodium chicken broth.
7. Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, and add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Mix everything together really well so that all the flavors combine.
9. Cover the slow cooker and set it to low for about 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the veggies are nice and soft.
10. When it’s done, ladle the chili into bowls and top with shredded cheese, low-fat sour cream, and chopped cilantro if you like. Enjoy your healthy turkey chili!
Equipment Needed
1. Cutting board
2. Chef’s knife
3. Measuring cups and spoons
4. Skillet
5. Slow cooker
6. Can opener
7. Colander
8. Mixing spoon
9. Ladle
10. Soup bowls
FAQ
Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Ground turkey: You can swap this out with ground chicken or even lean ground beef if you’re lookin for a slight change in taste.
- Kidney beans: If you dont have these, try pinto beans or cannellini beans as a replacement.
- Low-sodium chicken broth: Vegetable broth works just as fine and is perfect if you want to keep it vegetarian.
- Red bell pepper: Any other bell pepper like yellow or orange will work just as well in terms of flavor and color.
- Chili powder: If you dont have chili powder you can use a mix of cumin, paprika and a little cayenne pepper to get that spicy kick.
Pro Tips
1. Before tossing in all your ingredients, try to toss your chopped onions, peppers and garlic in a hot skillet with just a little oil for a few minutes. It really helps to bring out all the sweet, savory flavors.
2. Make sure you brown the turkey really well in batches if you have a small pan. It can be tempting to rush it but doing it right adds a great depth of flavor.
3. When you’re adding the spices, give them a quick toast in that pan if you can. It might sound extra effort, but it wakes up the chili powder, cumin, and paprika to really release their aroma.
4. After cooking, let the chili sit for a few minutes off the heat. This little rest period helps the flavors come together even more, making each bite taste better.
Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe
My favorite Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Cutting board
2. Chef’s knife
3. Measuring cups and spoons
4. Skillet
5. Slow cooker
6. Can opener
7. Colander
8. Mixing spoon
9. Ladle
10. Soup bowls
Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs ground turkey
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) corn kernels, drained
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional toppings: shredded cheese, low-fat sour cream, chopped cilantro
Instructions:
1. Start by chopping the large onion and both red and green bell peppers into small pieces and mincing the garlic.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground turkey. Brown it until it’s fully cooked then drain any extra grease.
3. Transfer the browned turkey into your slow cooker.
4. Add the chopped onion, bell peppers, and minced garlic into the slow cooker along with the can of diced tomatoes.
5. Rinse and drain the kidney beans, black beans, and corn kernels and then add them all into the cooker.
6. Pour in the cup of low-sodium chicken broth.
7. Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, and add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Mix everything together really well so that all the flavors combine.
9. Cover the slow cooker and set it to low for about 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the veggies are nice and soft.
10. When it’s done, ladle the chili into bowls and top with shredded cheese, low-fat sour cream, and chopped cilantro if you like. Enjoy your healthy turkey chili!