Crockpot Turkey Chili

5 from 9 votes
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Healthy, delicious Turkey Chili In The Crockpot is easy to make. Slow cooked to perfection, filling and hearty.

White ceramic bowl filled with beans and chili and cheese on top. Gold and black spoons to the side.
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Why Make This  Turkey Chili In The Crockpot

Perfect for meal prep. This recipe makes a lot of cozy chili. You can use it for meal prep, freeze the leftovers or feed a few people at a dinner party (always a favorite for my guests!). I also love to make my Buffalo Chicken Pasta for entertaining as well.

This chili is nourishing, full of fiber and has less fat than most. It is full of veggies so you can be sure you are getting a good dose of plants. It is also low in fat when using a lean ground meat.

Easily customize this recipe and add in your favorite veggies, there are several add in options like corn, mushrooms, bell peppers and more.

Ingredients For This Recipe

Ingredients needed to make chili on a countertop.

Lean Ground Turkey. This is the protein to add to the chili.

Canned Stewed/Crushed Tomatoes. You can also use whole tomatoes or petite diced tomatoes, this is a texture preference to make your choice! You will find this in the pasta sauce aisle.

Canned Diced Tomatoes. This is also in the pasta sauce aisle. These add a different texture to the chili.

Canned Beans. I use a mix of black bean, pintos or kidney beans. You can really use any combination you prefer.

Zucchini. This is the perfect texture for the chili. You will love the veggie in each bite and it adds to the flavor of the ground turkey.

Seasonings. Chili, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper.

All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card below. 

Recipe Variations

Lean Ground Turkey. You can use lean ground beef or chicken if you prefer.

Canned Tomatoes. You can use different variations of canned tomatoes. Just be sure you have enough of them to make the chili. You can use all diced canned tomatoes or all crushed, I prefer the blend for different textures and flavors.

Zucchini. You can use mushrooms, corn, diced bell peppers to add more veggies.

Worcestershire Sauce. You can also use soy sauce. This adds a little level of flavor you will enjoy either way.

How To Make  Turkey Chili In The Crockpot

Steps to make this recipe in a skillet and in a black crockpot.

Step One. In a large skillet, add a spritz of oil and cook the ground turkey. Add 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp pepper to the meat. Brown for about 4-6 minutes (photo 1). Set it aside. Turn the crockpot on high.

Step Two. Add the canned tomatoes, rinsed beans, Worcestershire sauce, diced jalapeño, canned green chiles, onions, seasonings, zucchini and other veggies (if using others) to the crockpot. Stir well. Add the ground meat to the mix (photo 2). Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 4-5 hours. Taste the mix and decide if you need to add some more chili powder, salt or oregano. You can cook this on low for up to 6 hours and it will still be delicious.

Step Three. Once the chili has simmered and cooked add it to bowls with choice of toppings and enjoy!

Topping Ideas: shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, salsa, corn chips, avocado slices, green onions, sour cream and more! This chili is great with Jalapeño Cheddar Corn Bread.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.   

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this crockpot turkey chili ahead of time?

Yes, make this chili ahead of time! I like to make it the day before or night before I plan to eat it. It’s wonderful reheated!

Can I make this chili without beans?

Yes! if you want to make this chili without beans, use extra veggies in place like bell peppers, mushrooms, corn and more.

Recipe Tips

Taste as you go. Be sure to taste the chili throughout the cooking process and make sure you don’t want to add a bit more chili powder or salt/seasoning. Everyone has different levels of spice!

If you like a thicker chili, add double the meat and an extra can of beans for an extra thick chili.

Use up any leftover veggies. Add spinach, kale, corn, or any leftover veggies in the fridge if you want. The chili is so customizable you can’t go wrong.

Recipe Pairings

We love this chili on its own or with some Blueberry Corn Bread. The sweet and savory combination is exceptional. You can also serve with garlic bread or a side salad.

Other Crockpot Recipes To Try

If you loved this recipe let me know! Also, follow me on Instagram & Pinterest for even more fun recipes to make you feel good from the inside out. Thanks for being here.

White ceramic bowl filled with beans and chili and cheese on top. Gold and black spoons to the side.
5 from 9 votes

Turkey Chili In The Crockpot

Healthy, delicious Turkey Chili In The Crockpot is easy to make. Slow cooked to perfection, filling and hearty. 
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 3 hours 30 minutes
Total: 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

  • Large 6-7 Qt Crock Pot
  • large skillet

Ingredients 

  • 1-1.5 lb lean ground turkey, *see notes
  • ½ cup onion, chopped
  • 2 15.5 oz cans red kidney beans
  • 2 15.5oz cans dark red kidney beans
  • 1 15.5oz cans black beans
  • 1 28 oz can peeled crushed Italian tomatoes
  • 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 2 4 oz can diced green chilis
  • 1 jalapeño, diced
  • 2 cup zucchini, diced, about 2 zucchini
  • 3 cloves garlic, mined
  • cup chili powder, *more as needed
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 Tbsp paprika
  • 1 Tbsp cumin
  • ½ tsp black pepper or red pepper flakes, *more as needed
  • 1 tsp salt, *more as needed
  • 1-2 cups water, *add as needed.
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions 

  • In a large skillet, add a spritz of oil and cook the ground turkey. Add 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp pepper to the meat. Brown for about 4-6 minutes. Set it aside. Turn the crockpot on high. 
  • Add the canned tomatoes, rinsed beans, diced jalapeño, canned green chiles, Worcestershire sauce, onions, seasonings, 1-2 cups water, zucchini and other veggies (if using others) to the crockpot. Stir well. Add the ground meat to the mix. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 4-5 hours. You can cook this on low for up to 6 hours and it will still be delicious. Taste the mix and decide if you need to add some more chili powder, salt or oregano.
  • Once the chili has simmered and cooked add it to bowls with choice of toppings and enjoy! 
  • You can cook this recipe in a soup pot over the stove as well. Just start with browning the meat in the soup pot, and then add all other ingredients to the browned meat and simmer for about 2-3 hours on medium/low.

Notes

*ground beef or chicken or shredded chicken will also work well. 
*You can add any leftover veggies in your fridge to this recipe. I often use up leftover kale and spinach in my chili. 
Topping Ideas: shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, salsa, corn chips, avocado slices, green onions, sour cream and more! 
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.   

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 1097mg | Potassium: 990mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 6159IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Bailey
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 223
Keyword: crockpot, Slow Cooker
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14 Comments

  1. This was so easy and I loved it! I added frozen corn and okra just because I had them and it came out great. This made a ton so I gave some to a neighbor and froze some too. Crowd pleaser!! I’ll make it again next time it’s cold out.

    1. Hi Taylor! So happy you were able to share one of my faves with family and friends. Thank You for taking the time to come back and let me know you loved it!

  2. 5 stars
    How did I miss this?! First on my list for when I can taste again. 🙏🏻😍

  3. is the calorie count per 100g or per serving?

    1. It is per serving! Typically about 1 – 2 cups.

  4. Love this chili! One of my favorites. I’ve made it at least 10 times

  5. 5 stars
    We swapped the turkey for beef and Wow. Might be the best chili I’ve ever had. Will make it again soon.

  6. 5 stars
    THIS was SO SO tasty. It was perfect for the winter temps we have out east.

  7. 5 stars
    This was a hit with our family! In addition to the zucchini, I threw in some green beans and a red pepper; only because I had them on hand and wanted to use them up. Also, used a full two lbs of ground turkey for the same reason. Ended up having to add another can of crushed tomatoes to compensate for the ‘extras’ I added, but it was delicious. Our family got two meals out of it and my husband and I are enjoying it for lunch today, too! Thanks for sharing!

  8. 5 stars
    This was wonderful on a cold snowy night. We have leftovers for tonight too. Will be making this again quite often

    1. Love to hear this, thank you so much for the feedback.

  9. 5 stars
    Wonderful chili had the perfect heat and texture that I love. I added some corn kernels to it as well.