Healthy Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simple and Stress-Free: This is the quintessential dump-and-go CrockpotMeal. Following a brief browning of the turkey, you just combine everything in the pot and let the slow cooker handle the rest.
• Wholesome and Satisfying: Filled with lean protein from the turkey and plenty of fibre from the beans and veg, this is a genuinely nourishing dish that will leave you feeling full and content for hours. It’s the kind of guilt-free comfort food we adore.
• Incredible Depth of Flavour: The slow cooking process gives the spices ample time to mingle and mature, resulting in a chili with a truly remarkable depth. The smokiness of the paprika combined with the warmth of cumin makes every mouthful a genuine pleasure.
• Ideal for Batch Cooking: As is true for many stews, this chili is even more delicious the following day! We often make a large batch over the weekend for quick and easy lunches or dinners during the week.
• Easy to Adapt: You can effortlessly tailor the heat level to suit your taste, substitute the beans for your personal favourites, or even add more vegetables to the mix. And when it comes to toppings, the options are limitless!

Ingredients

• olive oil
• lean turkey mince
• large onion
• bell peppers
• chopped tomatoes
• red kidney beans
• black beans
• tomato purée
• low-sodium chicken or turkey stock
• chili powder
• ground cumin
• smoked paprika
• dried oregano
• cayenne pepper
• black pepper

How to Make the Best Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

Putting together this wonderful chili is a very straightforward affair, which we have broken down into a handful of easy-to-follow steps. The most important secret to developing a rich and savoury foundation is to brown the turkey mince properly before it goes into the slow cooker. We urge you not to skip this part—it truly elevates the final result!

Step 1: Brown the Turkey and Sauté the Aromatics

1. Warm the olive oil in a spacious frying pan or skillet over a medium-high heat. Tip in the chopped onion and bell peppers, cooking for about 4–5 minutes until they start to soften.
2. Add the turkey mince to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to break it apart and continue to cook until it has browned evenly. This initial step is key to building a deeper, more savoury flavour profile.
3. Mix in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute, just until it becomes fragrant. Take care to ensure the garlic doesn’t catch and burn.
4. Carefully drain any excess fat from the pan before proceeding to the next stage.

Step 2: Combine Everything in the Slow Cooker

1. Spoon the browned turkey and vegetable mix into the crock of your slow cooker (we find a 5-6 quart size is ideal).
2. Now it’s time to add all the other components. Pour in the tinned tomatoes, the rinsed kidney beans and black beans, the tomato purée, and the chicken stock.
3. Next, sprinkle in all of your spices: the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
4. Give the entire mixture a good, thorough stir to make sure everything is evenly distributed. It might seem like a lot, but it will reduce down perfectly as it cooks.

Step 3: Let the Slow Cooker Work Its Magic

1. Place the lid securely on your slow cooker.
2. Choose your cooking time. You can cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours. If you have the time, we highly recommend the ‘low and slow’ approach, as it allows the flavours to meld and deepen beautifully.
3. Now you can get on with your day! The slow cooker will do all the work, gradually filling your home with the comforting scent of a classic ChiliRecipe.

Step 4: Serve and Garnish

After the cooking cycle has finished, give your chili one last stir. Have a taste and adjust the seasonings if needed—perhaps a little more salt, a grind of black pepper, or an extra dash of cayenne if you like more heat. Serve the chili piping hot in bowls, adorned with your favourite garnishes. We particularly enjoy a spoonful of soured cream or Greek yoghurt, a scattering of grated cheddar, some fresh coriander, sliced jalapeños, and a few cubes of creamy avocado.

Tips for a Perfect Pot of Chili

Although this is an easy-to-follow SlowCookerRecipe, a couple of our top tips can take it from merely great to truly exceptional. Just like with our popular Southwest Chicken Casserole, it’s the little details that often make the biggest difference.

Build Layers of Flavour

The trick to a chili that tastes like it has been simmering all day (when it was actually so simple!) is to layer your flavours. You can ‘bloom’ the spices by adding them to the hot pan with the turkey for the final minute of browning, which helps to release their aromatic oils. For an even richer, more complex taste, consider adding a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder or a single shot of espresso with the rest of the ingredients.

A Healthier Choice

We’ve developed this recipe to be a HealthyChili right from the outset. By using lean turkey mince, we substantially lower the saturated fat content when compared to a traditional beef chili. As noted by the British Heart Foundation, opting for lean protein sources is an excellent way to promote heart health. Furthermore, the beans offer a fantastic source of both plant-based protein and dietary fibre, creating a balanced and highly nutritious meal.

If you are searching for more wholesome, family-friendly recipes that deliver on taste, you may also love our Low Carb Chicken Casserole.

FAQ

Your New Go-To Comfort Meal

And there you have it—a simple, wholesome, and deeply satisfying Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili that we are sure will become a regular feature in your kitchen. It’s the ideal dish for feeding a hungry family, preparing meals for the week, or just settling in for a cosy evening at home. The real beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity and the rich, rewarding flavour that tastes as if it took all day to create.

We are so excited for you to give this recipe a go. Please let us know how your Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili comes out by leaving us a comment and a rating below. Did you try any unique toppings or add a secret ingredient of your own? We always enjoy hearing from you! And don’t forget to share this recipe with anyone who loves a good, hearty meal.

Recipe Card

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 3-8 hours
Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb (500g) lean turkey mince
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 bell peppers, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (14.5 oz / 400g) can chopped tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz / 425g) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 oz / 425g) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 cup (240ml) low-sodium chicken stock
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped onion and bell peppers for 4-5 minutes until softened.
2. Add the turkey mince, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant. Drain any excess fat.
3. Transfer the turkey mixture to your slow cooker. Add the chopped tomatoes, rinsed beans, tomato purée, chicken stock, and all spices. Stir everything together until well combined.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours.
5. Once cooked, stir the chili, taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot with your favourite toppings, such as soured cream, grated cheese, and fresh coriander.

Nutrition (per serving):
Calories: 444 kcal,
Carbs: 44 g,
Protein: 35 g,
Fat: 14 g

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