Crockpot Ground Turkey Chili Recipe

Cold days call for warm bowls of delicious crockpot ground turkey chili!

• Uses a few pantry staples.
• An easy big batch meal to feed the whole family a couple of times throughout the week
• Use many different ways
• Freezable

Figuring It Out

Growing up, I was never a fan of chili—too many chunks of canned tomatoes and dry beans. I never used to eat it, let alone make it. Until I moved in with my husband, he loved chili!  I scoured the internet for a recipe I could tolerate eating. I wanted it to be clean and lean as possible with as little sodium as possible.

To keep it lean, I started with ground turkey. 94/6 ground turkey. It has a good amount of protein and a lot less fat than ground beef.

Then, instead of the typical beans, I choose canned items I enjoy: black beans and corn. Use low sodium if possible, and I rinse them VERY well.

Lately, I have also been adding lentils for extra protein and fiber. As well as split peas. The divided peas give a slightly complimentary sweet finish to every bite.

I wanted some fresh items in there as well. I add in some red onion and a bunch of bell peppers. Typically, two, if not more. I love bell peppers in Everything.

When it comes to canned tomatoes, I choose the crushed sodium kind. That way, there aren’t huge chunks that take over the dish.

I use just an introductory packet of McCormick low-sodium chili seasoning for seasonings. But I also add a lot of minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper while I cook up the ground turkey. We love garlic. I don’t think there is much I cook without it. The more, the better in this house!

Bring It All Together

Start by cooking the ground turkey in a skillet with the seasonings you enjoy—lots of minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Break up the meat and cook until you see no more pink.

Chop all the bell peppers and onions up to your liking. When chili is a planned meal, I do this at the beginning of the week, when I chop all my veggies for my weekly meal prep salads. I toss the peppers and onions into a container and then into the fridge, ready and waiting for chili night. It makes the week so much easier when I prep like this.

Drain and rinse the black beans and corn.

Then, throw all of the ingredients together in a crockpot. Set it on low for 4 to 6 hours, and you will have a delicious crockpot ground turkey chili ready for dinner!

Serving Up Crockpot Ground Turkey Chili

This is a tremendous big-batch meal that makes plenty of leftovers. It is perfect for those busy weeks to make at the beginning and then find creative ways to reuse the leftovers throughout the week.

• As is with a side salad
• Add plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream) to a baked potato.
• Pile on top of rice or prepared noodles
• Use on top of riced or mashed cauliflower
• Make some loaded nachos with cheese and avocado on top

I have been making this for my husband and I for years. It has become the only crockpot ground turkey chili I make, and my husband seems to love it more than regular chili.

We just had a birthday party for our son with all his grandparents in attendance. In trying to figure out an easy meal to feed everyone before we all dug into some birthday cake, I had the brilliant idea of this crockpot ground turkey chili. What’s easier than throwing everything in the crockpot in the morning and preparing it for his party? And it was easy!

Along with the crockpot ground turkey chili, I also served a green salad and had a giant sandwich board where everyone could make their sandwiches. It was super easy and super simple, and everyone loved it! Everyone who had the chili raved about it.

It was my first time making this chili for anyone outside my husband and son. By the way, my toddler will eat this too! Especially with saltine crackers and a dollop of plain, low-fat greek yogurt.

This recipe is a winner in this house. The right amount is manageable. With a great clean and lean feeling. But also full of fiber and filling. Our families love it, including our very particular toddler! Throw Everything into the crockpot on your next chilly morning to have a nice warm bowl of ground turkey chili in the evening!

Freezable

You can also freeze leftovers to use later. I put individual portions in containers or freezer bags and then freeze them. Then, when I am ready to use it, I take it out of the freezer in the morning and let it thaw in the refrigerator to warm up on the stovetop in the evening.

If I forget to take it out of the freezer in the morning, I put the frozen chili in a pot on the stove, with the heat on medium-low, covered, and stir often until it is warm and ready to eat.

Crockpot Ground Turkey Chili Recipe

Do you have a favorite Chili recipe? And how do you use the leftovers?