20-Minute Turkey Chili
This 20-minute Turkey Chili is the perfect meal for a busy week night when you don’t have a lot of time to cook but still want to enjoy a tasty and healthy dinner with your family. Besides chopping the onion and garlic gloves, there’s virtually no prep to do. You just throw the ingredients in the skillet, stir and cook them 15 minutes and you’re good to go! Oh, and you only have one pot to clean. Don’t you love that?
In this recipe, I’m using turkey. I think it’s a good healthy substitute for beef. It’s leaner and you won’t taste the difference. But if you’d rather use beef, feel free to do so!
The black beans make this dish high in dietary fibers, and those are good for you! They are known to lower risk for developing heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and certain gastrointestinal diseases. Increasing fiber intake lowers blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels. Black beans are also a good source of protein. Good to know, right?
This 20-Minute Turkey Chili is not only healthy, it’s also hearty and satisfying. A small bowl filled me up. And it makes great leftovers for lunch!
20-Minute Turkey Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 lb ground turkey
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 14- oz can diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 14- oz can corn kernels drained and rinsed
- 1 14- oz can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1/2 tbsp hot chili flakes
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
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Heat a non-stick skillet on medium heat. Add olive oil, onion and garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes.
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Add ground turkey and break into pieces. Brown the meat, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
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Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, corn kernels, blacks beans and hot chili flakes.
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Cover with a lid and cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
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Remove from heat, add shredded cheese and mix well.
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Garnish with cilantro and serve.
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Optional: top with sour cream and additional cheese.
I love chili! I can tell a difference between ground beef and turkey, but I think they are both delicious.
You can easily sub ground beef for turkey if you like beef best. I made this chili with both and I love it both ways!
although tasty it is far from being a chilli dish…the amount of chilli added to the dish barely generates any heat at all…suggest add 2 tsp hot chilli powder as well
Yes, you should definitely adjust the heat to your liking Joan 🙂
Did you drain the beans, corn, or tomatoes?
Yes, you need to drain the beans and the corn. I’ll update the recipe to clarify 🙂
Thank you! Did you also drain the tomatoes?
No worries 🙂 No, I usually add diced tomatoes as is!
When I “brown” turkey, I can’t get it to break up into small bits as with beef, so I always put it into a food processor to make the pieces smaller.
Does it happen with any brand you use? I don’t think I’ve had this problem before. But using the food processor is a good idea!
Where’s all the spice? This seems great but chili has cumin, smoked paprika, cinnamon, and if you like even bayleaf, juniper, fennel, thyme, oregano…
Will definitely try, but will also definitely add spice 😉
It’s not a traditional chili, that’s for sure 🙂
My husband and I really love this recipe. I never drain the beans and it turns out just fine.
I’m glad to hear it! Less prep time, even better 🙂
Can you use Chili powder instead of flakes? How spicy is this with the chili flakes? Will kids eat it?
It’s not very spicy for my taste but to be on the safe side for kids, I would leave it out and maybe add a few flakes only in the adults’ plates. And yes, you can definitely use chili powder instead 🙂
I loved this recipe!! It’s gonna b a perfect addition to my meal prep this week. ?
Yay so glad to hear Dede 🙂
I just wanted to tell you that I have made this recipe several times and absolutely love it. Quick, easy and tasty. Thanks for posting it.
So glad to hear that Chris, thank you! 🙂
I just wanted to say I just made this recipe and it was absolutely delicious!
Yay so glad to hear that Alexis! 🙂
IF you use fresh tomatoes how many (Roma) I like fresh veggies?
I’m not sure how many exactly but about 2 cups once chopped. So that would be maybe 5 to 8 Roma?
could you use canned pinto beans instead? are pinto beans as good for you as black beans
Hey Peggy! Yes, you can definitely use pinto beans instead of black beans.
Heck, when I make my chili I use ground turkey browned with some of the onion and chili powder, chili powder, garlic, 1/2 cup red wine, diced tomatoes with green chilis, dice one large onion and black, pinto, dark red kidney, and red beans, so take that Texas !!! I find if I over spice my concoction you can put a TBSP or two of peanut butter to buffer the heat. Toss this mess in a crockpot with some instant low sodium beef or chicken broth, around 4-6 cups put it on high for 4-6 hours for all the spices to meld. I’m goin’ to make a batch today but this time I’m gonna add a TBSP of instant coffee, I’ve heard of using cinnamon too.
Sounds delish!
Delicious, but I think the sodium content eliminates it as a healthy meal for those of us who have to watch our sodium intake.
Do you reckon ground chicken will work as well as turkey?
Yes definitely Clarice!
Please tell me the saturated fat
I’m not sure, sorry but feel free to log the ingredients in a calorie tracker like MyFitnessPal or similar.
sounds good I am sure you can use any bean you want they are all healthy.
You sure can!
Hello! Loved ur recipe THANKYOU!
Can it be frozen ?
Also I would like to use it to make a copycat rest style enchilada for my bf( any tips) -I find the ones outside quite bland & would love to have any tips from a pro home cook like u
TX in advance!
Thank you 🙂 I’ve never tried myself but I’m pretty sure it can be frozen yes! As for the enchilada, I’m really not a pro myself – I think I’ve made enchilada once in my life but I know Gimme Some Oven has a great recipe: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/best-chicken-enchiladas-ever/
THANK YOU LOVELY 🙂 Im so glad Ive found your blog 🙂
Just wanted to confirm it is 440 cals. in ONE serving? 1680 in whole recipe? Seems like a lot for “healthy” turkey!
It is. 440 calories for a meal is more than reasonable!
This looks tasty but might I suggest that you swap cage-free organic for pastured organic. From what I know, it seems like a kinder option!