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Easy Slow Cooker Turkey and Bean Chili (Best Healthy Recipe)

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This easy slow cooker turkey and bean chili is a healthy, hearty, and flavorful meal that comes together with minimal effort. Perfect for busy weeks, it’s packed with lean protein, fiber-rich beans, and a smoky spice blend that will make you forget it’s healthy.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds (680g) ground turkey (93% lean preferred)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz / 411g) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (8 oz / 227g) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 oz / 425g) dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz / 425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
  • 1 cup (240ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, fresh cilantro, diced avocado, sliced green onions

Instructions

  1. Brown the turkey: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink (6-8 minutes). Drain excess liquid if needed. Transfer to slow cooker.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet, add diced onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño. Cook over medium heat for about 4 minutes until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Transfer to slow cooker.
  3. Bloom the spices: In the same skillet, add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano. Stir for 30 seconds over medium heat until aromatic. If pan is dry, add a splash of chicken broth and scrape up browned bits.
  4. Add liquids and tomatoes: Pour chicken broth into skillet and stir, scraping up remaining browned bits. Pour into slow cooker. Add diced tomatoes (with juices) and tomato sauce.
  5. Add beans: Drain and rinse kidney beans and black beans. Add to slow cooker. Stir everything together.
  6. Season and slow cook: Add 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Stir. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  7. Taste and adjust: About 30 minutes before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. If too thin, leave lid off for last 30 minutes. If too thick, stir in more broth.
  8. Serve: Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings. Serve with crusty bread or cornbread.

Notes

For best flavor, don’t skip browning the meat and blooming the spices. Chili tastes even better the next day. For a vegetarian version, swap turkey for an extra can of beans and use vegetable broth. For a spicier version, add 1-2 minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. To thicken, mash some beans against the side of the slow cooker or use a cornstarch slurry.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chili, turkey chili, healthy chili, bean chili, easy chili recipe, ground turkey chili, slow cooker recipe

Find it online: https://oracooks.com/easy-slow-cooker-turkey-and-bean-chili-best-healthy-recipe/