This Slow Cooker Turkey Chili is a protein-packed, hearty delight that's perfect for game days or cozy winter dinners. Loaded with lean ground turkey, kidney beans, and a flavorful medley of spices, it's a satisfying, one-pot meal that's as easy to prepare as it is delicious.
In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and red bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 3-4 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent and the vegetables are slightly softened.
Push the sautéed vegetables to one side of the skillet and add the ground turkey to the other side. Break the meat into small pieces with a spatula and cook until it's no longer pink, stirring occasionally. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Transfer the sautéed vegetables and browned turkey into your prepared slow cooker. Add the chili seasoning, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and the kidney beans. Stir everything well to combine.
Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to cook on the low setting. Let the chili cook on low for 6-8 hours or 3-4 hours on high, allowing the flavors to meld together and the ingredients to become tender.
Once the cooking time is complete, ladle the turkey chili into bowls. Serve with your choice of optional toppings such as cheese, avocado, tortilla chips, cilantro, and sour cream. Enjoy!
Notes
If you don't have a pre-packaged chili seasoning mix, you can make your own by combining a blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper to taste. Adjust the spice level according to your preference.Feel free to use extra lean ground turkey, chicken, or even lean ground beef based on your dietary preferences. You can also use ground meat substitutes for a vegetarian version of this chili.The optional toppings are entirely customizable. Experiment with different combinations to suit your taste. Some other popular choices include diced onions, jalapeños, or a squeeze of lime juice.Serving size = 1/6 of the recipe. For the most accurate measurement, weigh your entire dish in grams after cooking (less the weight of the container) and divide that number by 6.