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    🏠Home » Recipes » Chili Recipes

    Three Bean Turkey Chili

    Feb 23, 2022 · Modified: Oct 26, 2022 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 10 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.93 from 26 votes

    This healthy three bean turkey chili recipe is easy to make in your crock pot or 30 minutes on the stovetop. A great-tasting chili with vegetables, three types of beans, and ground turkey. But it is also an excellent rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey recipe.

    bowl of turkey chili topped with sour cream and cheese

    Jump To:
    • 👨‍🍳How to make this recipe
    • 🦃Ingredients
    • ♨️Stovetop Method
    • 🍽️Serving and Storage
    • ❓FAQs
    • 📖Chili Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📝Recipe

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Introduction

    This turkey chili is one of my best chili recipes ever. An easy recipe to cut in half to make a smaller crock pot chili for two in a 2.5-quart crock pot.

    It has a beautiful balance of spices with beans and vegetables. With only 3 grams of fat per serving, it will fit most diets. Yes, you can now have it all.

    My wife wanted something different. Now that was not very specific. So turkey is considered healthy, and a variety of beans is also good for you. Turkey chili it will be.

    I was expecting good—I do a good chili. Just give me some ingredients, and I produce. But the biggest surprise was the excellent blending of spicy flavors. Plus, just the right amount of heat for my older taste buds.

    👨‍🍳How to make this recipe

    1. Start by browning 1 pound of ground turkey.
    2. Dice celery, an onion, and a jalapeno pepper.
    3. Rinse and drain cans of beans.
    4. Add all ingredients to a 4.5 quart or larger crock pot—mix well.
    5. Cook on low for 6-7 hours.

    🦃Ingredients

    Ground turkey or other meat

    The answer would seem to be obvious but not quite so fast. Ground turkey is the suggested meat, but you have many choices.

    Any ground meat will do, but I have repeated this recipe many times, but I prefer the turkey by a small amount, but beef or chicken are fine choices.

    Pre-cooked chicken like rotisserie chicken will work well. Shred and add to the slow cooker the last hour of cooking.

    This chili is a perfect way to use your leftover turkey. I do a "ruff" chunky shred of the leftover turkey, using light and dark meat. Use 2-3 cups shredded to bit size. Add the leftover meat to the last hour of cooking.

    Lastly, you can leave the meat out of this chili and make it a vegetarian three bean chili.

    Ground meat needs to be browned before cooking in a slow cooker. If you don't, the meat will clump, and all the fatty drainage will be in the crock pot.

    What Beans to Use

    Bean choice is up to you, but my favorite of pinto beans, kidney beans, and black beans are just right and somewhat the recipe's core.

    I use only low sodium beans if I have them, although the pictures are from the original cooking and only the black beans are low sodium. Rinsing the beans also removes a little of the sodium.

    ♨️Stovetop Method

    This is an easy recipe to cook on the stovetop. It will be done in as little as 30 minutes, but the longer it simmers, the better. Try for an hour or more if you can.

    Start with browning the meat in a large Dutch oven-type pan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and celery while you do that. When browned and the celery and onion are tender, drain any liquid.

    Stir in all the other ingredients, then bring to a low boil over medium heat. Then turn down to a simmer and cover. Cook for a minimum of 15 minutes, but an hour is better.

    If using leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken, add it after cooking the onion and celery in a bit of oil.

    🍽️Serving and Storage

    I like to top tomato-based chili with a good scoop of sour cream and a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese. Then garnish with a slice of avocado, sliced scallions, or cilantro if you want.

    Along with tortilla chips or crusty bread, you have a filling and hearty chili dinner.

    To store leftover chili, it is good refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen for 3-4 months.

    ❓FAQs

    Why add Worcestershire sauce to the chili?

    The Worcestershire sauce pops up the "meaty" to almost beef-like taste for the turkey.

    How spicy is Three Bean Turkey Chili?

    This is about a 2-3 out of 10 on a heat scale with the jalapeno but no Ro-Tel. A level the whole family, even the kids, will love. Add the Ro-Tel will be about 4 out of 10 level of heat.

    You can also add a second jalapeno or add ¼-1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for more heat.

    Is Three Bean Turkey Chili healthy?

    Yes, three-bean turkey chili is healthy and fits most diets. A 1 ½ cup serving is only under 220 calories, ½ gram of fat, and about 700 mg of sodium using the suggested ingredients. So low in calories, low in fat, and sodium.

    How can I lower the sodium in Three Bean Turkey Chili?

    I suggest low sodium broth and beans since the Worcheshire sauce will increase the sodium. Rinsing the beans will decrease sodium slightly.

    📖Chili Recipes

    Crock Pot Chili

    Ultra Simple Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

    Crock Pot Texas Chili

    Low Fat High Taste Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

    Part of the Leftover Ham and Turkey Recipe Roundup

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    101's Best Recipes, Chili Recipes, Crock Pot Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Low Fat Recipes
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    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    ground turkey with beans and chili ingredients

    Use the meat you want, and I suggest low sodium products if you have them. A can of Ro-Tel is shown substituting for the second can of diced tomatoes.

    ground turkey browning in a frying pan

    Start by browning 1 pound of ground turkey in a large skillet.

    chopped onion with celery and jalapeno on a black board

    Dice two ribs of celery and one large onion. Dice one jalapeno pepper.

    rinsing black beans under running water

    Rinse and drain three cans of beans, low sodium preferred. I used pinto, black, and light kidney beans, and that is the combination I recommend.

    adding cooked ground meat to a crock pot

    To 4.5 quart or larger crock pot: add the cooked ground meat, prepared veggies, two 14 oz cans of diced tomatoes (substitute one 10 oz can of Ro-Tel for one can if you want.) Also, add one 6 oz can of tomato paste, 14 oz can of low sodium chicken broth, 1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 2 teaspoons garlic powder.

    ladel of chili over a crock pot

    Mix well. Cook on low for 6-7 hours.

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    📝Recipe

    Bowl of Three Bean Turkey Chili with sour cream and cheese

    Turkey Chili

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    This healthy three bean turkey chili recipe is easy to make in your crock pot or 30 minutes on the stovetop. A great-tasting chili with vegetables, three types of beans, and ground turkey. But it is also an excellent rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey recipe.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.93 from 26 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours
    Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 8

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 1 pound ground turkey - See notes for options
    • 2 ribs celery - Diced
    • 1 onion - Large
    • 1 jalapeno pepper
    • 28 oz dice tomatoes - may substitute one 10 oz can of RoTel for one 14 oz can of diced tomatoes.
    • 6 oz tomato paste
    • 14 oz chicken broth - Low sodium
    • 1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce - Low sodium if possible
    • 2 tablespoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon salt - adjust to taste
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 45-48 oz Beans-pinto, black, and light kidney beans suggested—low sodium and rinsing. - three cans
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Start by browning 1 pound of ground turkey.
      ground turkey browning in a frying pan
    • Dice two ribs of celery and one large onion. Dice one jalapeno pepper.
      chopped onion with celery and jalapeno on a black board
    • Rinse and drain three cans of beans, low sodium preferred. I used pinto, black, and light kidney beans and that is the combination I recommend.
      rinsing black beans under running water
    • To 4.5 quart or larger crock pot add the cooked ground meat, prepared veggies, two 14 oz cans of diced tomatoes (substitute one 10 oz can of Ro-Tel for one can if you want.) Also, add one 6 oz can of tomato paste, 14 oz can of low sodium chicken broth, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 2 teaspoon garlic powder.
      adding cooked ground meat to a crock pot
    • Mix well. Cook on low for 6-7 hours.
      ladel of chili over a crock pot
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

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    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips

    1. An easy recipe to cut in half. The full-size recipe fits in 4.5 quarts or a large crock pot. A half-size recipe needs 2.5 quarts or larger.
    2. This recipe adapts well to precooked shredded meat like leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken. Just add 2-3 cups the last hour of cooking and skip the ground meat.
    3. Use the ground meat of your choice but I prefer ground turkey. Just skip the meat to make it vegetarian.
    4. Substitute a can of Ro-Tel for one can of the diced tomatoes for added tastes and a bit more heat.
    5. This is about a 2-3 out of 10 on a heat scale. You can add a second jalapeno, use the Ro-Tel, or add ¼-1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
    6. If sodium is a concern, use lower sodium products and rinse the beans well.
    7. I assume a serving size of about 1 ½ cups per serving. This should be good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It will freeze well for 2-3 months.

    Stovetop Method

    1. This is an easy recipe to cook on the stovetop. It will be done in as little as 30 minutes, but the longer it simmers, the better. Try for an hour or more if you can.
    2. Start with browning the meat in a large Dutch oven-type pan. Add the onions and celery while you do that. When browned and the celery and onion are tender, drain any liquid.
    3. Add all the other ingredients, bring to a low boil over medium heat. Then turn down to a simmer and cover. Cook for a minimum of 15 minutes but an hour is better.
    4. If using leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken, add 2-3 cups after cooking the onion and celery in a bit of oil.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    Turkey Chili
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 210.5 Calories from Fat 22
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 2.4g4%
    Saturated Fat 0.5g3%
    Trans Fat 0.1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.9g
    Monounsaturated Fat 0.6g
    Cholesterol 31.2mg10%
    Sodium 702.3mg29%
    Potassium 1010mg29%
    Carbohydrates 28.2g9%
    Fiber 8.8g35%
    Sugar 8.2g9%
    Protein 22.3g45%
    Vitamin A 1117.1IU22%
    Vitamin C 18.5mg22%
    Calcium 92.7mg9%
    Iron 4.2mg23%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Main Course
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editor Note: Originally published November 1, 2014. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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    More Chili Recipes

    • Small Crock Pot Chili
    • Crock Pot Texas Chili
    • Stew Meat Chili—Crock Pot or Stovetop
    • Salsa Verde Chicken Chili

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    1. Barbara

      April 27, 2022 at 10:19 am

      5 stars
      I’m so happy that I found this website. Thank you Dr. Dan! I bought ingredients for three recipes last week, but I made the 3 bean turkey chili twice because it was so good. I make it on the stovetop. My long-term plan is to make a variety of meals for the freezer, but when I’m not eating this, I’m thinking about it!

      Reply
    2. Dea Varner

      March 12, 2018 at 8:33 pm

      WOW!!!!! Made this for the first time today and sooooo much great flavor!!!! The house smelled so good I could barely wait for dinner time!!! The husband who tends to be a chili purest and usually only likes beef in his chili, went back for seconds, raving about how good it was!!! This recipe is totally a keeper, worthy of 5 stars and will definitely be made again!

      Reply
    3. Valerie

      November 30, 2016 at 8:41 pm

      I made this chili with ground turkey and it was delicious! Tomorrow I think I'll make it without the meat for my sister who is a vegetarian. I will use vegetable broth instead of the chicken. I'll let you know how she likes it!

      Reply
      • DrDan

        November 30, 2016 at 10:10 pm

        Hi Valerie,

        I did this once veggie and thought it was excellent, just as good as the turkey. Actually, a beef version was not quite as good I though.

        Thanks for the note
        Dan

      • Vernon

        March 10, 2022 at 9:55 pm

        Made this today. Dang! Really really, did I said really great. I usually put hot sauce in my chill. Not this time. Just about as your pork tenderloin recipe, which I love!!!!!

    4. Brandon

      June 17, 2015 at 5:27 pm

      Amazing quick chili recipe. I added bell peppers (orange red and green) because I love the flavor they bring to the chili and the juice. Also I think you meant two ribs of celery, not two stalks ^.^

      Reply
      • Brian

        April 12, 2022 at 2:47 am

        5 stars
        Yes, chopped green and red bell peppers up the flavor, color, and nutrition.
        I use 90 - 93% lean ground sirloin (or similar beef on sale) which needs no draining, plus several tablespoons of healthy olive oil. A bottle of lager beer substituted for the broth works, too, as a variation. A mashed anchovy or two boosts the umami aspect without a trace of fishiness; if used omit the Worcestershire sauce.

        As expected, even better on reheating the next day. Our standard chili!

    5. Karen

      December 03, 2014 at 8:03 pm

      5 stars
      We made this using one half pound of ground turkey. It is so flavorful, I would not hesitate to do it completely meatless. My husband liked it so much, he said just forget all those other chili recipes and use this all the time! Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
      • DrDan

        December 03, 2014 at 8:38 pm

        I really like this recipe and think it will be a major part of my after holiday diet.
        Thanks so much for the note and rating.
        DrDan

    6. Cathie

      November 08, 2014 at 6:21 pm

      excellent recipe. We can't get RoTel brand in Canada so I substituted two cans of tomatoes with garlic oil and one can of green chilies. Left out jalapeño as we don't like too much heat.

      Enjoy your blog and your dogs!

      Reply

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