Turkey Chili

Looking for the perfect make-ahead weeknight dinner for you and your family? Look no further. This simple but delicious Turkey Chili packs a significant amount of flavour, lots of great nutrition, and takes less than 30 minutes to prep. Simply assemble ingredients, pop in your freezer, and throw it in the crock pot on a busy day for a one-pot, set-it-and-forget-it dinner that the whole family will love.

Brandi from our Freezer Meals 101 Club rated this recipe 5 stars and shared, “We really liked this recipe… We also appreciated the crisp bite that the corn provided. I have a modest size stock pot and this recipe as is for (6) servings was a full nearly to the top of my stock pot. So if you plan to double this recipe I suggest using either your large stock pot or opt instead to make it in your crockpot if doubling.”

Suggestions like Brandi’s are such a wonderful aspect of our Freezer Meals 101 Club. This community of like-minded moms, working professionals, or caregivers who want dinner to be stress-free are always there to encourage, cheer you on, and share their favourite suggestions for our 500+ recipes. With flexible meal planning, ongoing support, monthly live cooking classes, and more, our club takes dinner decisions from “ugh, not again,” to “well that was easy!” Join Freezer Meals 101 Club today!

Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground turkey, cooked and cooled
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 clove garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 Tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
• salt to taste
• 28 oz. diced tomatoes
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 28 oz. kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 14 oz. kernel corn

Assembly instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a large resealable freezer bag. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.
2. Stovetop: Empty contents into large stovetop pot. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Simmer 30-45 minutes.
3. Slow Cooker: Empty contents into slow cooker. Cook on high 3-4 hours or low 5-6 hours.

Turkey Chili Suggestions:

This turkey chili recipe makes 6 very generous portions so opting to use a larger pot for stovetop cooking or crock pot will ensure there’s no overflow, just lots of great leftovers!

Ingredient Alternatives:

If tomatoes don’t go over as well in your household, swap all or some of the diced tomatoes for tomato sauce. For example, Brandi, our Freezer Meals Club 101 member shared, “My husband is not a fan of tomatoes so I opted instead for (1) 14 oz can of diced tomatoes and (1) 14 oz can of tomato sauce as a compromise to suit his particular preference. This modification still worked well.”

While corn can add a great crunch and some extra sweetness, it can be easily left out if you’d prefer. Simply add another half bell pepper in its place to maintain the crunch and sweetness.

Depending on your protein preferences, consider swapping the browned ground turkey for rinsed and drained chick peas, browned ground beef, or shredded chicken.

Topping & Serving Suggestions:

Adding cornbread muffins, dinner rolls, or tortilla chips on the side helps round out this meal, although this chili is filling as a standalone dish as well.

To add a little bit of extra fun and personalization to your turkey chili dinner, you can always serve it with a variety of topping options. That way, everyone can make their dish their own! Some of our favourites include:

• Sliced olives
• Diced tomatoes
• Pico de gallo
• Jalapeno peppers
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Queso
• Chopped green onions
• Crushed tortilla or corn chips
• Chopped cilantro

Other Similar Recipes

Chilis are hearty, filling, and nutritious, making them an all-time favourite here at Freezer Meals 101. If you’re a fan of unique takes on classic chilis, check out our Roasted Sweet Potato Chili for a meat-free option, White Chicken Chili for another great poultry option, or our Chili Casserole for a delectable dump and bake option.