The Easiest Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe (2024)

Modified: by Katie Hale · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

This Simple Turkey Chili Recipe is one of my all-time favorite zero point foods on the WW FreeStyle Plan. It is so easy to throw together in under 30-minutes. I've made it dozens of times, and love the results every time. In fact, there are never leftovers for long since everyone loves this!

The Easiest Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe (1)

Zero Point Simple Turkey Chili Recipe

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The pictures of this recipe aren't great, but it tastes amazing and is super easy to make. I love that it is zero points because I can add my favorite cheese and some crackers with absolutely zero guilt. For an amazingly simple dinner, this is going to become a family-favorite meal to add to the rotation.

If you are looking for something that freezes well, you won't be disappointed. This simple chili recipe is great for making in larger batches, and then you can easily separate into individual portions to put into freezer soup containers for a later date. Just make sure you label each container with the recipe name and date it was cooked.

Tips for Making Chili in 30-Minutes

Chili is typically best when it is simmered slowly all day. I have often made this same recipe in my Instant Pot or Slow Cooker, but sometimes you just need a fast stovetop recipe. Below are my two most important tips to share.

  • Invest in the Freshware Vegetable Chopper. This is one of the most amazing kitchen gadgets I have ever found. It makes dicing onions and peppers take seconds. Plus all of the pieces are the same size, so they cook more evenly.
  • Season your ground turkey while it cooks. I find that for a better flavor in a shorter time when cooking on the stovetop, I mix ¼ of the seasonings into the meat as it cooks. This imparts a flavor that cooks in longer.

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The Easiest Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe (2)

Way to Serve Zero Point Chili

I love making chili as an easy low-point lunch throughout the week. Over the last year, I have discovered a few ways that I enjoy serving this chili, as well as my Chili Cheese Dip or White Bean Turkey Chili. Keeping these low in points but still delicious is a must. My favorite methods are listed below for you to check out.

  • Cut up light string cheese and mix into the chili for that cheesy goodness without a lot of added points since most light string cheeses are only 1 SmartPoint each on the WW FreeStyle Plan.
  • Pour over baked french fries for a fun loaded fry recipe
  • Serve a cup of soup over diced lettuce with a few crumbled tortilla chips for a "taco salad"
  • Add a spoon to the top of a turkey hot dog on a low-point bun for a healthier chili dog recipe

The Easiest Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe (3)

This delicious recipe is a perfect protein-packed meal that is ready in just 35-minuets! A turkey chili recipe that will fool even those who say they don't like ground turkey!

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time30 minutes

Total Time35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground 98% fat-free turkey breast
  • 2 cups of water or stock
  • 1 can pinto beans
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can kidney beans
  • 1 can dice tomatoes
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 1 bell pepper diced
  • 1 medium tomato diced
  • 1 ½ tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼-1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)

Instructions

Stovetop Directions

  1. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and black pepper.
  2. Using a nonstick stock pot, brown ground turkey over medium heat adding ¼th of the spice mixture to the meat. Continue cooking until cooked through and no longer pink.
  3. Add in all other ingredients except salt and mix until well combined.
  4. Simmer over medium heat for additional 25-30 minutes
  5. Taste and add salt if desired/needed to taste.
  6. Serve with favorite chili toppings and sides

Slow Cooker Directions

  1. Brown ground turkey in a nonstick skillet.
  2. Once cooked through, add to slow cooker and combine with all other ingredients except salt.
  3. Cook on low heat for 2-3 hours.
  4. Remove lid, taste, and add in salt if needed/desired to taste.

Instant Pot Directions

  1. Turn Instant Pot to saute and cook ground turkey until cooked through and no longer pink making sure to stir regularly so it doesn't stick.
  2. Add in broth or water and stir well scraping any bits off the bottom of the pot.
  3. Mix in all other ingredients except for salt, and set the lid to seal.
  4. Turn to manual pressure for 10 minutes
  5. Once done cooking, allow to naturally pressure release for 5 minutes. Release remaining pressure.
  6. Stir well and taste. Add salt if desired or needed to taste.

Notes

  • PersonalPoints™: 0-7
  • BLUE: 1
  • GREEN: 2
  • PURPLE: 1
  • SmartPoints: 4
  • PointsPlus: 5

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 204Total Fat: 2.6gSaturated Fat: .5gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 465mgCarbohydrates: 17.4gFiber: 6.1gSugar: 2.5gProtein: 30.2g

How Many WW Points are In This Turkey Chili?

A 1 ½ cup serving is what the points below are based upon.

  • PersonalPoints™: 0-7
  • BLUE: 1
  • GREEN: 2
  • PURPLE: 1
  • SmartPoints: 4
  • PointsPlus: 5

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. joyce

    I love chili and this recipe sounds great but what size do you use for the tomatoes. I gave it 4 stars for the recipe and hope it will be 5 when I make it. Joyce

    Reply

  2. Ellen

    I tried making this in the slower cooker and followed the directions to a T, but my chili came out incredibly watery. I drained the canned beans before putting them in. Not sure what went wrong?

    Reply

    • Janet Porucznik

      Possibly the steam that accumulates with a slow cooker. Not sure but just a thought.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

The Easiest Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to add to chili to make it healthy? ›

"By adding extra veggies you'll increase nutrients, fiber, and satisfaction," the twins say. "Bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, crushed tomatoes, onions, and carrots are all great choices."

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What makes chili even better? ›

Cinnamon, strong coffee, and dark chocolate all boost them meaty flavor in a good chili. Pick any of the following: 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 whole cinnamon stick, a shot of espresso, a small cup of strong coffee, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, or a few squares of good-quality dark chocolate.

How many calories are in 1 cup of homemade turkey chili? ›

Turkey Chili With Beans (1 cup) contains 19.3g total carbs, 13.7g net carbs, 7.5g fat, 19.4g protein, and 218 calories.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What adds the most flavor to chili? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What liquid to add to chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Why would you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

What does cinnamon do for chili? ›

Cinnamon. The beauty of ground cinnamon is that it brings a warmth to your chili, without being spicy. It works well with other flavors commonly found in chili (like tomato, cumin and chile powder) so you only need a little bit to achieve the desired balance.

How to make chili taste homemade? ›

“If there's one thing you have to do with any canned chili, it would be adding fresh chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapeños. Maybe even some pickled jalapeños. And be sure to dice it all up finely.” As for presentation? “Serve the chili out of a nice pot next to all the fresh toppings on display.

What does adding sugar to chili do? ›

Why is sugar used in this chili recipe? Sugar is used to cut the acidity of the tomatoes used in my homemade chili recipe. Using a small amount of sugar balances the flavors which in turn creates a smoother and richer taste overall.

Is Turkey Chili healthier than beef? ›

Turkey chili is much lighter and lower in calories. Most recipes call for ground turkey, which doesn't have nearly the fat content of beef. The turkey meat you'll find at the grocery store contains 15%, 7%, or even no fat.

Can chili be good for you? ›

In general, chili is seen as a healthy food since chili contains ingredients from key food groups. If you want to build a healthier bowl of beef chili, choose lean ground beef. Reducing the fat content in the meat is important for heart health and can lower your risk of developing diabetes.

Is Turkey Chili high in fat? ›

Generally speaking, turkey chili has less saturated fat than beef chili. However, it all depends on what type of turkey and beef are used in the chili and how much fat is in that ground meat. The higher the percentage of fat in the meat, the more fat and calories that will be in the chili.

Can homemade chili be healthy? ›

Everything in it is healthy, depending on how you make it. Tomatoes, peppers, black beans, onions, garlic, spices (chili powder, paprika, turmeric, etc.) As long as you use a lower fat meat, go easy on the salt and the size of the portion, chili is not only full of yummy goodness but should be considered a super food.

What can I add to canned chili to make it better? ›

"Adding fresh ingredients — like diced onions, cilantro, and jalapenos — will take any canned chili to another level," Dunleavy said. "The fresh burst of flavor will brighten and elevate the chili while also adding great texture and crunch."

How do you doctor up chili? ›

How to Give Chili a Flavor Boost
  1. Add something acidic. ...
  2. Try to identify what about your chili is boring. ...
  3. Add tomato paste. ...
  4. Drop in some chocolate. ...
  5. Embrace pickling liquid. ...
  6. Stir in some molasses.

Is chili OK for weight loss? ›

Helps with weight loss

Other studies show that chili peppers can increase metabolism and help you burn off the calories you do eat. While eating them by themselves may not lead to a significant change in your weight, using them with your doctor-approved weight loss plan may help you see results more quickly.

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