Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Hearty Turkey Chili
Turkey chili with white beans makes a generous bowl, with bacon adding a smoky, savory edge beneath the spices. A little maple sweetness rounds out the tomato broth. Spoon into it while it's hot and enjoy the tender beans among the turkey crumbles.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Original yield
- Serves 10
- Ingredients
- 14 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Primary protein
- Pork · Turkey
- Cuisine
- American
- Cooking method
- Slow cooker
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 31–60 minutes
A few quick notes
1. Onion joins partly cooked bacon
Add the onion while the bacon is halfway cooked, then let it soften before adding ground turkey.
2. Watch the garlic
Add garlic after the turkey browns and cook briefly, taking care to keep it from burning.
3. Lower heat after combining
Stir in the tomato ingredients, broth, beans and maple syrup before turning the heat low for simmering.
Get to know the ingredients
Ground turkey
Ground turkey cooks with the softened onion and bacon until browned before garlic and the remaining seasonings enter.
White beans
The canned white beans are drained and rinsed before going into the chili with the broth and tomato ingredients.
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is stirred in after the broth, beans and tomato ingredients, just before the heat is lowered.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 10. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 4 steps completeMake room for Hearty Turkey Chili
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Serve hot with toppings
After the chili has simmered, serve it hot with your preferred toppings as the directions suggest.
A little more help as you go
Slow-cooker option
For the slow-cooker route, transfer the mixture after cooking garlic, add remaining ingredients and cook on low as directed.
Freeze after cooling
Cool it and freeze in an airtight container, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
A few questions you might have
Does the turkey cook before the bacon?
No, start the bacon, add onion when it is halfway done, then add turkey once the onion is tender.
Can I use the slow cooker?
Yes, follow through cooking the garlic, transfer to the cooker, add remaining ingredients and use the listed low setting.
When should the spices cook?
Add tomato paste and the dry seasonings after the garlic, then cook briefly before adding the remaining ingredients.
Can I freeze the chili?
Yes, freeze it in an airtight container or freezer-safe zip-top bag for up to three months.
How should I reheat thawed chili?
Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, then heat it on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Any more cooking tips?
To Freeze : let the chili cool, then place it in an airtight container or a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, let the chili thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then heat on the stove top or in the microwave.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: asouthernsoul.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
