Turkey Veggie Chili is fast, delicious and super healthy! It’s great for a quick weeknight meal the whole family can enjoy.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Healthy and Nutritious: Ground turkey and a rainbow of veggies create a balanced, nutrient-packed dish just like my Crock Pot Lentil Veggie Stew or Roast Vegetable Soup recipes.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in just about 30 minutes with minimal fuss. Looking for more 30 minute recipes? Try my Carrot Ginger Soup, Mu Shu Chicken or Salmon with Fennel, Citrus and Olives.
- Kid-Friendly: Mild spices and familiar flavors make this turkey chili recipe a hit with the whole family.
- Meal Prep Superstar: Tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for leftovers. It’s also super simple to double or triple so you can feed a crowd.
The Ingredients
- Vegetables: A mix of onion and celery for a flavorful base, red bell pepper for a pop of sweetness, garlic for depth, and zucchini to get in even more nutrients.
- Ground turkey: A lean protein option that keeps the chili hearty without being heavy. Feel free to substitute ground chicken if you prefer.
- Tomatoes and Sauce: A combination of tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and water makes the rich, delicious base.
- White beans (such as cannellini): These add creaminess and extra plant-based protein.
- Seasonings: Kosher salt to enhance all the flavors, chili powder for a warm kick, and cumin for an earthy, aromatic touch.
*See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.*
Substitutions and Variations
- Protein Options: Swap ground turkey for ground chicken, lean beef, or even plant-based crumbles.
- Beans: Try black beans or kidney beans if you don’t have white beans on hand.
- Veggie Swaps: Feel free to use carrots, or even spinach or kale as delicious alternatives or additions.
- Spice Level: You can customize the spice level for how your family prefers it. Feel free to add more or less chili powder.
- Toppings Galore: The best part about chili is all the toppings like shredded cheese or sour cream. Get creative with other toppings like crushed tortilla chips, diced avocado, or a dollop of Greek yogurt.
How to Make Turkey Veggie Chili
Step 1: Heat the oil in a large pot and saute the onion and celery for 2 minutes.
Step 2: Add the garlic and turkey and sauté for 5-6 minutes or until turkey is cooked through and broken into tiny pieces.
Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Serve with toppings of choice.
Tips and Tricks
- Make It Ahead: Chili always tastes better the next day, so don’t hesitate to make this recipe in advance.
- Pair your Turkey Veggie Chili with a side of warm cornbread, a crisp green salad with Everyday Lemon Vinaigrette, and tortilla chips for dipping.
- Storing and Reheating:
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through.
More Easy Chili Recipes
This simple chili recipe will warm you up from the inside out, especially on cold days, but is a great meal any time of year because of how easy it is to make. I’d love to know what you think of this recipe — leave a rating and comment below!
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Turkey Veggie Chili
Turkey Veggie Chili is fast, delicious and super healthy! It's great for a quick weeknight meal the whole family can enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 15 oz diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup water
- 30 oz white beans, rinsed and drained (such as cannellini) or 3 1/2 cups cooked beans
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot and saute the onion and celery for 2 minutes.
- Add the garlic and turkey and sauté for 5-6 minutes or until turkey is cooked through and broken into tiny pieces.
- Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
- Serve.
Notes
-
- Make It Ahead: Chili always tastes better the next day, so don’t hesitate to make this recipe in advance.
-
- Pair your Turkey Veggie Chili with a side of warm cornbread, a crisp green salad with Everyday Lemon Vinaigrette, and tortilla chips for dipping.
-
- Storing and Reheating:
-
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
-
- Freezer: Allow to cool, store in appropriate container or ziploc bag, label and freeze up to 4 months. When ready, defrost in fridge for 24 hours or place in pot and bring to heat over low-medium heat.
-
- Reheat: Warm on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through.
-
- Storing and Reheating:
Nutrition
Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 620mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 7g
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This is the best recipe – light but full of flavor. It’s been a staple for years!
I made this today and love it! Just perfect for a Fall dinner. Will also add French bread as a side when we enjoy it again tomorrow.
Happy you loved it! Thanks for the kind comment 🙂
My entire family loves this recipe. I love that it’s healthy, delicious, and so quick to make! We top it with sour cream, cheese, avocados, jarred jalapeños, cilantro, and crushed corn chips. It’s to die for! Thank you for this recipe!
Yes, I think you could swap them out and use the same amount! Hmmm as an appetizer… Maybe just serve small portions in cute little bowls topped with some cheese or sour cream?
Can I substitute white beans with black beans? Having company and one of my guests is allergic to white beans. Also- how would you recommend serving this as an appetizer?? Thanks!
Any way to add kale to this recipe?
I’m just now realizing that I should’ve made WAY less beans! I started with 3 1/2 dried beans and I’m guessing you meant that as a yield, not a start. 😛 Oh well! I just added more sauce to compensate. Smells yummy!
If doing in the crock pot, do you have to pre-cook the ground turkey first?
You can definitely do it in a crock pot! On low for 8-10 hours. So yummy!
This looks great, can’t wait to make it. Would there be a way to do it in a Crock Pot?
Loved the chili! I didn’t add the chili powder because I wasn’t sure how my two kids would react to it. My husband added tabasco. Since I’m vegetarian, I’ll be adding TMP or seitan to it the next time I make it or perhaps just more beans.
Thank you for the great recipe!
I haven’t made chili with anything but turkey in such a long time. I don’t think I remember what beef would taste like in my chili. I love all the vegetables and beans in your recipe.