Turkey white bean chili is an easy, hearty dinner made with ground turkey, white beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, and plenty of seasoning. It is a simple, flavorful recipe that makes great leftovers for lunch or meal prep.
Ingredients
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Ground Turkey - Use lean ground turkey, but do not use turkey breast. We used 85/15 for more flavor, but 93/7 will also work.
Spices - Chili powder, salt, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper add flavor and a little spice.
Produce - Onion and garlic add even more flavor. Use a yellow or white onion.
Pantry - Chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and cannellini beans, also known as white kidney beans, make this chili convenient and easy to make.
Oil - Use your favorite neutral oil with a high smoke point.
📖 See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.
How to make turkey white bean chili
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Then, add the garlic and cook 1 minute while stirring.
- Raise the heat to medium-high and immediately add the ground turkey, sprinkle with the prepared seasoning mix and stir well to combine the meat with the onions and spices.
- Arrange the turkey into a layer and cook for 3 minutes. Stir and break-up any large pieces, arrange into a layer again and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until browned and any liquid rendered has cooked away.
- Add the diced tomatoes and white beans to the pot.
- Next, add the chicken broth and stir well. Bring the liquid to a boil, lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pot and simmer the chili for 30 minutes, stir occasionally.
- Uncover the pot and cook for an additional 10-20 minutes or until the chili thickens and is saucy, not soupy. Keep an eye on it and stir it often, especially as it starts to thicken to make sure it is not sticking. You can see (below) on the side of the pot how much the liquid reduced as it thickened.
Taste and add salt if needed. As a reference we did not add extra to ours.
Serving
This recipe is a good option for meal prep and easy leftovers. Serve it on its own with cornbread or crackers, or dress it up with your favorite toppings. You can also spoon it over hot dogs for a quick family-friendly meal, use it to make chili mac with elbow macaroni, or top it with mashed potatoes for a fun twist on shepherd's pie.
Recipe tips and notes
Prepare a seasoning mix instead of adding each ingredient individually. You are less likely to end up with too much seasoning in the pot, and you will not be standing over a hot pot trying to measure out spices.
Use lean ground turkey. We use 85/15, but you can go a little leaner with 93/7 if you like. Do not use turkey breast because we need some fat for flavor and moisture.
It is best to use a heavy pot for chili, soups, stews, or anything that needs to simmer for a while. A heavy pot holds heat well, so it can simmer at a lower temperature and is less likely to burn on the bottom. We use an enameled cast iron pot, and it works well.
Storing and reheating instructions
Let the chili cool, then store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To freeze, place cooled leftovers in freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2-3 months for the best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheat leftovers on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave until hot all the way through, stirring occasionally for even heating. Add a splash of broth or water if needed to loosen it.
Food safety: According to USDA recommendations, do not leave cooked food out for longer than two hours, or for more than one hour if the temperature is above 90°F. Reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of at least 165°F. For more information on food storage and safety guidelines visit U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.
If you liked this recipe, try our turkey taco soup for another easy dinner, or turkey picadillo when you want something a little different with plenty of flavor. Ground turkey shepherd's pie is also a great option if you need a hearty family-friendly dinner.
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📖 Recipe
Turkey White Bean Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cumin
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- Pinch Cayenne Pepper optional
- 1 tablespoon Oil use a flavorless oil with a high smoke point
- 1 Medium Onion finely diced (use yellow or white)
- 3-4 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 Pound Ground Turkey we used 85/15 but 97/3 will also work well
- 2 cups Chicken Broth
- 1 (14-15 ounce) can Diced Tomatoes undrained
- 1 (15 - 16 ounce) can Cannellini Beans drained and rinsed (also called white kidney beans)
Instructions
- Prepare a seasoning mix: add the chili powder, salt, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper and cayenne pepper (if using) to a small bowl. Stir to combine well.
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Raise the heat to medium-high and immediately add the ground turkey and sprinkle with the prepared seasoning mix. Stir well to combine the turkey with the onions and spices.
- Arrange the turkey into a layer and cook for 3 minutes.
- Stir well and break-up any large pieces. Arrange it into a layer again, cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until browned and any liquid rendered has cooked away.
- Add the diced tomatoes, white beans and chicken broth to the pot. Stir well.
- Bring the liquid to a boil (it will take about 4-5 minutes to start boiling), then lower the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer the chili for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Uncover the pot and cook for an additional 10-20 minutes or until the chili thickens and is saucy, not soupy. How long this will take depends on how much liquid is left after the initial cooking time. Keep an eye on it and stir it often, especially as it starts to thicken, to prevent sticking on the bottom.
- Taste the chili and add salt if needed. As a reference we did not add extra to ours.
Notes
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Nutrition
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
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