This Ground Turkey Crockpot Chili is the best ever! It is veggie-loaded and so simple to prepare. Just brown the ground turkey in a skillet, mix it into the slow cooker with the other ingredients and turn it on! Then just sit back and relax and let the crockpot do all the work. 

slow cooker ground turkey chili in a bowl and topped with cilantro, greek yogurt, chives, and cheddar cheese

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Why We Love This Recipe For Crock Pot Turkey Chili

My motto is that you really cannot have enough hearty chili recipes! I have shared a variety of healthy chili recipes over the years, from meal-prep Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, Maple Turkey Chili, and Crockpot Veggie Chili, all the way to my first Turkey Chili made with Pinto Beans – just to name a few! 

Needless to say, I have covered a lot of ground. So I was kind of surprised to realize I had never shared a healthy slow cooker turkey chili recipe! Chili is a comfort food staple for a cozy night in our house.

Best Turkey Chili Recipe Highlights

  • This easy turkey chili recipe takes less than 30 mins of hands-on time!
  • Loaded with fresh veggies that break down as chili cooks for low-calorie bulk – you’ll never know they’re in there!
  • Bold spice blend- this is not your everyday slow cooker chili!
  • Customize with your favorite chili toppings.
  • Only 368 calories, 10 grams of fiber, and 24 grams of protein per delicious serving.
  • Hands-off slow cooker meal – let the crockpot do all the work!
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Simple Ingredients Needed for Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

ingredients to make crockpot chili like ground turkey, vegetables, kidney beans, seasonings, tomatoes, and toppings
  • Oil: Avocado or olive oil
  • Ground Turkey: One pound, or a 20.8-ounce package lean ground turkey
  • Seasonings: Ground chili powder, ground cumin, salt, cinnamon, minced garlic
  • Vegetables: Bell peppers (any color), zucchini, onion, crushed tomatoes (preferably fire-roasted), diced tomatoes (preferably fire-roasted tomatoes), red kidney beans, tomato paste. Feel free to get experimental with this combination of veggies. Just choose some that are soft enough to break down almost completely in the slow cooker. Like our Turkey Sloppy Joes, the veggies in this turkey chili recipe are for added nutrition, and low-calorie bulk.
  • Sweetener: Sugar or maple syrup, optional
  • Optional Garnishes: Greek yogurt, scallions, cheddar cheese, cilantro, avocado, and pumpkin seeds. 
  • Water
crockpot full of turkey chili with a ladle holding a close up and cilantro in the corner

Step By Step Instructions For Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe

brown the ground turkey and add seasonings and water

Step 1: Brown Ground Turkey

Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and then add your turkey. Crumble the meat with a wooden spoon until it’s broken into smaller pieces and is no longer pink. This should take 6 to 8 minutes. 

Step 2: Season

Sprinkle the meat with chili powder, cumin, salt and cinnamon. Stir the seasonings well over heat until it’s fragrant. This will take about 30 to 90 seconds. Pour in half a cup of water and stir to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Remove the skillet from the heat and scrape the mixture into the insert of a large (6 quart) slow cooker. 

add beans and vegetables and then cover the crock pot to cook for hours

Step 3: Add Vegetables

Add the peppers, zucchini, onion, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beans, tomato paste, and garlic to the turkey mixture and give it a good stir. 

Step 4: Cook

Cover the slow cooker and set it on low for 8 hours, or 4 hours on high. 

crockpot full of chili ready to serve with optional garnish

Step 5: Serve and Garnish

Taste the chili and add sugar or syrup if desired. Serve in a bowl, topped with optional garnishes. 

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close up photo of a ladle full of turkey chili with a crockpot full in the background

FAQs and Expert Tips

FAQs

Can I make this in my Instant Pot?

Yes, you can. To start, brown the turkey with the sautee function. Then, simply stir in the remaining ingredients! Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes and you’re done!

Make Ahead, Storage, Freezing Instructions and Reheating

  • Make Ahead: Combine the browned ground turkey and the other ingredients in the slow cooker insert, cover, and then you can refrigerate it overnight. Then in the morning set the insert into the cooker and cook as directed on low for 8 hours (or high for 4 hours).
  • Leftovers: You can store leftovers in the refrigerator. Just make sure you allow it to cool before storing it. Serve the chili within 4 days.
  • Reheating: Rewarm the chili on your stovetop. You may need to thin it with a little bit of chicken broth to reheat.
  • Freezing Instructions: Yes, it’ll keep in airtight container for up to 6 months in the freezer. When thawing, allow it to do most of the work in the refrigerator and then rewarm it on the stovetop with a bit of chicken broth.

Substitutions and Variations to Try

  • Instead of kidney beans, try using black beans or white beans!
  • Add in some freshly chopped jalapeno with the other veggies for a little flavor kick.
  • Stir in 1 cup of thawed frozen corn kernels at the end for added texture (and delicious corn!).
  • If you don’t want to use zucchini and bell pepper, you can add whatever vegetables you like!
  • Add some roasted sweet potato.

Serving Suggestions

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Gluten-Free Skillet Cornbread
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Healthy Cornbread

Pumpkin Cornbread {Maple Sweetened}
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Healthy Cornbread Muffins (Whole-Wheat)
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Fast & Simple Classic Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
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Easy Tossed Garden Salad Recipe

Chili Toppings

  • Greek yogurt or sour cream for a creamy and cool balance to your homemade chili
  • Scallions or green onions
  • Cheese: cheddar cheese, Colby Jack, Pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican cheese like crumbled Cotija
  • Cilantro 
  • Avocado or guacamole for healthy fats
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Pickled jalapenos
  • Crushed tortilla chips or homemade baked corn tortilla strips
a serving bowl full of ground turkey chili covered in cheddar cheese, scallions, jalapeño, and cilantro for garnish.

Additional Ground Turkey Recipes To Try

grilled ground turkey kofta kebabs in a pita pocket with tzatziki sauce and garnish

Grilled Ground Turkey Kofta Kebabs
ground turkey lasagna slice on a spatula with the lasagna in the background

Best Ground Turkey Lasagna
Baked turkey enchiladas in white casserole dish.

Ground Turkey Enchiladas
a white pasta bowl with a serving of pasta with bolognese sauce spooned over it

Slow Cooker Turkey Bolognese
a plate with a slice of turkey meatloaf with potatoes and brussels sprouts

Turkey Meatloaf

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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crockpot ground turkey chili in a bowl with cheese, greek yogurt, and tortilla chips on the side

Crockpot Ground Turkey Chili Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 7 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 4 hours, 30 mins
  • Yield: 11 cups 1x
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Description

This Crockpot Turkey Chili recipe is the best ever! It is veggie-loaded and so simple to prepare. Just brown the ground turkey in a skillet, mix it into the slow cooker with the other ingredients and turn it on! Then just sit back and relax and let the crockpot do all the work.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
  • 1 pound ground turkey (20.8-ounce package works too)
  • 3 tablespoons ground chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 bell peppers, diced (any color)
  • 1 medium zucchini, shredded
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes, preferably fire roasted
  • 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes, preferably fire roasted
  • 1 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic, about 2 cloves
  • 2 teaspoons sugar or maple syrup, optional
  • Optional Garnishes: Greek yogurt, scallions, cheddar cheese, cilantro, avocado, pumpkin seeds

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add turkey, and crumble with a wooden spoon until broken into small pieces and no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes.
  2. Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, salt and cinnamon. Stir well over the heat until fragrant, 30 seconds to 90 seconds. Pour in ½ cup water and stir to scrape up any browned bits in the bottom of the skillet. Remove from the heat and scrape the turkey mixture into the insert of a large (6 quart) slow cooker.
  3. Add peppers, zucchini, onion, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beans, tomato paste and garlic into the turkey mixture and stir well. 
  4. Cover and set on low for 8 hours, or 4 hours on high.
  5. Taste and add sugar (or syrup) if desired. Serve topped with optional garnishes.

Notes

To prepare ahead: Combine the browned ground turkey and the other ingredients in the slow cooker insert, cover, and then you can refrigerate it overnight. Then in the morning set the insert into the cooker and cook as directed on low for 8 hours (or high for 4 hours).

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Active Time: 25 mins
  • Cook Time: 4 hours, 15 mins

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 cups
  • Calories: 368
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 10 g
  • Protein: 24 g

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