Ground Meats
$1.35per plate
Prep
15 min
Ground Meats · Ground Turkey
Ground Turkey Chili
Chili is one of the best ways to stretch a single pound of ground turkey into a pot that feeds six. The lean meat browns up and then simmers with two cans of beans, tomatoes, and a good hit of chili powder and cumin until it is thick and rich. Turkey is milder than beef, so the trick is to bloom the spices and give it time to simmer, which builds all the deep, savory flavor for pennies a bowl. Pile on cheese and whatever toppings you like. It joins the rest of our ground turkey recipes, all cheap dinners built on the same lean pound. For more warming bowls, browse our easy soup recipes.
$1.23per plate
Estimated recipe total
$7.39 · serves 6
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Serves
6
Recipe from Budget Plates · https://www.budgetplates.com/ground-turkey-chili
Equipment
- Large pot
Variations
- Use pinto, great northern, or a can of chili beans instead of kidney and black beans.
- Use a cup or so of jarred salsa instead of the diced tomatoes for a quicker, spicier chili.
- Add a diced bell pepper with the onion, or a cup of frozen corn near the end, to stretch the pot.
- Brown the turkey and onion first, then finish it in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3 to 4.
1 How to make it
1
Brown the turkey
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high and soften the onion for a few minutes. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it into crumbles, until no pink remains and some of it browns, about 8 minutes. Ground turkey is done at 165 F; spoon off any excess grease from a fattier blend.
2
Bloom the spices
Stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and smoked paprika and cook for about a minute. Toasting the spices in the fat is what gives lean turkey chili its deep flavor, so do not skip this step.
3
Add the beans and tomatoes
Add the drained beans, diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato sauce, and the water or broth. Stir everything together and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
4
Simmer
Bring it to a gentle simmer, then cook uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring now and then, until the chili has thickened to the consistency you like.
5
Taste and adjust
Season with salt and pepper to taste now: lean turkey needs enough salt to bring the flavor forward, and canned beans and tomatoes vary in how salty they are, so add a little at a time until it tastes right. Add more chili powder if you want it deeper. A squeeze of lime or a small pinch of sugar rounds out the acidity if it needs it.
6
Serve
Ladle into bowls and finish with your favorite toppings: shredded cheddar, chopped green onions, a dollop of sour cream, or crushed tortilla chips.
2 Cheaper ingredient swaps
- Any canned beans for the kidney and black. Pinto, great northern, or a can of chili beans all work. Use whatever is cheapest or already in the cupboard.
- A jar of salsa for the diced tomatoes. A cup or so of salsa stands in and brings its own onion, pepper, and heat for a quicker, spicier chili.
- Add a vegetable. A diced bell pepper cooked with the onion, or a cup of frozen corn stirred in near the end, stretches the pot and adds color.
- Make it in a slow cooker. Brown the turkey and onion first, then add everything to the crock and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3 to 4.
3 Budget tips
- One pound of ground turkey and two cans of beans make a big pot of chili that feeds six for a little over a dollar a bowl.
- Beans are the cheapest way to bulk up chili and pack in protein and fiber, so lean on them.
- Buy chili powder and cumin from the bulk bin or a big jar; the seasoning for a whole batch costs cents.
- Chili freezes and reheats better than almost anything, so make a double batch and stash half for later.
- See more recipes priced per serving in the Budget Plates Index.
4 Storage, freezing & reheating
Fridge
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Like most chili, it tastes even better the next day once the flavors settle.
Freezer
Freeze cooled chili for up to 3 months. It thaws and reheats beautifully, so it is worth making extra. Leave a little headspace in the container.
Reheating
Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot through. Add a splash of water or broth if it has thickened up in the fridge.
5 Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
285
Protein
23g
Fat
10g
Carbs
27g
Estimates per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not a substitute for medical advice.
6 Frequently asked questions
How do I keep ground turkey chili from tasting bland?
Bloom the spices in the fat before adding liquid, use enough chili powder, cumin, and salt, and give it a real simmer so the flavors meld. A squeeze of lime or a small pinch of sugar or cocoa at the end deepens it.
Do I need to drain the ground turkey?
Usually no. Lean ground turkey renders very little fat. If you used a fattier blend and see grease pooling, spoon it off before you add the beans and tomatoes.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the turkey and onion first for the best flavor, then add everything to the crock and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3 to 4.
How is $1.23 a plate figured?
About $7.39 for the whole pot, six bowls, so roughly $1.23 each. The pound of turkey and the two cans of beans are the biggest costs. Toppings are extra.
Helpful Tools for This Recipe
As an Amazon Associate, Budget Plates may earn from qualifying purchases.
- Chef's knife. One sharp chef's knife handles almost all the chopping, from onions to chicken, and replaces a drawer of gadgets. Best for all-purpose prep in essentially every recipe on the site.
- Cutting board. A large, stable cutting board makes prep faster and safer, which matters when you cook most nights. Best for everyday chopping of onion, garlic, and vegetables across nearly every recipe.
- Mixing bowls set. A set of nesting bowls handles prep, mixing, and marinades without dirtying every dish in the house. Best for mixing meatball and patty mixtures, tossing ingredients, and holding prepped components.
- Measuring cups and spoons set. A basic set of measuring cups and spoons keeps amounts consistent, which keeps budget recipes reliable. Best for rice, liquids, and any recipe where the ratio matters.
Feeding a crowd tonight? This one is also part of our Easy Family Dinner Recipes collection.
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