Clean Eating Turkey Chili Recipe (2024)

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posted by Crissy Pageon Oct 15, 2016 (updated Feb 21, 2024) 45 comments »

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I love healthy, clean eating recipes and I wanted to share one of my favorite quick clean eating meal ideas—this clean eating turkey chili recipe that you can make in your slow cooker!

Clean Eating Turkey Chili Recipe

I love using ground turkey in my chili because it contains less fat than ground beef but still gives carnivores a satisfying meal option. That said, you can always skip the meat and add extra beans!

I’ve tried so many different varieties of chili in my life. The thing I love about chili is how completely customizable it is. My clean eating turkey chili recipe is perfect for my family, but feel free to go wild and make it your own by adding or subtracting your favorite ingredients.

Whether you subscribe to a clean eating lifestyle or you just appreciate a delicious bowl of chili, you’re going to love this recipe. It is absolutely yummy on its own, but if you wan to send it over the top while still keeping it clean, you can add some diced avocado to the top.

It’s a great way to add some creaminess and an extra blast of nutrition.

Speaking of nutrition, you’re also going to want to bookmark or pin my amazing easy vegan chili recipe. If you’ve ever thought about incorporating more plant-based meals into your weekly routine, it’s a great recipe to start with.

Of course, certain members of my family won’t eat a bowl of chili unless it’s smothered in cheese and sour cream. That’s an option, too! :)

I hope you love my scrumptious clean eating turkey chili recipe. Be sure to let me know how it turned out for you in the comments below.

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Ingredients

2 lbs. 99% fat free ground turkey breast
1 large yellow onion diced
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups water
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 15 oz. cans black beans, rinsed
1 cup frozen corn
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin

Instructions

Add olive oil, onion and garlic to a large skillet and saute 3 to 4 minutes until slightly tender. Add ground turkey and cook until done, crumbly and brown. It should not be necessary to drain.
Add the meat mixture to the crockpot. Add the remaining ingredients starting with the water. Stir until blended.
Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, or 6 to 8 hours on low.

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originally published on Oct 15, 2016 (last updated Feb 21, 2024)

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45 comments on “Clean Eating Turkey Chili Recipe”

Amie — January 21, 2024 @ 7:36 pm Reply
This is such a tasty chili recipe. It is my go to for a crock pot chili! I used this recipe with venison instead of turkey and it was delicious!
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Rating: 5
- Crissy Page — January 21, 2024 @ 7:50 pm Reply
  Yay, I’m glad you love it! It’s funny, I was just telling my husband that if he hunted more often I could probably benefit from creating some venison recipes for my blog! :)
Lila — January 8, 2023 @ 9:44 am Reply
Wondering about potasium per serving.
Samantha C — December 1, 2022 @ 12:37 pm Reply
Is this freezable?
Kristin — January 10, 2022 @ 9:07 am Reply
Love this chili it something I can eat days in a row and not get tired of it.
Courtney — December 2, 2021 @ 6:33 pm Reply
Can I make this stovetop instead of crockpot?
Stacee M Banko — January 8, 2021 @ 9:15 am Reply
I am tracking calories for a health condition. Can someone provide the serving size and calories per serving? Thanks!
- Darlene — November 13, 2022 @ 1:30 pm Reply
  Yes I do all the time!
Josee Soucy — April 26, 2020 @ 2:37 pm Reply
Hello, just so you know this is my favorite recipe for chili, always. My question is, how many servings and calories per serving?
Thank you in advance
JOSEE
- Lauren — October 20, 2020 @ 9:20 am Reply
  I made it with 1.75 lbs Turkey (package from Costco) minus the corn and with 6 servings my fitness pal came out to 413 calories 47g carbs 9.5g fat and 37g protein. This may vary slightly on ingredients used.
Noelle — January 17, 2020 @ 10:41 am Reply
Hello,
I would like to make this next week but we’re a family of 2 and my husband doesn’t eat chili. Can I cut this recipe in half? Do I need to adjust cooking times by much?
Thanks!
Dana — January 5, 2020 @ 12:29 pm Reply
Are there updated cooking instructions to make this recipe in the instant pot?
Mary Regini — April 25, 2019 @ 6:14 pm Reply
Saw this recipe today and made it for dinner tonight. YUMMY, YUMMY,YUMMY‼️?? I have to tell you I was a little hesitant to use cumin. Would not change a thing. The flavor of this chili was fabulous‼️ 5 stars for me?? Looking forward to trying more of your dishes?
Rating: 5
Crystal — January 13, 2019 @ 6:38 pm Reply
I made this delicious chili for meal prep this week!!!! I can’t find the nutritional valies. Please advise.
Rating: 5
- Jean-Marie Carroll — December 1, 2019 @ 3:45 pm Reply
  Did you ever find out the nutritional value?
  
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Kathy Harris — November 12, 2018 @ 12:29 pm Reply
Love it!!! Delish??. What is serving size and calorie count?
Joanie — November 11, 2018 @ 11:47 am Reply
should I reduce water amount if I plan to add beans after crockpot cooking and eliminate the corn all together?
Nolan — November 1, 2018 @ 4:13 pm Reply
I added 8 jalapenos. 2 habs turned out great!
Rating: 4
Tara — October 30, 2018 @ 6:46 pm Reply
Made this and trust I am not a cook – easy and very tasty – added some hot sauce :) Thank you for sharing!
Rating: 5
Sharyce — September 21, 2018 @ 1:10 pm Reply
I made this and we have 6 people in our family and there were left overs for all 6 of us again! It’s so yummy. I cooked on stovetop on medium for about an hour and used extra can of black beans.
Rating: 5
Whitney — September 10, 2018 @ 8:00 pm Reply
Did we find or how many this serves? Can’t seem to find an answer.
- Rosemary Smaglick — January 28, 2020 @ 9:31 am Reply
  Same question. How many servings is this recipe?
- Marc — January 28, 2020 @ 5:15 pm Reply
  How would this cook on the instant pot? How long?
  - Gigi — February 8, 2020 @ 9:38 pm
    Same as a slow cooker. Hit the slow cook feature and adjust time. You would sauté the meat first to brown and the veggies, etc.
Sharyce — May 31, 2018 @ 7:43 pm Reply
Can I cook this faster on the stovetop??
jen — February 15, 2018 @ 10:03 am Reply
hi! instead of using tomato paste, can I used red sauce?
- Crissy — February 15, 2018 @ 11:11 am Reply
  Should be fine, maybe not as thick, but the flavor will be good. :)
Melissa — January 26, 2018 @ 10:00 am Reply
I made this recipe, wow it was so amazing!! My whole family loved it!! Can you tell me the nutrition facts?
Rating: 5
Amanda — December 27, 2017 @ 12:05 pm Reply
How many servings is this?
Sandra Ramos — December 15, 2017 @ 9:25 pm Reply
Made this for my husband and I and had enough to take some to a home bound neighbor. Big Hit!
Rating: 4
Scooby — December 9, 2017 @ 3:14 pm Reply
Making this today Thank You!!
Alex — November 1, 2017 @ 1:27 pm Reply
Do u have to cook the turkey first or can u just throw it all in the crock pot?
- Crissy — November 2, 2017 @ 10:48 am Reply
  You need to cook it first, per the instructions! :)
Gabby — February 18, 2017 @ 2:54 pm Reply
Would it make a huge difference if I used canned corn instead of frozen corn?
- Crissy Page — February 19, 2017 @ 6:09 pm Reply
  not at all!
Rexanne — December 30, 2016 @ 6:43 pm Reply
I would also like to know how many this serves…..?
Rebecca Baron — October 27, 2016 @ 1:13 am Reply
This recipe looks really good because I love ground turkey. I forget about using it, but I always like it when I use it because it’s has a light flavor . I definitely need to try this recipe!
Jana — October 16, 2016 @ 2:08 pm Reply
I’m making this for meal prep for the week & for dinner. Can you tell me the serving size please? Thank you
Jessica — October 1, 2016 @ 8:39 pm Reply
I made this tonight and with some modifications, it was the best chili! I halved the recipe, except for the corn and the spices. I used an entire can of corn and doubled the spices. I cooked it on the stove top due to time and it was so, so good! Will make again.
Jess — September 2, 2016 @ 10:22 pm Reply
I made this for dinner and it was awesome. I only had a pound of turkey so I halved it and it still made about 3 servings. I added fresh cut avocado and it was delicious! Thanks!!
Ashley — August 15, 2016 @ 8:31 pm Reply
How many does this serve?
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Jennifer — March 23, 2016 @ 3:49 pm Reply
Hello, can you tell me how many servings this makes?
Thanks!
Janelle Carlson — February 22, 2016 @ 1:14 pm Reply
DearChrissy,
I made your chili on Saturday and it turned out great! It didn’t look quite as pretty as yours but it sure tasted fantastic.???? I’m usually not a big chili fan but my hubby is, so I thought he’d like it (and he did!) To my surprise I loved it – so much lighter than traditional!!????
Thx for the awesome recipe!

FAQs

Is chili considered clean eating? ›

Chili can be healthy, with qualifiers. The iconic dish—typically made with ground meat, tomatoes, kidney beans, and seasonings—is packed with protein, fiber (thanks, beans!), and iron. This makes chili relatively healthy, provided you don't get too carried away with high-fat toppings like sour cream and cheddar cheese.

Learn More Now ›

Is turkey chili healthier than beef chili? ›

Turkey chili is much lighter and lower in calories. Most recipes call for ground turkey, which doesn't have nearly the fat content of beef. The turkey meat you'll find at the grocery store contains 15%, 7%, or even no fat.

Get More Info Here ›

Is chili healthy for weight loss? ›

Helps with weight loss

Other studies show that chili peppers can increase metabolism and help you burn off the calories you do eat. While eating them by themselves may not lead to a significant change in your weight, using them with your doctor-approved weight loss plan may help you see results more quickly.

What to add to chili to make it healthier? ›

Stir in Some Beans

Instead, use beans in your healthy chili to add fiber and stretch your dish healthfully and inexpensively. You can use one type of beans, such as kidney beans or black beans, or mix several types for a variety.

Explore More ›

What is not allowed on clean eating diet? ›

A clean diet may include whole fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats while limiting highly processed snacks and other packaged foods with added sugar and salt. It may also be associated with terms like plant-based, grass-fed, sugar-free, or gluten-free.

Show Me More ›

What is the difference between clean eating and dirty eating? ›

As a basic guide, clean foods are “real foods” and close to nature, whereas dirty foods are processed, packaged and contain a number of ingredients.

Learn More Now ›

Can I eat ground turkey every day? ›

The bottom line is yes—it is okay to include ground turkey in your diet regularly, though as with any food, it's crucial to eat it in moderation and variety in your food choices. Eating a diverse range of nutrient sources helps ensure you obtain all of the essential nutrients needed for enhancing overall health.

Discover More Details ›

Which chili is the healthiest? ›

“Look for chilis that use turkey, tofu, chicken or beans,” suggested RDN Bianca Tamburello. “Those are leaner proteins that typically have less saturated fat than chili made with beef or pork.” Sodium content can be an issue with canned food, so it's important to check out how much is in your chili.

Read On ›

Is ground turkey healthy for weight loss? ›

Ground turkey is a great food choice for individuals looking to shed excess weight. It offers several health and nutritional benefits, including: High protein content: Ground turkey is an excellent source of lean protein — a crucial component of any weight loss diet.

Which chilli is best for weight loss? ›

Red Chilies Aid Metabolism

A slow metabolic rate burns fewer calories making your body store more fat. This fact explains why some people have difficulty losing weight even if they cut their calorie intake. Capsaicin, which could be found in peppers, adds heat, which aids in fat burning and weight loss.

Show Me More ›

What are the side effects of eating too much chili? ›

Oct 17, 2023, 06:49 PM IST. 7 Side Effects of Eating Red Chilli. ...
Stomach Ulcers. Red chilli contains aflatoxin, which can cause stomach ulcers. ...
Digestive Issues. ...
Nausea And Vomiting. ...
Increase Stress Levels. ...
Blisters, Rashes or Acne. ...
Excessive Sweating. ...
Irritated Lips.

Oct 17, 2023

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What to eat with turkey chili? ›

16 Side Dishes That Go Great With Chili

01 of 15. Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread. View Recipe. ...
02 of 15. Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad. View Recipe. ...
03 of 15. Savory Roasted Root Vegetables. ...
04 of 15. Perfect Baked Potato. ...
05 of 15. Ann's Dirty Rice. ...
06 of 15. Cornbread Muffins I. ...
07 of 15. Loaded Tater Tots. ...
08 of 15. Creamy Spiced Coleslaw.

More items...

Feb 27, 2020

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

Learn More ›

What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.

Know More ›

Does spicy food clean? ›

Spicy food contains compounds such as capsaicin, which may have anti-inflammatory effects and may promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of spicy food on gut health.