White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (2024)

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A delicious, creamy White Bean Turkey Chili recipe made with canned white beans, ground turkey, aromatics and spices – no tomatoes!

White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (1)White Bean Turkey Chili

This easy chili can be made on the stove, slow cooker or Instant Pot. Leftovers taste even better the next day for lunch! More chili recipes you might enjoy are Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili, Quick Beef Chiliand No Bean Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili.

White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (2)White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (3)

My friend Debbie shared this recipe, which I’ve tweaked through the years, and I remember asking her if she forgot to tell me about the tomatoes. Nope, no tomatoes in this chili, which I remember blew my mind. Nowadays it’s quite common to see a white chili recipe, so I’m sure you won’t be surprised. This makes a lot, you can make a batch for dinner and freeze the leftovers for another night. Toppings, are optional, you can top it with anything you like on your chili. Here’s a few suggestions:

Chili Toppings:

  • Crushed Chips
  • Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
  • Cilantro or scallions
  • Chopped Scallions or Red Onions
  • Diced Avocado
  • Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack Cheese, or Cheddar Cheese

Notes:

  • I prefer the taste of 93% lean ground turkey, but you can further lighten this with 99% lean, which will lower the WW points.
  • To make this dairy free you can leave the sour cream out.
  • Swap the ground turkey for ground chicken if you prefer.
  • Yogurt will curdle if cooked, if you prefer yogurt just use it as a topping.

How To Freeze and Reheat Chili:

Let the chili cool then transfer to a freezer safe container. To reheat, transfer the the refrigerator the night before the thaw, then reheat on the stove or microwave.

White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (4)White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (5)White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (6)

More Chili Recipes You May Enjoy:

  • Turkey Chili Taco Soup
  • Chicken Taco Chili
  • Crock Pot Kid Friendly Chili
  • Turkey Pumpkin White Bean Chili
  • Slow Cooker 3-Bean Chili

White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (7)

White Bean Turkey Chili

4.90 from 118 votes

A delicious, creamy White Bean Turkey Chili recipe made with canned white beans, ground turkey, aromatics and spices – no tomatoes!

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (8)

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Print Rate Pin SaveWW Points

Yield: 12 servings

Serving Size: 1 cup

Ingredients

  • olive oil spray
  • 2 small onions, chopped
  • 5 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 pounds 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1 4.5 ounce can diced green chilies
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon cumin
  • 1/2 tablespoon oregano
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder, to your taste
  • 1/2 to 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, to your taste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 15.5 ounce cans of cannellini or navy beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream or Greek yogurt

Optional Toppings:

  • Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack Cheese, shredded
  • diced avocado
  • cilantro
  • sliced jalapeno
  • Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • chopped scallions

Instructions

  • Heat a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium flame. When hot, spray with oil.

  • Add onions and garlic, saute until soft, about 4 to 5 minutes.

  • Add the meat and cook, breaking it up until white and cooked through, about 5 minutes.

  • Add diced green chilies, salt, cumin, oregano, chili powder, red pepper flakes and cook for 2 minutes.

  • Pure 1 can of beans in the blender with 1 cup of the broth. Add to the pot with the remaining beans, broth and bay leaf and bring to a boil.

  • Cover and reduce to a simmer, about 30 to 35 minutes mixing occasionally, until thickened and the flavors meld.

  • Stir in sour cream and cook 4 to 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning and salt to taste.

  • To serve, topped with your favorite toppings.

  • Slow Cooker directions: To make in the slow cooker, follow steps 1 to 5, reducing the broth to 1 1/2 cups and transfer to the slow cooker for 8 hours on low.

  • Instant Pot directions: To make in the Instant Pot, you will need an 8 quart IP or halve the recipe. Reduce the broth to 1 1/2 cups, cook high pressure 25 minutes.

Last Step:

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Video

Notes

BASED ON COMMENTS SAYING TOO LIQUIDY, I RETESTED AND REDUCED THE BROTH TO 2 CUPS.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cup, Calories: 307 kcal, Carbohydrates: 25 g, Protein: 30 g, Fat: 12 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 88 mg, Sodium: 835 mg, Fiber: 9 g, Sugar: 2 g

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Categories:

  • Bowls
  • Budget Friendly Meals
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Egg Free Recipes
  • Fall
  • Freezer Meals
  • Gluten Free
  • Ground Turkey Recipes
  • Kid Friendly
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Photo credit: Jess Larson

White Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken white bean chili? ›

Use All-Purpose Flour or Cornstarch

"Transfer some warm liquid [from the chili] to a separate bowl. Whisk in the flour or cornstarch, then slowly stir it back in the pot," advises Wofford. Bring the mixture back to a boil, which will "activate" the ingredient, instantly thickening the dish.

How many calories in 1 cup of homemade turkey chili with beans? ›

Turkey Chili With Beans (1 cup) contains 19.3g total carbs, 13.7g net carbs, 7.5g fat, 19.4g protein, and 218 calories.

How do you make chili more flavorful? ›

Elevate with Extra Flavor

Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight.

What liquid to add to chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

What is a thickening agent for white chili? ›

Mix in a scoop of cornstarch, all-purpose flour, or oats.

For 1 tablespoon of flour, use 2 tablespoons of water. No slurry is required for the absorbent oats; simply stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons. In all cases, allow the chili to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more, and you should notice it thicken up.

Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

Chili should be thick and hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but sometimes there's just a bit more liquid than you want in the pot. While you can simply keep simmering the chili, that method risks overcooking softer ingredients like the beans, losing all your nice texture to mushy monotony.

Is Chili good for you? ›

Eating chilis can be good for your immune system. They contain certain bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and carotenoids, that help your immune system work better.

What is the nutrition facts of turkey and White Bean Chili? ›

Perfect for a weeknight!
  • Servings: 5.
  • Serving Size: 1 ½ cups (365g)
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes.
  • Total Time: 35 minutes.
  • Nutrition Facts: 216 calories / 25.5g carbs / 29g protein / 4g fat.
  • Optional garnishes: cilantro, sliced radishes, avocado, shredded cheese, sour cream (not included in macros)
Apr 1, 2022

What is one serving of Turkey Chili? ›

Turkey Chili - 1 bowl (about 2 cups)

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Cook it long enough

Chili recipes need time for flavors to meld and come together, and collagen-rich meat (like chuck roast or ground beef) needs 90 minutes to two hours to fully break down and become tender. If you don't have time for a long simmer, try using a slow cooker or making it the day before.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

Do you cook onions or meat first for chili? ›

In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions, garlic, and red pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the beef and increase the heat to high; cook, stirring with wooden spoon to break the meat into ¼-inch pieces, until the beef is browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

What is the best liquid base for chili? ›

I like to use ale, but beef broth is popular. The truth is, there's so much going on in a typical chili, the liquid plays (or should play) a minor role in flavor. Major flavor players are the meat, cumin, dried chiles, hot chiles, onions, garlic, salt, oregano and sometimes cocoa. Water is fine.

How can I thicken my chili that is too watery? ›

The good news is there are lots of easy ways to thicken up your chili with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry— flour, cornmeal, pureed beans, cornstarch, or even crushed tortilla chips will help do the job, along with some good old extra simmering time.

What is the best thickener for chili? ›

Cornmeal is one of our go-to thickening agents for chili. Unlike all-purpose flour, this Southern pantry staple adds a subtle earthy flavor to the chili in addition to thickening it up. You can use white or yellow cornmeal that is fine to medium-grain.

How do you thicken white chili without cornstarch? ›

Cornmeal: Add a tablespoon of cornmeal or masa harina while stirring continuously. Mashed Beans: Mash a portion of the beans and stir them into the chili to thicken it. Crushed Tortilla Chips: Crushed tortilla chips can also be added as a thickening agent.

Is it better to thicken chili with flour or cornstarch? ›

Add cornstarch or all-purpose flour: Cornstarch and all-purpose flour are common thickening agents that you might already have on hand in your pantry. Adding flour directly into the chili will create lumps. Instead, make a slurry by mixing one tablespoon of cold water with one tablespoon of cornstarch.

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