Turkey Chili

By Pierre Franey

Updated Dec. 29, 2025

Turkey Chili
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.
Total Time
50 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Rating
5(23,173)
Comments
Read comments

You might not think of chili as an easy weeknight dish, but this turkey version from Pierre Franey will change your mind. It's fabulous, it's healthy and it can be cooked in about a half hour. A combination of dark and white meat really adds depth and richness of flavor, so try to find a mix, but all white meat (or a mixture of ground beef and turkey) will yield a stellar batch too.

Featured in: 60-Minute Gourmet

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:About 6 servings
  • 1tablespoon olive oil
  • 2pounds ground turkey, white and dark meat combined
  • 2cups coarsely chopped onions
  • 2tablespoons chopped garlic
  • 1large sweet red pepper, cored, deveined and coarsely chopped
  • 1cup chopped celery
  • 1jalapeño, cored, deveined and finely chopped
  • 1tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped, or 1 tablespoon dried
  • 2bay leaves
  • 3tablespoons chili powder
  • 2teaspoons ground cumin
  • 3cups canned diced tomatoes
  • 2cups chicken broth, fresh or canned
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 2(15-ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained
  • 2cups shredded Cheddar
  • 1cup sour cream (optional)
  • Sliced lime, for garnish (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

765 calories; 38 grams fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 12 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 58 grams carbohydrates; 15 grams dietary fiber; 16 grams sugars; 56 grams protein; 1690 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oil over high in a large heavy pot and add the turkey meat. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, chopping down and stirring with the side of a heavy kitchen spoon to break up any lumps.

  2. Step 2

    Add the onions, garlic, sweet pepper, celery, jalapeño, oregano, bay leaves, chili powder and cumin. Stir to blend well. Cook for 5 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Add the drained beans and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes longer. Serve in bowls with Cheddar, and sour cream and lime wedges, if desired.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

5 out of 5
23,173 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

Irene

Added my Chili Friends:
1/4 tsp. Espresso powder (or cocoa powder)
1/2 tsp: coriander, Chipotle powder, cinnamon
1 heaping Tbs. Brown sugar

I'm a fan of celery, provides wonderful flavor...include the small stalks with leaves.

Max

I saute the onions, then garlic, then celery and pepper before adding the turkey, and use a bottle of beer instead of the stock.

Anne H

Is this recipe referring to cooked turkey, as in thanksgiving leftovers? Or ground turkey?

Jen

I added 2 poblanos, 1 c. chopped carrot, and an extra red pepper to up the veggies. I used Gebdhart's chili powder because I like their flavor the best. I didn't add any liquid. I also sauteed the veggies first and then added the meat.

Lizmari

This was really good. I had to modify it to use what ingredients I had. I only had 1 pound of turkey so I halved a lot of the measurements. I also added a few tablespoons of homemade Puerto Ricano sofrito as my base when cooking the turkey. There was a lot of flavor with the mix of the herbs and seasonings. I'll definitely make this again.

Jan

This chili was very, very bland. I followed others’ suggestions on additional spices. In the end, I finally added a packet of store bought chili seasoning in an attempt to add flavor. I also added paprika, a carrot and an additional pepper. I should have also followed the advice about using one cup of broth instead of two. I added two, but it turned into more of a soup than a chili.

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.