The Best Three Bean Turkey Chili

Hearty, healthy, and bursting with flavor…this Three Bean Turkey Chili is a family favorite. The assortment of rich spices and thick texture is an incredibly enticing combination. Packed with protein and fiber, this satisfying meal is perfect for dinners and school lunches. Chili used to be something you would eat when it’s cold outside…with this recipe you will want to eat it year round!

What you need to make The Best Three Bean Turkey Chili:

For a healthier option to red meat, we eat lots of ground turkey in our house. Ground turkey is a very lean protein, and because of this, it lacks flavor. Typically with protein, higher fat means more flavor. To offset this we use a bouquet of spices, herbs and chopped vegetables. And while turkey meat is certainly not beef, with the extra addition of a beef base and Worcestershire sauce, the end result comes pretty close.

How to make The Best Three Bean Turkey Chili:

BROWN IT: In a large (at least 5 quarts) pot over medium high heat, add olive oil. Once the oil is heated, add the ground turkey meat to the pot. Cook until all of the water has evaporated from the meat and it starts to brown.

SPICE IT: Once the meat is brown, add onion and garlic to the pot and sauté for 5 minutes until the onions have softened. Add your dry spices: salt, cumin, coriander, oregano, ancho chili powder and stir to combine. Add your wet spices: chipotle chili in adobo sauce and Worcestershire sauce, sauté for 2-3 minutes. Next, add 2 cups of water or broth to deglaze the pot. Deglazing is simply adding liquid to the pot to release the caramelized bits stuck to the bottom. Then add the crushed tomatoes, beef base, beans, tomato paste, molasses and corn, stir to combine.

SIMMER IT: Add an additional cup of water or broth to the pot and bring to a simmer. Leaving the lid slightly ajar, let simmer for 40 minutes while turning occasionally. With 20 minutes left, add the peppers and adjust seasoning to taste. For additional texture, I like adding the peppers in halfway through cooking, that way they stay intact instead of disintegrating into the chili. Once done, roughly chop half a bunch of cilantro (stem included) and stir to combine.

We love to pair this Three Bean Turkey Chili with these Cornbread Muffins – they go perfect together!

Including beans in your diet:

It is well documented how important beans are and that they are a tremendous source of protein for the human body. For people who follow the way people eat in Blue Zones (Blue Zones represent the places where people statistically live the longest), beans represent the consummate superfood. We try to replace some of the animal proteins in many of our dishes by adding in beans as much as we can.