Turkey Chili

Guilt-Free Turkey Chili

This week I wanted to focus on making healthy dinners since I apparently enjoyed my Thanksgiving dinner a little too much (according to my scale!) What better meal to have then a hearty bowl of turkey chili?

This recipe is quick, easy, and quite tasty. Use extra lean ground turkey (I like Jennie-O) to help cut back on the fat content. I know the extra lean isn't as flavorful than regular turkey, but I honestly didn't notice the difference in this dish. The turkey chili is also pretty “mild” in the spicy department. Perfect for me, but I am a wimp when it comes to really hot food! Feel free to spice it up a bit by adding more chili powder or a hot pepper :) XOXO....little j Y

Turkey Chili

Adapted from: Cooking Light Magazine, Sept 2010

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 cup red onion, diced (about ½ of an onion)

1 poblano pepper, seeded and diced

1 tsp garlic, minced

1 ¼ lb ground turkey (extra lean)

salt & pepper, to taste

1 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp ground cumin

3 tbsp tomato paste

1 (14.5 oz) can of cannellini beans, rinsed & drained

1 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes

1 (14.5 oz) can of diced fire roasted tomatoes

1 (32 oz) container of fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth

½ cup chopped cilantro (optional, but highly recommended)

light sour cream (optional)

low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)

*Makes about 10 cups (approximately)

*145 cals/cup; 2.4 grams fat/cup (approximately)

*Keep track of your caloric intake using WebMD's Food Calorie Calculator

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add red onion, poblano pepper, garlic, salt and pepper. Let cook for about 5 minutes. Add the turkey and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until turkey is done. Use a wooden spoon to smash turkey into smaller crumb-like pieces.

Next, add the chili powder, oregano, ground cumin, tomato paste, beans, tomatoes, and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add more salt & pepper as needed. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20-30 minutes. The longer you let it simmer, the better it will taste.

Step 1

Step 2

Tip: Don’t want to waste the leftover tomato paste?

Step 1: Get a square of saran wrap and place the rest of your tomato paste in the center. 

Step 2: Wrap & freeze. When ready to use, just cut off a chunk of the frozen paste.

Serve Turkey Chili with a dollop of light sour cream & a sprinkle of chopped fresh cilantro. Low-fat shredded cheddar cheese or crumbled crackers are other great additions.