White Turkey Chili

This gorgeous white turkey chili is perfect for anyone who loves hearty, warming meals that actually make you feel good about what you’re eating! Your family will absolutely love how this healthy twist on classic chili delivers amazing flavor while keeping things light and nutritious.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Cook Time: 40 minutes, Additional Time: 50 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes, Serves: 6 people (about 1 1/2 cups each).

Nutrition Profile: Diabetes-Friendly, Dairy-Free, Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Aging, Healthy Immunity, Low-Sodium, High Blood Pressure, High-Fiber, Heart-Healthy, High-Protein, Low-Calorie.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 350 Calories, 14g Fat, 38g Carbs, 28g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Extra-virgin olive oil: You’ll need 3 tablespoons of olive oil, or you can use canola or avocado oil if that’s what you have. This helps brown the turkey beautifully and adds great flavor to the base.

Ground turkey: One pound of 93%-lean ground turkey keeps this chili light but still super satisfying. The lean turkey is perfect for soaking up all those amazing spices!

Onion: One large onion, diced up, gives you that sweet, savory foundation every great chili needs. Yellow or white onions work perfectly here.

Garlic: Four cloves minced up will fill your kitchen with the most amazing smell. Fresh garlic makes such a difference in this recipe!

Zucchini: Two medium zucchini, diced into about 3 1/2 cups, add gorgeous green flecks and extra nutrition. They get perfectly tender and blend right into the chili.

Bulgur: Half a cup of bulgur wheat boosts the fiber and makes this chili extra hearty. It’s like a secret ingredient that makes everything more filling!

Dried oregano: Two tablespoons give this chili that classic, comforting herb flavor. You can smell it getting fragrant in the pot!

Ground cumin: Four teaspoons of cumin bring that warm, earthy taste that makes chili taste like chili. It’s absolutely essential for the best flavor.

Ground coriander: Half a teaspoon adds a subtle, lemony note that brightens up all the other spices beautifully.

White pepper: Half a teaspoon keeps the heat mild while adding just the right amount of warmth.

Salt: Just a quarter teaspoon since we’re keeping this low-sodium and healthy.

White beans: Two 15-ounce cans of no-salt-added white beans, rinsed and drained, make this chili creamy and protein-packed.

Green chiles: Two 4-ounce cans of green chiles (mild or hot, your choice!) add that perfect southwestern flavor and beautiful color.

Chicken broth: Four cups of reduced-sodium chicken broth create the perfect base for simmering everything together.

How to Make White Turkey Chili

Step 1: Heat your oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey, onion, and garlic all at once. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until it’s no longer pink.

Step 2: Toss in the diced zucchini and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. You’ll see the zucchini starting to get tender and shrink down a bit.

Step 3: Add the bulgur, oregano, cumin, coriander, white pepper, and salt. Stir everything together and cook for just 30 seconds to 1 minute until it smells absolutely amazing.

Step 4: Stir in the white beans and green chiles, then pour in all the chicken broth. Bring everything to a nice rolling boil.

Easy and Quick White Turkey Chili Version

If you’re in a hurry, you can totally make this faster! After adding the broth in step 4, reduce the liquid by half and simmer for just 20 to 25 minutes instead. You’ll still get amazing flavor, just not quite as deep and rich as the longer version.

Serving Ideas

This chili is pretty much a complete meal all by itself! Serve it with some crusty bread or warm tortillas on the side. A simple green salad with lime vinaigrette makes a perfect fresh contrast to the warm, hearty chili.

Storage

You can cover and refrigerate this chili for up to 3 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months. To reheat, just warm it gently on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.

Substitutions

No bulgur? You can use quinoa or brown rice instead – just adjust the cooking time as needed. Ground chicken works great in place of turkey. If you can’t find white beans, cannellini or great northern beans are perfect swaps!

Pro Tips

Don’t skip the simmering time: That long, slow simmer really develops the best flavor and lets all the ingredients get to know each other.
Taste and adjust: Add more cumin or chiles to suit your family’s taste preferences.
Make it ahead: This chili actually tastes even better the next day after all the flavors have had time to meld together.
Freeze in portions: Divide into single-serving containers for easy weeknight meals later.

FAQs

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

You bet! Brown the turkey, onion, and garlic in a skillet first, then transfer everything to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. The bulgur will get perfectly tender and all the flavors will be amazing.

Is this chili spicy?

Not really – it’s pretty mild! The white pepper and green chiles give it just a gentle warmth. If you want more heat, go with the hot green chiles or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Can I use ground beef instead of turkey?

Sure! Lean ground beef works great, though it will change the nutrition profile a bit. You’ll get a slightly richer flavor, which is delicious too.

What if I don’t have bulgur?

No worries! You can use quinoa, brown rice, or even skip the grain entirely. Just adjust the liquid and cooking time accordingly – quinoa cooks faster than bulgur.

I hope you and your family absolutely love this healthy white turkey chili! It’s become such a favorite in my kitchen, and I’d love to hear how it turns out for you. Drop me a comment and let me know what you think!