Leftover Turkey Chili

Why This is the Best Homemade Turkey Chili

A tasty way to use up all that leftover Thanksgiving turkey

The perfect blend of spices elevates the beans and meat in the best way. Paprika gives it a smoky flavor, and the cayenne pepper and cumin add lots of heat.

Make it all year long by subbing the leftover turkey with either rotisserie chicken, ground turkey, or chicken.

Control the heat by using mild salsa and by cutting back on the cayenne pepper and the amount of green chiles used

Uses easy-to-find ingredients you probably already have in your pantry

Ingredients

• Leftover Turkey or Chicken - ground turkey or chicken can also be used
• Olive Oil
• Onion
• Canned Chopped Green Chilies
• Garlic
• Chicken Stock
• Chili Powder
• Ground Cumin
• Dried Oregano
• Paprika
• Cayenne pepper - can eliminate if you like your chili with less heat
• Salt
• Ground Black Pepper
• Canned Kidney Beans - black beans can be subbed for some of the kidney beans
• Salsa

Turkey Chili Spices for Additional Flavor

• Want spicer chili? Add some extra turkey chili seasoning such as cayenne pepper, red chili flakes, sriracha, or fresh jalapeño.
• For smoky turkey chili, substitute regular paprika with smoked paprika or add a tablespoon of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

How to Make Turkey Chili

Making Dutch oven turkey chili on the stovetop is super easy. Don't have a Dutch oven? Use a large pot with at least a 3-quart capacity.

1. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot. Add onions, green chiles, and garlic.
2. Saute for 5 minutes.
3. Pour in chicken stock.
4. Add turkey, beans, and salsa.
5. Sprinkle in spices.
6. Stir, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 15-30 minutes.

Don't you feel warmer just looking at that steaming bowl of chili? That first bite will win you over! Rich and satisfying, this leftover turkey chili tastes nothing like leftovers! Enjoy!

Turkey Chili in a CrockPot

• In a skillet over medium-high heat, saute the onions, green chilies, and garlic in olive oil until the onions are translucent.
• Transfer the cooked vegetables to the Crockpot.
• Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
• Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours.

Instant Pot Turkey Chili

1. Cook the onions, chilis, and garlic in olive oil using the SAUTE setting.
2. Add the remaining ingredients.
3. Seal the Instant Pot.
4. Cook on manual HIGH pressure for 10 minutes.
5. Perform a natural release for 10 minutes then a quick release.

How to Thicken Chili

Do you want thicker chili? You can thicken chili in several ways:

• If the chili has beans, you can use a potato masher to mash some of the beans.
• Add a tablespoon of cornmeal and stir it in. Note this will give the chili a slightly gritty texture similar to crumbling cornbread into it.
• Add a few crushed tortilla chips and simmer the chili for about 10 minutes.
• For every 3 cups of chili, combine 1 tablespoon each of masa harina and water in a small bowl and stir until dissolved. Add this masa slurry to the chili and stir it in.

This is a deliciously quick dinner that is on the table in less than 30 minutes. I served mine with my Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins and everyone loved it. And I even served it over a baked sweet potato for lunch the next day and it was divine.

Recipe Variations

One awesome thing about chili is how it is so versatile. You can swap out ingredients or add some to customize it to your taste and preferences. Here are some ideas:

Ground Turkey Chili

Don't have leftover turkey? Brown ground turkey first then prepare the recipe with it as directed.

Turkey Chili with Other Beans

Not a fan of kidney beans? Substitute them with black beans, white beans, pinto beans, or garbanzo beans (chickpeas). You could use chili beans but be aware they will change the flavor.

You can also make turkey lentil chili with lentils. Omit the beans and simply stir in a cup of dried lentils and an additional 2 cups of stock or water cook the chili until they are done. Add more liquid if the chili is too thick.

Another option is quinoa turkey chili. Substitute the beans with a cup of quinoa and add another cup of chicken stock. Add more liquid if the chili is too thick.

Beanless Turkey Chili

If you don't care for beans or believe that beans have no place in chili, just leave them out. Turkey chili without beans is perfectly fine.

Veggie Turkey Chili

Make turkey chili with vegetables for an even heartier and more flavorful meal:

• Butternut Squash Turkey Chili - Add 2 cups of diced butternut squash and cook until fork-tender.
• Pumpkin Turkey Chili - Either stir in 1 or 2 cups of pumpkin puree or diced pumpkin. If using diced pumpkin, cook until fork-tender.
• Sweet Potato Turkey Chili - Add 2 cups of diced sweet potatoes and cook until fork-tender.
• Turkey Chili with Corn - Add 1½ cups of corn kernels.
• Turkey Chili with Zucchini - Add 1½ cups of chopped zucchini.
• Turkey Poblano Chili - Substitute the canned green chilies with chopped fresh poblano peppers.

How to Serve Turkey Chili

• Over Rice or Quinoa - brown rice would make it really hearty
• Over Spaghetti - makes a tasty Turkey Cincinnati Chili aka Hoosier Chili
• Over Pasta or Noodles - pick your favorite!
• Over Salad - makes a yummy Mexican Taco Chili Salad
• Over Fritos - a Frito chili pie with cheese and onions is quite tasty
• With or Over Cornbread - for a southern way to enjoy it
• With or Over Tortilla Chips - to add some crunch

Oh, and check out this healthy Frito Chili Casserole made with turkey chili.

Turkey Chili Toppings

There are so many! Just look at the possible goodies to top the chili:

• Cheese - Cheddar, Mexican Blend, Pepper Jack, or Queso Fresco
• Sour Cream
• Plain Yogurt
• Chopped Avocado or Guacamole
• Chopped Onion or Scallions
• Diced Tomatoes
• Black Olives
• Chopped Fresh Cilantro
• Crushed Tortilla Chips
• Sliced Jalapenos

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat

Store turkey chili leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze chili in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.

Reheat chili in a pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. You can also place chili in a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with parchment or wax paper because it may spatter, and microwave in 30-second to 1-minute increments, stirring between each, until heated through.

More Chili and Hearty Soup Recipes

Slow Cooker Mexican Chili is another spicy chili that's perfect for a cold day.

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup with shredded chicken.

Chicken Corn Chowder with potatoes is deliciously creamy.

Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup with pasta has a rich flavor from bone broth.

Find lots more delicious and easy soup recipes here on 2CM!