• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Delicious Table ® logo

  • All Recipes
  • Holiday Recipes
    • July 4th, Memorial, & Labor Day
    • Halloween Party Food
    • Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes
    • Christmas Recipes
    • New Year's Eve Recipes
    • Superbowl Party & Game Day Food
    • Valentine's Day Recipes
    • St. Patrick's Day Recipes
    • Easter Recipes
    • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
    • Mother's Day Recipes
  • Party Food
    • Cookout Foods
    • BBQ And Grilling
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Game Day Food
    • Appetizers & Snacks
  • Shop Kitchen Collection
  • Lisa Hatfield’s Bio
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ALL RECIPES
  • COOKING TOOLS
  • WELCOME TO DT!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ALL RECIPES
    • COOKING TOOLS
    • WELCOME TO DT!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Easy Dinner Recipe Ideas

    Turkey Chili With Black Beans

    Published: February 24, 2022 | Last Updated: January 4, 2024 | Lisa 1 Comment
    This post may contain affiliate links.

    62 shares
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Email
    • X
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    White bowls of turkey chili topped with cheese, sour cream, and green onions.

    Last Updated January 4th, 2024 at 11:31 pm by Lisa

    Earning years of rave reviews, this one ranks in the all-time family favorites. This Turkey Black Bean Chili Recipe has earned the title of a great recipe. I have made and handed it out countless times over the years.

    People love that you can make it in a slow cooker, a crockpot, or on the stovetop. A simple recipe for an easy dinner or party food idea to serve a crowd on big game days.

    Whip up a big batch and top with cool sour cream. One of my favorite parts is the mixed the cheese and onions. Bake up some cornbread muffins, and you have warm cozy comfort food in a bowl...

    Pin

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Only one pot to clean.
    • Cook on the stove!
    • An easy slow cooker turkey chili recipe.
    • It's a healthy turkey chili.
    • An easy weeknight dinner.
    • One pot meals save time.
    • An easy turkey chili for beginner cooks.
    • You can make it spicier if you wish.
    • Freeze last night leftovers in an airtight storage container.
    • An easy recipe that is fast to put together.
    • Serve ground turkey chili at parties or on game days.
    • The leftovers are incredible!

    How To Make Turkey Black Bean Chili

    All You Need...

    Pin

    ground turkey: Lean ground turkey is healthier than ground beef and gives a lighter flavor to the chili. You can swap in ground beef or ground chicken if you wish. You can also turn this into a vegetarian chili, just leave out the meat.

    jalapenos: Can add a lot of heat..so go easy if you use a fresh jalapeño. I recommend finely diced canned jalapeños into very small pieces, taste them before adding. Watch the heat scale on the side of the can. Add just a tablespoon or so. You could also swap in chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for some smoky flavor. Another idea is to add ancho chili powder, but it can run really spicy so taste it first and add tiny small amounts. If the whole family doesn't like it spicy, you could just add some sweet orange bell pepper or red bell peppers.

    butter: It is one of my top cooking secrets to building a winning flavor profile when sauteing onions, but you can swap in a tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil in its place.

    Delicious Table logo
    Join Our List

    And receive a free Cookout Planner as our thank you!

    beer: This is optional, if you don't want beer in the chili, it will be just as delicious. But a pub-style lager beer (try English Boddingtons if you can find it) adds something special and might just be my secret ingredient. You can leave it out or add an equal amount of chicken broth or stock.

    black beans: Drain the beans, you don't have to rinse them but can if you wish. I prefer the size of black beans in this recipe, but you can substitute other types of canned beans like pinto beans, navy, or kidney beans.

    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 2 cups yellow diced onion (2 medium or 1 large onion)
    • 3 pound ground turkey package
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
    • 3 tablespoons regular chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon of sea salt
    • 28 oz organic cans of tomatoes undrained
    • 1 tomato paste
    • 1 small can of green chilies (low heat)
    • 2 organic black beans drained
    • 12 ounces good beer Lagers give rich flavor-I use Boddington's or Longboard

    Toppings

    One of my favorite ways to eat a hot bowl of black bean turkey chili is to load on the toppings!

    • grated cheese - Mexican 4 cheese blend
    • sliced green onions
    • sour cream
    • tortilla chips
    Pin
    Pin

    Turkey Chili Recipe Instructions

    1. In a regular slow cooker, simply add the butter and onions to the bottom of the pan. If you have a slow-cooker with the sauté function, turn it on medium-high heat or are using a large pot, saute the diced onion in butter until just turning brown scraping up the brown bits with a wooden spoon. This is not necessary but adds great flavor.
    2. Next, add all 7 spices (cayenne, chile powder, garlic powder, cumin, crushed red pepper, black pepper, sea salt) to the onions, and stir for 2-3 minutes.
    3. Add ground turkey, tomato paste, beer, tomatoes, green chiles, and black beans. Stir to combine.
    4. Cook for 4 hours on low in Slow Cooker. Stir once an hour. Or cook on high for 2 hours, stir once an hour.
    5. Stovetop: In a large pot, saute onions and 7 spices, brown ground turkey, add tomato paste, beer, tomatoes, green chilis, and black beans. Cover and cook for 1 hour on medium heat.
    6. Stir and serve in soup bowls with grated cheese, sour cream, green onions, and tortilla chips.
    Pin
    Pin

    A Word On Slow Cookers/Crockpots

    For years I owned an inexpensive ceramic crockpot that finally wore out. I replaced it, and learned that slow cookers have come a long way!

    PRO TIP: Buy a slow cooker that has a browning saute function. What a game-changer. I upgraded to a Wolf Gourmet Multi-Cooker with a stainless lining. I love it, and it offers many other features like sous vide. But it is pricy, there are many models available now. The stainless lining was a priority so I chose this one. I LOVE to saute onions and spices first before adding all the other ingredients into recipes. I believe it is a great way to build a strong flavor profile, making you one heck of a good cook!

    Pin

    Turkey Chili Crockpot FAQ

    Can chili be frozen?

    Yes! Cool the traditional turkey chili down safely in the refrigerator and scoop it into serving portions in freezer zip-top bags or containers.

    How do you thicken chili?

    The best way is to remove the lid while on a heat source to reduce the liquid.
    Another way is to add a can of refried beans! It brings in more flavor and thickens your chili.

    What Goes With Turkey Chili?

    Everyone loves a hot bowl of turkey chili covered in toppings. Here are some great new ways to enjoy chili
    -Put a huge dollop into a steamy hot baked potato with cheese and sour cream.
    -Make an omelet and add in chili for a delicious breakfast.
    -Thicken the chili with a can of beans, mix in some cheese and serve with tortilla chips for a hot dip.
    -Put a layer of chili on your hot dog with cheese, onions, and more toppings for a chili dog.
    -Layer hot chili onto your hamburger for one messy delicious dinner!
    -Put a layer of chili on top of creamy mashed potatoes, and bake until hot and bubbly, add some grated cheddar cheese in the last few minutes to melt all over.

    More Slow Cooker Recipes

    These Slow Cooker recipes and Crock-Pot Dinners will have your friends and family serving seconds.

    Cowboy Baked Beans are a top reader favorite party food side to serve for family gatherings, potlucks, and the holidays!

    Chicken Gnocchi Soup is so easy to put together and a hearty dinner recipe. Loaded with creamy shredded chicken, vegetables, and gnocchi which are soft puffy "Italian dumplings".

    Hot Dog Chili is so easy. Learn my hack to make it nice and thick so it loads on Grilled Hot Dogs and stays! Slow Cooker Pulled Pork made with pork loin is so juicy, top with coleslaw, pickle chips, and tangy BBQ sauce all on a golden bun.

    • A large white spoon scooping a serving of cowboy baked beans out of a casserole dish.
      Cowboy Beans
    • A white bowl full of Chicken Gnocchi Soup with a silver spoon and bread nearby.
      Chicken Gnocchi Soup
    • A game day food table with chili dogs loaded with relish, cheese, and onions.
      Hot Dog Chili
    • Red white check paper lined basked holding a pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw.
      Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

    CRAVING MORE?

    Did you love this recipe? We would love to hear from you! If you make this recipe and love it, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Delicious Table with my free newsletter and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

    A bowl of turkey chili topped with sour cream, grated cheese, and green onions with corn bread muffins.Pin
    Print Pin Recipe

    Turkey Chili With Black Beans Recipe

    Turkey Chili with Black Beans can be made in a slow cooker, crockpot, or stovetop. An all-time family favorite with years of rave reviews!
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 4 hours hours
    Total Time 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Servings 10
    Calories 206kcal
    Author Lisa Hatfield

    Equipment

    Slow Cooker / Crock Pot
    Cast Iron Dutch Oven
    Chef Knife
    Epicurean Non-Slip Cutting Board
    Wolf Gourmet Multi Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 2 cups diced yellow onions 2 medium onions
    • 3 lbs ground turkey
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
    • 3 tablespoons chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 28 oz organic tomatoes undrained
    • 1 tomato paste
    • 1 small can green chilis low heat
    • 2 organic black beans drained
    • 12 ounces good lager beer

    Toppings:

    • grated cheese - Mexican 4 cheese blend
    • sliced green onions
    • sour cream
    • tortilla chips
    US Customary - Metric
    Get Recipe Ingredients
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a regular slow cooker, simple add the butter and onions. If you have a slow-cooker with the saute setting or are using a large pot, saute diced onions in butter until just turning brown. This is not necessary, but adds great flavor
    • Next add all 7 spices (cayenne, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, crushed red pepper, black pepper, sea salt) to the onions, and stir for 2-3 minutes.
    • Add ground turkey, tomato paste, beer, tomatoes, green chiles, and black beans. Stir to combine.
    • Cook for 4 hours on low in Slow Cooker. Stir once an hour. Or cook on high for 2 hours, stir once an hour.
    • Stovetop: In a large pot, saute onions and 7 spices, brown ground turkey, add tomato paste, beer, tomatoes, green chilis, and black beans. Cover and cook 1 hour on medium-low heat.
    • Stir and serve in bowls with grated cheese, sour cream, green onions, and tortilla chips.

    Notes

    ground turkey: Lean ground turkey is healthier than ground beef and gives a lighter flavor to the chili. You can swap in ground beef or ground chicken if you wish. You can also turn this into a vegetarian chili, just leave out the meat.

    jalapenos: Can add a lot of heat..so go easy if you use a fresh jalapeño. I recommend finely diced canned jalapeños into very small pieces, taste them before adding. Watch the heat scale on the side of the can. Add just a tablespoon or so. You could also swap in chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for some smoky flavor. Another idea is to add ancho chili powder, but it can run really spicy so taste it first and add tiny small amounts. If the whole family doesn't like it spicy, you could just add some sweet orange bell pepper or red bell peppers.

    butter: It is one of my top cooking secrets to building a winning flavor profile when sauteing onions, but you can swap in a tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil in its place.

    beer: Is optional, if you don't want beer in the chili, it will be just as delicious. But a pub-style lager beer adds something special and might just be my secret ingredient. You can leave it out or add an equal amount of chicken broth or stock.

    black beans: Drain the beans, you don't have to rinse them but can if you wish. I prefer the size of black beans in this recipe, but you can substitute other types of canned beans like pinto beans, navy, or kidney beans.

     

    freezing chili

    Cool the chili down safely in the refrigerator and scoop into serving portions in freezer zip-top bags or containers. Defrost in the refrigerator or pop into a pan with some water and reheat on medium-low. 

    serving ideas

    Serve with toppings of grated cheese, green onions, sour cream, and tortilla chips. Other sides to serve with chili are Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins are simple to make with only 3 ingredients. The BEST Macaroni Salad with chopped eggs, pickles, and pickle juice in this old-fashioned recipe loved by all. Make a huge batch, it's always a hit! Or the VERY BEST Potato Salad with crispy bacon, blue cheese, crisp celery and green onions.

    thicker chili

    The best way is to remove the lid of the slow cooker or pot on the stove while on a heat source to reduce the liquid. Another way is to add a can of refried beans! It brings in more flavor and thickens your chili.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 10g | Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 404mg | Potassium: 632mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 924IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
    Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessica Robinson says

      January 29, 2021 at 3:29 pm

      5 stars
      Now that we are eating a healthier this chili recipe is perfect! Packed with plenty of flavor and so good on a cold winter day!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    MEET LISA

    Hey Everyone! I've been cooking passionately for over 30 years with professional culinary training and thousands of recipes in my collection. Let's get cooking! ♥

    Find out more →

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    MOST POPULAR RECIPES

    • A white ceramic dog dish that says woof filled with homemade dog food.
      Homemade Dog Food Recipes (30+ Ideas!)
    • A white plate full of taco salad topped with taco meat, grated cheese, Fritos, sour cream, black olives and tomatoes.
      Easy Taco Salad
    • Lifting out a piece of breakfast casserole from a white baking dish with a serving utensil from the strata.
      Pizza Strata Breakfast Casserole
    • A loaf of sliced bread filled with a cheesy mixture to make a pull apart crack bread recipe.
      Chile Cheese Pull Apart Bread
    • A large spoon holding a scoop of hot potato casserole serving it for dinner.
      Cheesy Potato Casserole
    • A collage of many colorful side dishes to make during cookout season including potluck salads, baked beans, fruit salad, summer desserts and more.
      30+ Cookout Side Dish Ideas

    ALL READER FAVES ►

    FALL RECIPES

    • A ceramic dish full of golden brown roast pumpkin seeds.
      Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
    • Dozens of pictures of 200 Halloween recipes including adult drinks, appetizers, treats, snacks, desserts for kids and families all with a Halloween theme.
      200+ Best Halloween Recipes
    • Apple Crisp in a red bowl with a silver spoon, ice cream, and drizzled with caramel sauce.
      Apple Crisp
    • Slices of green Granny Smith apples around a white dish with a sweet dessert dip inside a low small white dish with a ruffled edge, and a piece of apple sticking into the dip.
      Caramel Apple Dip
    • A large jar filled with apple pie filling with a lid and bow.
      Apple Pie Recipe Filling
    • A white pie dish with a slice of apple crumble pie, also known as a dutch apple pie with a crumbled topping and green apples in the background in a wood bowl.
      Dutch Apple Pie

    Footer

    Most Popular "Reader Favorite" Recipes

    A white ceramic dog dish that says woof filled with homemade dog food.

    Homemade Dog Food Recipes (30+ Ideas!)

    A white plate full of taco salad topped with taco meat, grated cheese, Fritos, sour cream, black olives and tomatoes.

    Easy Taco Salad

    Lifting out a piece of breakfast casserole from a white baking dish with a serving utensil from the strata.

    Pizza Strata Breakfast Casserole

    A loaf of sliced bread filled with a cheesy mixture to make a pull apart crack bread recipe.

    Chile Cheese Pull Apart Bread

    A large spoon holding a scoop of hot potato casserole serving it for dinner.

    Cheesy Potato Casserole

    A collage of many colorful side dishes to make during cookout season including potluck salads, baked beans, fruit salad, summer desserts and more.

    30+ Cookout Side Dish Ideas

    A square collage of colorful grilled food, side dishes, desserts, and drink recipes to serve at an outdoor bbq cookout.

    75+ Cookout Recipes & BBQ Party Ideas

    Marinated mozzarella balls in a beige ceramic dish with appetizer toothpicks.

    Marinated Mozzarella Balls

    A white casserole dish with oven roasted pulled pork shredded and ready to eat in tacos or a recipe for dinner.

    Oven Roasted Pulled Pork

    A grilled burger loaded with toppings and served at a cookout in paper lined plastic baskets.

    42 Amazing Burger Sides For Cookouts

    Tea sandwiches stacked on a 3 tiered glass tray at a tea party with assorted fillings and flavors.

    Tea Sandwiches

    A white casserole dish filled with mashed potatoes and squares of melted butter on top.

    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

    A large glass clamp jar filled with pickled eggs, fresh jalapeno slices, and spices.

    Jalapeno Pickled Eggs Recipe

    A large pork loin roast with a lot of dry rub seasoning pouring over the top.

    The Best BBQ Dry Rub

    Mexican pickled red onions in a clamp jar and white bowl with chiles and limes on a colorful striped cloth.

    Mexican Pickled Red Onions

    Picnic sandwiches on a red and white check table with sliced sandwiches.

    Picnic Food: Pressed Italian Sandwiches

    A white plate filled with heart shaped lobster ravioli garnished with parsley.

    Lobster Ravioli

    Three golden crispy edged hash browns baked in a muffin tin on cutting board.

    Oven Baked Hash Browns

    A Cinco de Mayo party with frozen margaritas called Coronaritas, guacamole, and chips on a green table.

    CoronaRita Margaritas

    A large white spoon scooping a serving of cowboy baked beans out of a casserole dish.

    Cowboy Beans

    More Delicious Recipes

    PLEASE FOLLOW US!

    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    DELICIOUS TABLE

    • MEET LISA
    • SEE MY WORK! PRESS & DIGITAL MEDIA PUBLICATIONS
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

    POPULAR LINKS

    • EMAIL SIGN-UP newsletters and updates
    • RECIPE INDEX
    • AMAZON STORE As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    LET'S CONNECT

    • PINTEREST
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • YOUTUBE
    • TIKTOK
    • LINKEDIN
    • X / TWITTER

    2024 COPYRIGHT © ♥︎ DELICIOUS TABLE ®️