When the weather cools down, it’s time to break out the slow cooker! There is just nothing like coming in from the cold and having a nice, hot meal ready to go at your fingertips.
Where I live in Western New York, we get absolutely buried in snow for months on end. After clearing off my car and shoveling for the hundredth time, nothing makes my heart happier than a nice hot bowl of turkey chili made in the slow cooker.
It warms the soul from the inside out. This hearty turkey chili is filled with wholesome veggies, rich seasoning, and protein-packed beans.
The best part is, it’s really easy to make and the slow cooker does most of the work for you!
One batch feeds the whole family and then some. It’s freezer-friendly, so you can save the leftovers for a rainy day, which makes it perfect for a busy week!
How To Make My Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Ingredients:
- 2 lbs of ground turkey
- 28 oz (2 cans) of diced tomatoes
- 8 oz of tomato sauce
- 1 can of dark red kidney beans
- 1 can of light red kidney beans
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 large onion
- 3 tbsp of chili powder
- 2 tsp of Adobo seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tbsp of minced garlic
- Hot sauce to taste (I usually start with ¼ cup and add more if needed)
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Directions:
1. START OFF BY COOKING AND DRAINING THE TURKEY.
I know, I know. The slow cooker is supposed to do the cooking for you. And it can, but putting ground beef or turkey in the slow cooker without cooking it first causes all of the grease that would normally be drained to get mixed into your meal.
At this point, you can add additional seasoning to the meat, but I highly recommend buying pre-seasoned Festive Italian Style Ground Turkey because it’s packed with flavor and lets you skip a step!
2. PUT THE TURKEY AND THE CANNED GOODS IN THE SLOW COOKER.
This is one of the easiest parts of making chili. As long as you have a good can-opener, you can pretty much just open the cans and dump them in.
Just make sure to rinse off the dark and light red kidney beans before adding them in. You don’t want to put all of the juice and oil they come in, into your slow cooker turkey chili.
3. CHOP UP THE PEPPER AND ONION, AND TOSS THEM IN THE SLOW COOKER.
I normally opt for green bell pepper, but I will also use red, yellow, or orange if I already have it in the fridge. No sense buying another pepper if you already have one that is going to do the job just as well.
4. SPRINKLE IN THE SEASONING.
This is where all of the flavor comes in!
Don’t be afraid to be generous with the hot sauce (unless you really don’t like spicy foods). A lot of it will mellow out as it cooks down.
5. MIX IT ALL UP, THEN SET IT AND FORGET IT.
Once everything is in the slow cooker, stir it very well until it’s fully mixed. Then simply put the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours.
TIP: To save time on a busy morning, make the turkey and put everything together in the slow cooker the night before, then refrigerate overnight. That way, you can just turn it on before you leave and you don’t have to worry about it!
This Wifi-enabled slow-cooker from Black + Decker is also a game-changer because you can start, stop, and adjust the slow cooker right from your phone, wherever you are!
6. SERVE AND ENJOY!
That’s all. It’s really that easy!
For a little extra splash of flavor, I sometimes like to top it off with shredded cheese and oyster crackers, but it’s great on its own too!
Simply cook and drain the turkey, toss all of the canned goods and veggies to the slow cooker, add in some spices and stir. The slow cooker does all of the rest.
Try this easy slow cooker turkey chili recipe on cold and busy winter day and let me know how you liked it!
- 2 lbs Ground Turkey
- 28 oz Diced Tomotoes
- 8 oz Tomato Sauce
- 1 can Dark Red Kidney Beans rinsed & drained
- 1 can Light Red Kidney Beans rinsed & drained
- 1 Bell Pepper chopped or diced
- 1 Large Onion chopped or diced
- 3 tbsp Chili Powder
- 2 tsp Adobo Seasoning or garlic powder
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
- Hot Sauce to taste
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Cook and drain the ground turkey
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Put cooked turkey, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans, pepper, onion, and seasonings in the slow cooker
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Stir until everything is fully mixed
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Cook on low for 6-8 hours in the slow cooker
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