Southwestern Turkey 5 Bean Chili Recipe (2024)

I’m a sucker for soups, and this Southwestern turkey 5 bean chili is the heartiest of them all! It’s loaded with ground turkey, tasty beans, and veggies that make it a great all-rounder during the cooler months.

Plus, it’s absolutely loaded with protein if you’re looking to keep yourself ticking over for hours! Oh, and you can’t argue with its incredible fiber content either.

To make things even more appealing, this chili contains an amazing 5 beans (hence the name!). Along with pinto, kidney, black, garbanzo, and Great Northern beans, you’ll find so many hidden veggies. From kale to carrots, red pepper, and garlic, this is a surefire winner for busy parents!

Just top it with cheese and sour cream, grab a few tortilla chips, and you’ll have a Southwestern marvel on your hands.

Why You’ll Love This Southwestern Turkey 5 Bean Chili

• It’s packed with protein and veggies for a delicious weeknight meal that ticks several nutritional boxes.
• You can easily make it vegan or vegetarian by removing the ground turkey.
• The vegetable broth, garlic, and onion give the chili an incredible savory base that you’re bound to love.
• It stores like a dream for those busy weeks when you need reliable meal-prep that’ll hold up in the fridge.

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

• Ground turkey: I like using relatively lean turkey as it doesn’t leave too much fat in the pan. If you want to find a decent balance, 7% turkey instead of 5% should work well.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Adds some healthy fat to the mix while you saute the base!
• Yellow onion: For a hint of sweetness that complements the savory base.
• Carrot: I love adding carrot as it’s slightly sweet and complements the other veggies perfectly. Plus, it’s easily hidden if you’re cooking for kiddos!
• Tomato paste: For a touch of acidity that cooks down in the broth beautifully.
• Garlic: Gives the base a classic, savory taste that matches the Southwestern flavor profile perfectly.
• Dried oregano: For a hint of herbiness.
• Chili powder: Be careful here as you don’t want to make your chili too hot. Add it bit by bit to get the best balance for your taste buds.
• Salt: To taste.
• Smoked paprika: Gives the chili a subtle smokiness.
• Kale: This leafy vegetable can be replaced with spinach, but it’s perfect for getting greens into the chili!
• Vegetable broth: Low-sodium is the way to go to keep the salt content down.
• Red pepper: For sweetness and crunch.
• Salsa: I used Pace Picante Sauce, but just use your favorite salsa!
• Diced tomatoes: To give the base of your chili acidity and bite.
• Black beans.
• Kidney beans.
• Garbanzo beans.
• Great Northern beans.
• Pinto beans.
• Corn: For a sweet crunchiness that’s found in virtually every Southwestern recipe.

Steps to Make Southwestern Turkey 5 Bean Chili

• Step One: In a large skillet, brown the turkey meat. Drain any excess fat.
• Step Two: Using the same large skillet you cooked the turkey meat in, heat the olive oil.
• Step Three: Add the chopped onion, garlic and carrots and sauté for 5 minutes or until tender.
• Step Four: Stir in the tomato paste, oregano, chili powder, salt, Paprika and kale. Mix well until all ingredients are combined.

• Step Five: Add the meat and spice mixture into a large pot.
• Step Six: Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well.
• Step Seven: Bring to a boil and then turn to simmer. Cover and cook on medium to medium-low for 45 minutes.
• Step Eight: Top chili with your favorite toppings such as fresh grated cheddar cheese, avocado and sour cream! Serve with crackers, tortilla chips and Frito lays!

Equipment Needed

You don’t need much to create this hearty Southwestern turkey 5 bean chili. But grabbing just a few key pieces of equipment will make this comfort food way easier to whip up! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Non-stick skillet
• Stainless steel measuring cups
• Wooden spoon

What to Serve with Southwestern Turkey 5 Bean Chili

I love serving this dish with a hefty portion of fluffy rice, but these sides are bound to dial things up even further!

• Walking Tacos
• Pizza Dip
• Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Take it easy on the spice and add everything gradually. Although it’s tempting to go heavy on the spice, add it bit by bit to get to the perfect level of spice.
• Low and slow is the key. Don’t over-boil your chili just to get it to reduce. Instead, work with medium-low heat and simmer away until it’s ready. The final texture will be far better and your ingredients won’t be mushy!
• If your chili reduces slightly too quickly, a small amount of water should be enough to bring it back to life. To keep things flavorful, an extra dash of vegetable broth should work too!
• Don’t skip draining the meat. If you leave too much of the fat in the pan, you might give your chili a slightly greasy texture. To avoid this, drain the meat before returning it to the pot.

Variations and Substitutions

• If you want to make this recipe vegan, feel free to remove the turkey and substitute it with a few more beans. If you want the meaty taste and texture, feel free to use a meat substitute like Quorn.
• Although vegetable broth is what I use with this recipe, chicken broth can add an even more intense savory flavor to the turkey.
• You can switch out the veggies for basically anything you want (especially the kale!). Whether you want to use spinach or cavolo nero, the choice is yours!

Storage Instructions

Leftover Southwestern turkey 5 bean chili will keep in the fridge for about 5 days in an airtight container.

When you’re ready to reheat it, you can either place it back on the stove for a few minutes or use the microwave!

Can I Freeze?

You can either freeze this Southwestern turkey 5 bean chili in freezer bags or airtight containers.

If you’re freezing in bags, wait until your chili has cooled before filling each bag with a single portion.

Then, label it with the date of freezing, squeeze any air out, and consume within 3 months.

Easy Dinner Recipes

• Frito Chili Pie
• Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
• Baked Beans with Ground Beef
• Slow Cooker Verde Chicken Chili
• Taco Chili
• One-Pot Chili Rigatoni
• Chicken Chili
• Pantry Chili
• White Chicken Chili
• Bean Salad
• Bean Casserole
• White Bean Turkey Chili
• Slow Cooker Black Beans
• Slow Cooker Quinoa Chicken Chili

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