When it comes to easy, filling, nutritious eating, chili is hard to beat.
It’s high in protein and healthy carbs, dead-simple to make, and versatile enough to suit anyone’s palate.
Now, when you think of chili, you probably think of beef, but I often swap it for turkey because turkey is low in fat, making it more “meal planning friendly,” and it has a different flavor profile, which makes for a nice change.
Give any of these turkey chili recipes a try and you’ll see what I mean. 🙂
If you want pasta with extra protein, try the Turkey Chili Mac with Jalapeños. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds!
If you want a “set-and-forget” meal that you can easily make ahead of time, try the Slow Cooker Pumpkin Turkey Chili.
And if you want a delicious meal that can fit anyone’s macros without compromising on flavor, you’ll love the Spicy Turkey Sausage & Kale Chili.
Enjoy!
Whether you’re having friends over for game night or you’re headed to a neighborhood potluck, this turkey chili with beer will be a hit. And it’s even better if you serve it with diced avocado, Monterey jack, and crushed tortilla chips. Nobody will be able to figure out how a healthy chili has so much flavor. And revealing the secret is ok if you want to brag about the beer because the alcohol cooks out while it’s on the stove.
540
Calories18 g
Protein66 g
Carbs20 g
Fat2 large yellow onions, chopped
10 cloves garlic, chopped
3 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
Salt to taste
1/4 cup tomato paste
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, coarsely chopped
3 Tbsp. chipotle adobo sauce
4 lbs. ground turkey
4 bottles (12 oz. each) Mexican lager-style beer
2 large cans (28 oz. each) whole peeled tomatoes, with juices
4 cans (15 oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and strained
Get the RecipeIt seems like any kind of chili mac would have a lot of carbohydrates. Yet this healthy recipe reduces carbs by one-third – to just 15 grams per serving – and adds lean protein in the form of ground turkey. This is an awesome lunch or dinner when you want comfort food but need a low-cal meal.
316
Calories25 g
Protein15 g
Carbs19 g
Fat1 tsp. granulated garlic
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. salt (or more to taste)
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey
3 cups beef broth
1 can (10 oz.) diced tomatoes with green chilies
2 cups whole-wheat elbow pasta
1/2 cup pickled jalapenos, chopped
1/2 cup 1% milk
1/2 container (4 oz.) cream cheese
1 cup (about 4 oz.) shredded sharp cheddar
Get the RecipeThis pumpkin chili will get you ready for fall – even if you aren’t prepared to trade in t-shirts for jackets just yet. The main difference between this and a standard chili recipe is the addition of pumpkin puree. But it also uses pumpkin pie spice, which might sound strange, but doesn’t taste sweet. The blend is just a combo of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, three spices that are often added to chili recipes anyway.
365
Calories30 g
Protein33 g
Carbs15 g
Fat1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin puree
1 can (15 oz.) chili beans
1 can (15 oz.) seasoned black beans
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
Get the RecipeThis easy recipe is great for a weeknight because most ingredients can be stashed away. Then when you’re starving and don’t have a plan for dinner, you can cook this protein-packed ground turkey chili. There’s not a lot of seasonings here, so it’s a good recipe for anyone who has food sensitivities. And if you want more than cumin, salt, and pepper, feel free to add your favorites like a dash of chipotle and smoked paprika.
496
Calories45 g
Protein46 g
Carbs18 g
Fat2 Tbsp. oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 package (10 oz.) crimini mushrooms, washed and sliced
2 lbs. ground turkey
2 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 green bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 lb. frozen corn
2 cans (15 oz. each) black beans, liquid included
2 large cans (28 oz. each) diced tomatoes
Fresh chopped cilantro (optional garnish)
Salt to taste
Get the RecipeIf you’re looking for a basic turkey chili recipe to cook on a regular basis, this is it. There’s over 30 grams of protein per bowl, yet less than 10 grams of fat. The depth of flavor in this comes from the blend of cumin, chili powder, and cinnamon. Plus, there’s cocoa powder, often a secret ingredient in hearty chili. And of course you can use any broth, canned beans, and chili toppings that you have on hand.
339
Calories31 g
Protein36 g
Carbs9 g
Fat1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 1/2 lbs. lean ground turkey
1/4 cup chili powder
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 large can (28 oz.) whole tomatoes
3 cups beef stock
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
3 cans (15 oz. each) small white beans, drained and rinsed
Chopped red onion, for garnish
Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Get the RecipeThis is hands-down the best healthy turkey chili. And it’s not just because of the flavor, although that certainly keeps it in the running. This lean chili has less than 5 grams of fat per serving. If you want to keep these impressive macros, look for extra-lean ground turkey marked as being 99% lean, AKA just 1% fat.
336
Calories32 g
Protein47 g
Carbs4 g
Fat2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 lb. extra-lean ground turkey (or chicken)
4 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. salt (plus more to taste)
1 large can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
2 cans (15 oz. each) dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz.) sweet corn, drained and rinsed
Get the RecipeWhen you’re making white chili, leave out the tomatoes. This one has leeks, cashew cream, and bacon fat for a chili that’s no less flavorful, just slightly different. And instead of beans, this turkey chili is rounded out with diced sweet potato. The recipe allows you to use half as much turkey, but why when you can get over 70 grams of protein per serving? And if you want to lower the fat by about 10 grams per bowl, just leave out the crispy potato skins.
779
Calories71 g
Protein26 g
Carbs45 g
FatSoup Base:
2 cups chopped leeks, white parts only
3 medium white sweet potatoes, diced (about 4 cups)
1 Tbsp. bacon fat
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground white pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
3 cups bone broth (or more to taste)
1 cup cashew cream (or coconut cream)
Turkey:
2 lbs. ground turkey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. mustard
1/2 tsp. ground garlic
1/4 cup minced leeks, green parts only
4 slices bacon
Crispy Potato Skins:
Sweet potato peels
1/4 cup coconut oil
Get the RecipeDon’t have time to worry about cornbread? Even if you don’t get to the side dish, you can enjoy some of the flavor since there’s masa mixed right into this turkey chili. That will help thicken up this hearty stew, a great addition for turkey chili without beans. Usually the starch from the beans acts as a thickener, so if you decide to leave them out, you’ll need something else like masa, cornstarch, or even whey protein powder.
768
Calories56 g
Protein86 g
Carbs28 g
Fat4 cups leftover turkey meat, chopped
4 cups water
1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or dairy of choice)
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (15 oz.) sweet corn
1/2 cup masa flour + 1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 Tbsp. salt
3 tsp. minced garlic
3 tsp. ground cumin
3 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
3 cups (about 12 oz.) shredded Monterey jack cheese
Get the RecipeFor an easy turkey chili, you can’t go wrong with a Crock Pot. And this recipe takes only ten ingredients, so it’s a cinch to assemble. With 4 to 8 hours to cook, depending on the heat setting, you’ll have plenty of time to bake cornbread from scratch. Or, run out to pick it up from the store because there’s nothing like chili and cornbread when you need comfort food and over 40 grams of protein.
478
Calories43 g
Protein63 g
Carbs9 g
Fat1 lb. extra-lean ground turkey
1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans (15 oz. each) mild diced tomatoes and green chilies
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
Salt to taste
Get the RecipeAdding kale to chili might sound unusual, but it’s worth a try. This healthy chili is a mash up of spicy chili and Italian soup. The main ingredients are cannellini beans, kale, and Italian turkey sausage. And the seasonings also blend the two soup styles with chili powder, cayenne, and oregano.
344
Calories23 g
Protein57 g
Carbs5 g
Fat1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. ground spicy turkey sausage
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz.) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 large bunch kale, torn into pieces
Salt to taste
Get the RecipeWho knew quarantine cooking could be so tasty?
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That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $299.
Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.
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