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    Home » Mains » Chilis and Stews » The Very Best Turkey Quinoa Chili

    The Very Best Turkey Quinoa Chili

    November 7, 2018 By Dawn - Girl Heart Food 20 Comments

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    Overhead shot of a bowl of ground turkey quinoa chili garnished with avocado, jalapeno and green onion.

    Packed full of hearty ingredients this easy turkey quinoa chili is filling and delicious! Garnish to your heart’s content with goodies like avocado, jalapeno and green onion!

    Overhead shot of a bowl of ground turkey quinoa chili garnished with avocado, jalapeno and green onion.

    I seriously love chili (and I hope you do do)!

    Seriously, I could go for a bowl of chili any day of the week, but especially now as it’s starting to get cold here in Newfoundland.  I love when it’s so thick the spoon stands up, ya know? Nice and hearty! 

    I enjoy all varieties of chili (three bean chili, white chicken chili, lentil chili), but a particular favourite is this ground turkey chili recipe. It’s delicious and super hearty. 

    Why We Love Turkey Quinoa Chili

    • It uses a leaner protein (turkey) compared to traditional chili
    • Great on its own or over fries (hello chili cheese fries)
    • Packed with yummy ingredients, like black beans, veggies and quinoa
    • It’s simply delicious … the very best turkey chili recipe, if you ask me!
    Ingredients for an easy ground turkey chili recipe.

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    Side shot of a bowl of ground turkey quinoa chili garnished with avocado, jalapeno and green onion.

    Can I Omit Beans in Chili?

    Yes! If you aren’t a fan of beans, it’s okay to omit them. With everything else that’s in this turkey chili recipe, like quinoa, it’s still super hearty.

    Overhead shot of a bowl of garnished turkey chili next to lime and a bowl of yogurt.

    Serving and Garnish Suggestions

    I love chili as is, but if you really want to amp up your dinner a piece of cornbread for dunking or a side salad would be awesome.

    This turkey chili also makes for some extra special nachos for weekend eats! 

    To garnish, I love any of the these:

    • Avocado
    • Green onion
    • Slices of hot pepper
    • Greek yogurt or sour cream
    • Cilantro
    • Shredded cheddar cheese
    Bowl of quinoa turkey chili with a spoonful of chili resting on top.

    More Recipe Tips

    Enjoy things a little spicier? Add more chipotle peppers or some cayenne. If you are so inclined Kevin is Cooking has great recipes for making your own chipotle peppers and adobo sauce.

    Don’t have chipotle peppers on hand?  Sub with 2 teaspoons (or to taste) of smoked paprika.

    I love chili thick (and this one is). If you like things a little looser (thinner), add a little more broth.

    This recipe calls for 1 cup of cooked quinoa. Before cooking, that’s about ⅓ cup of raw.

    Not a fan of ground turkey? Ground chicken would work lovely instead!

    A spoonful of turkey quinoa chili held in front of a bowl of chili.

    More Ground Turkey Recipes

    • Ground Turkey Quesadillas
    • Turkey Sloppy Joes
    • Turkey Burgers

    Hope you love this turkey quinoa chili as much as we do!

    If you make this ground turkey chili recipe, be sure to leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed!

    Let’s Be Social!
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    Overhead shot of a bowl of ground turkey quinoa chili garnished with avocado, jalapeno and green onion.

    Turkey Quinoa Chili

    Dawn – Girl Heart Food
    Packed full of hearty ingredients this easy turkey quinoa chili is filling and delicious! Garnish to your heart's content with goodies like avocado, jalapeño and green onion!
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 50 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Canadian
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 400 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup cooked quinoa (about ⅓ cup before cooking)
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 yellow onion , peeled and diced
    • 3 cloves garlic , minced
    • 1 pound ground turkey
    • 3 tablespoons chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 3 chipotle peppers (in adobo sauce) , minced (or 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika or chipotle powder)
    • 28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes , blend tomatoes with an immersion blender or roughly mash with a potato masher to break up before using
    • 2 to 3 cups low sodium chicken broth (depending on how thick you want your chili to be)
    • 2 bell peppers , cut into bite-sized chunks
    • 1 sweet potato , peeled and cut into small cubes
    • 19 ounce can of unsalted (or no salt added) black beans , rinsed and drained (about 2 cups)
    • 1 cup frozen corn (or rinsed & drained canned corn)

    Instructions

    • Cook quinoa per package instructions and set aside.
    • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. 
    • Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, stir, and cook 1 minute.
    • Add turkey, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, tomato paste, and chipotle peppers. Break up turkey with a wooden spoon (or something similar) and stir to combine. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Stir in canned tomatoes and broth (start with 2 cups). Add bell peppers. Stir. Bring to a simmer and cook (with cover ajar) for 15 minutes.
    • Add sweet potato and black beans, stirring in, and cook (with cover ajar) for about 15 to 20 minutes or until sweet potato is tender.
    • Add corn and cooked quinoa. Stir to combine and cook 2 to 3 minutes. If desired, add an additional cup of broth and heat through (if you want it to be looser or thinner). Upon serving, garnish (if desired) with your favourite chili toppings. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • This recipe calls for 1 cup of cooked quinoa. Before cooking, that’s about ⅓ cup of raw/uncooked quinoa.
    • I love chili thick (and this one is). If you like things a little looser (thinner), add a little more broth or water.

    Nutrition (ESTIMATE ONLY)

    Calories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 33gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 825mgPotassium: 1423mgFiber: 15gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 8213IUVitamin C: 70mgCalcium: 123mgIron: 7mg

    Nutrition estimate (if provided) is based on 1 Serving.

    Nutrition information (if provided) is provided as a courtesy and should be considered an estimate only. Ingredients can vary and Girl Heart Food makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are guidelines only.

    Keyword ground turkey recipe, turkey chili
    Tried this recipe? Snap a pic!Mention @dawn.girlheartfood or tag #girlheartfood

    © Girl Heart Food.  All images and content are COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Please do not use any images without prior permission.  Please do not republish this recipe.  If you want to reference this recipe, link directly back to this post. Thank you.

    Previous Post: « Brown Butter Mashed Turnip (Rutabaga) with Roasted Garlic
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Monica | Nourish + Fete

      November 25, 2018 at 10:46 pm

      5 stars
      Girl this looks incredible! I absolutely love quinoa in chili, it adds the greatest texture, and the idea of pairing it with turkey sounds SO delicious. Making this on a cold day ASAP!

      Reply
    2. David @ Spiced

      November 12, 2018 at 10:45 am

      I’m a huge fan of chipotle, so this chili definitely needs to go on the list! I don’t know what it is, but chipotle flavors just go so well in soups/stews/chilis. Perfect for cold winter days! And I hear ya on wanting that spoon to stand up straight in the bowl…that’s how I like my chili, too!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2018 at 3:20 pm

        Same here! Love it! And you can’t go wrong with hearty chili on a cold day 🙂

        Reply
    3. Miriam

      November 10, 2018 at 6:53 am

      This recipe has so many things going for it – healthy, full of flavour and I love that you can freeze it as well. Those are my favourite recipes 🙂 A little bit of spice is great for this time of the year, warming you up from inside out. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend, Dawn ♡

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2018 at 3:18 pm

        So true! Thanks Miriam! Hope you had a lovely weekend too 🙂

        Reply
    4. Marissa

      November 08, 2018 at 9:11 pm

      5 stars
      Literally just made a shopping list to make this, Dawn! LOVE everything about it!! It’s exactly the kind of meal I’m craving right now!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2018 at 3:17 pm

        Yay! Hope you love it, Marissa 🙂 Thanks so much!

        Reply
    5. Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers

      November 08, 2018 at 8:04 pm

      5 stars
      Loving this chili! Delicious with lots of goodness, too 🙂

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2018 at 3:16 pm

        Thanks so much Jennifer 🙂

        Reply
    6. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings

      November 08, 2018 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      I love putting quinoa in my chili! More protein! This looks like the perfect bowl of goodness for a fall evening.

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2018 at 3:16 pm

        Totally! Thanks Karen 🙂

        Reply
    7. Kelly | Foodtasia

      November 08, 2018 at 2:50 pm

      Dawn, you have so much yummy in this chili! I’ve made a big pot of chili two weeks in a row and have eaten it every day for lunch. It’s so healthy and so satisfying. I love how you added sweet potato and corn! The sweet must make a lovely contrast to the spicy and smoky peppers. I’ll have to give the quinoa a try. It looks like it makes the chili nice and thick.

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2018 at 3:16 pm

        Thanks Kelly! The quinoa really does make the chili nice and thick – super hearty for a cold day 🙂

        Reply
    8. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen

      November 08, 2018 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      This looks so totally delicious Dawn! So perfect for the winter season ahead. And I love that it’s healthier than the regular chili. I’ll be trying this soon!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2018 at 3:15 pm

        Thanks Mary Ann! Enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    9. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

      November 08, 2018 at 9:44 am

      5 stars
      It’s finally getting (sort of ) cold here and I’m craving comfort foods–this sounds perfect. I love the addition of quinoa! And I love all your garnish suggestions; any time a dish calls for garnishes like avocado and jalapeños you can be sure my bowl will be filled with mostly garnish and just a little of the actual food :). Have a great weekend, Dawn!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 12, 2018 at 3:15 pm

        Lol! Love garnish too! Thanks Kelsie 🙂 Hope you had a great weekend too!

        Reply
    10. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

      November 08, 2018 at 8:58 am

      5 stars
      I love my chili thick too Dawn! And a clean eating chili recipe is just my thing! I really enjoy the thickness that quinoa adds to this recipe and the sweet potato is a nice touch. We are definitely going to need all the warm, comfort food this fall in Newfoundland!

      Reply
    11. Kevin | Kevin Is Cooking

      November 07, 2018 at 12:12 pm

      This looks delish Dawn and thanks for the mention here my dear! Been loving the comfort food soups, stews and chili season lately. 🙂

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 07, 2018 at 4:20 pm

        Thanks Kevin! It was my pleasure! Love all kinds of comfort food this time of year 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi and welcome to Girl Heart Food! I’m Dawn and I’m so happy you stopped by. I LOVE to cook and share my recipes. I’m obsessed with cheese, fresh veggies and homemade nut butters. Being in the kitchen is my happy place. Hope you find something that inspires you to get into the kitchen too.

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