Hearty High Protein Turkey and Three Bean Chili
I’m Alex, and I’m glad you are here. This hearty, high protein chili recipe uses lean ground turkey and three types of beans to create a filling, flavorful meal perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep. You get big flavor without complicated steps.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 60 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 pounds lean ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to the pot. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the rinsed beans, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth to the pot. Stir everything together well.
- Bring the chili to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot partially, and let it cook for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. For deeper flavor, simmer for 1 hour.
- Stir in the salt and black pepper. Taste the chili and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve hot with your favorite toppings. This recipe is excellent for meal prep and freezes well.
Notes
- To make this a slow cooker protein meal, brown the turkey and sauté the vegetables on the stovetop first. Transfer everything to the slow cooker, add the remaining ingredients, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
- This recipe yields approximately 6 servings, providing about 30 grams of protein per serving, making it a great macro friendly dinner option.
- For a creamy texture similar to white chicken chili, substitute the ground turkey with 3 cups of shredded cooked chicken breast and use white beans instead of kidney or pinto beans.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 11
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 12
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 85