As the weather turns cooler, there's nothing quite like a warm, comforting bowl of chili. This keto turkey chili crockpot recipe offers a delicious and healthy way to enjoy this classic dish while staying true to your low-carb lifestyle. It's an easy-to-make, flavorful, and satisfying meal that's perfect for a cozy night in.
Introduction
This recipe puts a fresh spin on a classic, ditching the beans to make it low-carb while keeping all the smoky, savory flavors. This keto turkey chili is a must-try whenever you’re in the mood for something terrific. It’s an easy fix, and there aren’t a million ingredients. And, it can be ready to devour in under an hour. This article will guide you through creating a fantastic keto-friendly turkey chili, slowly simmered until tender.
Why Turkey Chili?
Ground turkey is a good low-fat alternative to ground red meat like ground beef. Ground turkey is commonly a combination of ground up dark turkey meat. Ground turkey made with turkey breast is also available; if you see extra-lean ground turkey at your local grocery, that’s usually made with white meat.
Key Ingredients and Their Benefits
This chili has a lot going for it in the nutrition department. Ground turkey offers a lean yet protein-packed base, while veggies like onions, red peppers, tomatoes, and celery add fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The spices add a lot of flavor.
- Ground Turkey: Provides a lean and protein-packed base for the chili.
- Pumpkin Puree: Adds a unique flavor and thickens the chili. Make sure you are using pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
- Bell Peppers: Contribute sweetness and vitamins. You can use any color pepper - red and yellow have sweeter flavors than green.
- Garlic: Offers a pungent flavor and numerous health benefits.
- Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and flavor. Since turkey is very lean, the recipe uses full-fat chicken broth.
- Spices (Chili Powder, Cumin, Oregano, Cinnamon): Create a warm and complex flavor profile.
One of the standout elements in this recipe is the use of canned fire-roasted tomatoes. These aren’t your standard canned tomatoes; they’re charred before canning, which gives them a deeper, smoky flavor that elevates the dish without any extra effort. Another pro tip is not to skip the bay leaves. While their flavor is subtle, they add a layer of aroma and depth that ties everything together. And yes, fresh parsley at the end may seem optional, but it provides a bright, fresh contrast to the chili’s smoky warmth.
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Slow Cooker Instructions
The slow cooker makes it super easy to whip up this chili! You just combine all the ingredients in the crock and let it slow cook all day.
- Cook peppers and garlic in oil over medium-high heat until garlic is fragrant.
- Add ground turkey and cook until meat is no longer pink. Be sure to break it up as it cooks.
- Place cooked meat into slow cooker.
- Add in remaining ingredients.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Instant Pot Instructions
Yup, both instructions - for the slow cooker and the Instant Pot - are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Cook peppers and garlic in oil on sauté setting until garlic is fragrant.
- Add ground turkey and cook until meat is no longer pink. Be sure to break it up as it cooks. Once meat is no longer pink, pour in the broth and stir to ensure any browned bits on the bottom of the pan are released.
- Press cancel button to end sauté setting.
- Stir in remaining ingredients. If the mixture is too thick, you can add in some water or broth to ensure there is enough liquid for pressure cooking.
- After the turkey is completely cooked, add the rest of the ingredients to the Instant Pot and cook it on High Pressure for 10 minutes.
- When the timer is up, do a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick-release.
Tips for the Perfect Keto Turkey Chili
- Use fresh, whole ingredients whenever possible. I used garlic cloves and chopped up some green bell peppers.
- Adjust the spice amounts so it tastes how you want it to.
- It's best to chop the ground turkey up into small pieces as it cooks. Unlike ground beef, turkey tends to clump together when cooked.
- If you are using an Instant Pot, make sure and deglaze the bottom of the pot after you brown the turkey. Any bits that are stuck to the pot could cause it to give you a BURN error.
- Consider adding other low-carb winter squash. Kabocha squash is a great alternative if you can find it. It's often called a Japanese pumpkin.
Serving Suggestions and Topping Ideas
A lot of people will cook up large amounts of ground beef and freeze it. This makes it even easier to use in your favorite crockpot recipes. Topping suggestions for this chili include green onions, cheese, sour cream, and chopped herbs.
The toppings are the best part! Choose your favorite low carb toppings to add flavor and texture to your bowl.
- Avocado
- Cheddar Cheese
- Green Onions or Red Onions
- Cilantro
- Jalapenos
- Sour Cream
- Lime wedges
Cornbread is a traditional side dish that just goes perfectly with chili, but it isn't exactly keto-friendly. So, try this low-carb cornbread with coconut flour that tastes amazing with this savory chili. Or, make some keto cloud bread. This chili is a fantastic source of protein, but it doesn't have many vegetables in it. That's why I like to serve it with stuffed peppers or southern green beans with bacon.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Storage and Freezing Instructions
Keto Turkey Chilli will keep in the fridge for several days. My favorite way to freeze saucy and soupy recipes is by using Souper Cubes! These amazing freezer-safe cubes are perfect for freezing portions of all my favorite soups, stews, and other saucy meals. I freeze them then pop them out and put the rectangular frozen blocks into a zipper-top freezer bag. It makes storing them SOOOO much easier!
This chili is perfect for meal prep! Once cooked, let it cool to room temperature before storing. It will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze it in individual portions for up to 3 months.
Making it Your Own: Variations and Substitutions
Want it spicier? Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of chipotle powder or cayenne pepper to the recipe. Start with 1/2 a teaspoon and add more if desired. Fresh chili powder will make all the difference in this recipe. I make my own chili powder - it’s got a great balance of flavors and has just the right amount of heat! This recipe is intended to be made with ground turkey.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is pumpkin healthy? Yes, pumpkin is actually very nutritious. One of the benefits of pumpkin is that it's loaded with vitamin A. Pumpkins are also a good source of vitamin C which may help fight a cold.
- How many servings does this recipe make? I ended up with about 12 cups of turkey pumpkin chili in the crockpot. The chili is very filling, so you don't need much for a meal. And, it makes a terrific lunch during the workday.
- What can I use instead of pumpkin? Other low-carb winter squash could likely be used.
- Is turkey chili with no beans keto? Quite possibly! There could be other hidden carbs in the recipe or the onion, garlic, and other veggies can drive up the carb count. This recipe for keto turkey chili is totally keto!
- Is turkey chili keto? With just 3 net carbs per serving, this is a hearty turkey chili that’s also totally keto!
- How long can I store turkey chili? You can keep low carb turkey chilli in the fridge for 3-4 days. To keep it longer than that, pop it into the freezer.
- Can I make Keto Turkey Chili in a crockpot or slow cooker? Yes! First saute the onions and garlic, and brown the turkey in a skillet as directed. Next, add the sauteed onions and garlic, and browned turkey, to a crockpot with the rest of the ingredients (except optional zucchini), and slow cook on low for 3 hours, or high for 1 1/2 hours.
- Can I make keto chili with beans? Beans are too high in starch (carbohydrates) for a strict keto diet. However, beans can be added to this chili for carb cycling (periods of time when you are intentionally consuming higher carbohydrates), or for family members who do not eat a very low carb diet.
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