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I couldn’t think of a better chili recipe to kick the month off than this healthy slow cooker turkey and white bean chili. Nothing beats a slowly simmered chili on a cold October day. Made with ground turkey, bell peppers, smoky chipotle peppers, white beans, and served with sharp cheddar cheese and avocado. This bowl of chili is a hearty, healthy and cozy dinner that you can feel good about eating.

overhead photo of Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili with beer bread and spoons in photo

Happy October first! It’s the month of all things Halloween and as you can tell from Saturday’s “spooky” Poison Apple Martini I am very, very excited! I love the month of October so much, and I’m looking forward to all that is to come!

I spent the weekend finally getting caught up with work. And while I’m still not where I’d like to be, I am entering the month feeling a little more on top of things and a little more confident. It feels good. My goal for this month is just to take things one day at a time. In an effort to not feel like I’m being pulled in a million different directions, I also want to focus my energy on one project at a time. I put my new mantra into practice over the weekend and so far so good. Fingers crossed I can’t stick with this. My mom always says it’s best to take things one day at a time, so I’m listening to her words of wisdom. After all, it’s true what they say, moms know best.

No real reason in sharing all that, other than a little positive Monday pep talk for us all…

Ok, I’ll go back to writing about what I am good at now, the food.

Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili slow cooker bowl

How much do you guys love chili?

It’s always been one of my favorites come the fall, but growing up the only chili I ever knew was Cincinnati style chili. If you’ve never experienced Cincinnati chili, it’s just a thicker chili served over angel hair pasta. It is my mom’s favorite. To this day, the only way she will eat chili is over pasta and topped with cheddar. The only way…so yes, when I gave the family this chili to try, she indeed ate it over pasta.

Anyway, point is, I didn’t grow up eating bowls of chili. So making a soupy style chili feels like something completely new and different to me. I’ll always love Cincinnati chili, but I also love today’s healthier turkey chili probably just as much.

side angled photo of Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili with spoons and towel in photo

On to the details…

To start, you’ll want to brown the ground turkey on the stove-top. You can also use ground chicken, both will work equally great. I know that this extra step is a bit of a pain, but trust me, when working with ground meat it’s a step you have to take. On that note, I recently got a slow cooker that can also brown meat before you begin slow cooking. It’s a game-changer. I highly recommend investing in an all in one browning slow cooker if you love slow cooking.

Brown the meat, add all the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and set for six or so hours. Then come home to the most delicious smells and dinner that’s ready for eating. Does not get better than that.

To bump up the flavors of my chili, I used a mix of chipotle chili peppers, chili powder, and my secret ingredient, apple butter. I know it may seem weird to use apple butter in chili, but the sweetness balances out the spice of the chili. Go with me on this, promise it takes the chili to a who would have known delicious level.

Finish each bowl off with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, sliced avocado, and green onions. AND serve with the 5 Ingredient Honey Butter Beer Bread from the cookbook. A bowl of chili is not complete without beer bread.

Also, while I am providing you guys with Instant Pot directions, I much prefer this recipe to be made in the slow cooker if time allows. No matter how much pressure cooking you do, nothing will be the same as slow cooking a chili all day long. It gives the chili time to develop flavor and creates the most wonderful smells throughout your house.

I highly recommend making this for Sunday night dinner and then enjoying the leftovers throughout the week. Perfection.

overhead photo of Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili with hand in photo dipping bread into chili bowl

If you make this Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili

Author: Tieghan Gerard
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 849 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Slow Cooker

  • 1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the onion and cook about 5 minutes or until it begins to caramelize around the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Add the turkey and brown all over, breaking up the meat as you go, about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat.
    2. Transfer the turkey to the bowl of your slow cooker. Add in the red bell peppers, chipotle peppers, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in 2 cups chicken broth, the tomatoes, tomato paste, apple butter, and bay leaves, stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. During the last hour of cooking, stir in the beans. If your chili is too thick, add the remaining broth to thin as desired. 
    3. Remove the bay leaves and ladle the chili into bowls. Top with cheddar cheese, avocado, and green onions. Eat!

Instant Pot

  • 1. Set the instant pot to sauté. Add the olive oil and onion and cook about 5 minutes or until it begins to caramelize around the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Add the turkey and brown all over, breaking up the meat as you go, about 5 minutes. Turn the instant pot off.
    2. Add in the red bell peppers, chipotle peppers, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in 2 cups chicken broth, the tomatoes, tomato paste, apple butter, and bay leaves, stir to combine. Cover and cook on soup/chili for 25 minutes.
    3. Once done cooking, use the quick release and release the steam. Stir in the beans. Remove the bay leaves and ladle the chili into bowls. Top with cheddar cheese, avocado, and green onions. Eat!
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This post was originally published on October 1, 2018
4.29 from 923 votes (818 ratings without comment)

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Comments

    1. Hey Pat! You can easily cook this on the stove top too. That works great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan

      Reply

  3. Can I cook this in a regular stock pot if I don’t have an instant pot or slow cooker? What will the timing look like?

    Excited to make this!

    Reply

    1. Hi Anna! I recommend simmering on the stover for 1-2 hours over medium heat until the flavors have come together.. You can also cook over over low heat for 3-4 hours or up to all day, stirring occasionally. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan ???

      Reply

  4. Hey Tieghan, if I want to make this on the stove stop since I don’t own an instant pot or a slow cooker, how long would I need to cook everything for? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Hi Nicole! I recommend simmering on the stover for 1-2 hours over medium heat until the flavors have come together.. You can also cook over over low heat for 3-4 hours or up to all day, stirring occasionally. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan ???

      Reply

  6. 5 stars
    This is a household favorite!! We probably make this once a month. And, it’s a great option for our local homeless shelter dinner – heart, healthy and delicious!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Anna! You can follow the directions for the instant pot, but instead cook the chili in a large pot on the stove top. Once the meat is browned, add the remaining ingredients, then cover and cook over low heat for 1 hour or up to all day, stirring occasionally. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan

      Reply

  8. What is your tip if I don’t have either the slow cooker or the instant pot. How do you translate to regular stove top cooking? I noticed the same on the broccoli cheddar recipe. I love your recipes but don’t want to buy the equipment no space in my NYC kitchen 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Serra! You can follow the directions for the instant pot, but instead cook the chili in a large pot on the stove top. Once the meat is browned, add the remaining ingredients, then cover and cook over low heat for 1 hour or up to all day, stirring occasionally. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan

      Reply

  9. Hi! Love your blog and your recipes so much. Have made and loved many of them. I’m going to make this tonight – what think about adding corn, too? If you like it, how much and when would you add it (frozen and/or fresh?)

    Thanks for being so amazing!

    Reply

    1. Hey Jenny! I am sure corn will be delicious! I would add 1 cup frozen corn. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan

      Reply

  10. 5 stars
    Hi, greetings from the UK. I can source either turkey breast mince or turkey thigh mince. Which do you recommend and which did you use in the recipe? Could I add maple syrup or agave syrup instead of apple butter? If so, how much do you recommend? Looking forward making the recipe soon. Thanks in advance.

    Reply

    1. Hi Nina! I would use turkey breast mince. That will be great! And I would use an equal amount of maple syrup in place of the apple butter. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan

      Reply

  12. This recipe looks amazing! Will I be able to make it in a 4-quart slow cooker, or should I use half of each ingredient?

    Reply

    1. Hey Kari! I would recommend halving the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan

      Reply

  13. HI 🙂 can you make this on the stove top? I have not invested in a slow cooker yet 😮
    excited to try this out
    Simi x

    Reply

    1. Hi there! Yes, of course! Just brown the meat, add the remaining ingredients and then simmer everything over medium heat for 1-2 hours or until you are ready to serve. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan

      Reply

  14. 5 stars
    OMG! This was table-banging good! We added some black beans, too … just because I love black bean. Can’t wait for the leftovers tomorrow night. I’m sure it just gets even better. Thanks all the delicious recipes!

    Reply