Eating healthy and working full time is a difficult game to play. So, so difficult. That’s why I’m glad slow cookers exist! This Crockpot Turkey and Vegetable Chili is my new favorite slow cooker recipe- it’s absolutely delicious, amazingly healthy (chock full of veggies, beans, and lean protein), and makes enough to feed an army or store leftovers in your freezer. And it makes your house smell so intoxicating- when you come home from a long day of work, you definitely won’t be tempted to order takeout!
This chili has lean, ground turkey. It has black beans, zucchini, corn, bell peppers, and tomatoes. It’s packed full of flavor with onions, garlic, and spices. It’s smoky from smoked paprika, a little bit spicy, and velvety smooth and rich from the addition of my secret chili ingredient- cocoa powder! (I first tried this in my Smoky Vegetarian Chili and have been adding it to my chili recipes ever since- amazing! Tastes kind of like a mole sauce.)
ALSO, it’s inexpensive, it’s low carb and nutrient packed, and it has no added fat. This is one healthy meal!
Meal prep has been a bit of a challenge as of late. For one thing, our job has longer hours this year than it did last year, on top of a longer commute. Since we are living with Zach’s (far too generous) parents until our house is done being built, we are buying fewer things at the grocery store. I have a feeling that I will be making this chili at least once every other week, especially since the weather has FINALLY begun to cool off here in Texas!
Speaking of which: OUR HOUSE! It looks like a house!! Here’s an update:
So excited so excited so excited!!! EEE!!!
We’re learning a lot about meal prep under our new circumstances and this past week was very successful. We had Salmon with Scallion Butter over the weekend, and made a ton of brown rice to go with it. We saved the leftover rice to have with this chili. Then, I prepared the chili in the slow cooker the night before we wanted it, stored it in the fridge overnight, and put it in the slow cooker the morning of. Then, when we got home, we simply microwaved the rice to reheat it in individual bowls and served the chili on top, with some chopped green onions, cilantro, and avocado. YUM.
The recipe made enough for me, Zach, and my in-laws to have a delicious dinner that night, for the two of us to have dinner the next night as well, AND we had enough to freeze for another meal. And the whole thing costs only about $12-$15 total to make. Jackpot!
So next time you know you have a busy day coming up, don’t give in to take-out. Make this delicious Turkey and Vegetable Chili in your slow cooker! If you don’t have one, I recommend this one from Crock-Pot. It’s big, it’s programmable (meaning you can set it to cook for a certain amount of time and it will automatically turn to “keep warm), and cooks perfectly every time.
If you like this recipe, you’ll love this other healthy chili recipe for slow cooker white chicken chili!
Recipe below :-)
Crockpot Turkey and Vegetable Chili
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. ground turkey (uncooked)
- 28 oz. canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken stock/broth vegetable broth or water can also be used
- 1 red bell pepper diced (or any color bell pepper)
- 1 large onion diced
- 3-4 cloves garlic finely chopped or minced
- 1 zucchini diced
- 1 cup frozen corn or fresh
- 15 oz. canned black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper omit for a mild version
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except cilantro in a slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Stir in cilantro and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serving suggestion: serve on top of brown rice with fixings such as chopped green onions, extra cilantro, avocado, sour cream/Greek yogurt, hot sauce, etc. for toppings.
Notes
- Have leftovers? Freeze them in an airtight container or plastic bag for up to 6 months.
- Not a fan of cilantro? Omit it, or replace it with another herb like dill or chives.
- The provided nutrition information does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. Feel free to calculate it yourself using this calculator or by adding the recipe to Yummly.
Nutrition
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
The provided nutrition information is my best estimate and does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information. Feel free to calculate it yourself using one of these tools:
Serena Tate
Great recipe!! This was my first time using a crockpot and was nervous about putting the meat in raw and in turned out amazing like a little vegan shop that I get my smoothies and soups from in NY at a small shop! I didn’t add the coca I’ll try next time and I don’t like onions so I only added a little amount and I skipped peppers peppers I have allergy! Thanks for the recipes hope you add more soon!!
Elizabeth Lindemann
Aw yay! So happy this recipe worked well for you!
Running Betty
I’m bringing this to a potluck today. I used turkey breast only so it’s zero smartpoints on WW. I added too much cayenne. Fingers crossed we don’t burn our mouths!!
Elizabeth Lindemann
Ooo hope you like it! Just add some sour cream if it’s too spicy- should temper it a little bit (although, this may cancel out the WW points haha!).
Lori
Call me green to slow cooker cooking but do you cook the ground turkey first ??♀️
Elizabeth Lindemann
That’s a great question and I should have been more clear about it! No, in this recipe you don’t cook the turkey first. That’s one of my personal “rules” for slow cooker recipes- I don’t want to go through the hassle of getting another pot dirty when I’m aiming for the convenience of a slow cooker. I’m all about the dump meals :-) Hope that helps, and thanks for asking this question- I’m going to edit the instructions now!
Brenna
My doc suggested I add in more veggies to my diet, esp. earlier in my day. This chili recipe has been PERFECT to take with me for lunch and include more veggies before I eat dinner
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you like it! :-)
Tirtha
Fantastic recipe, love it
Elizabeth
Glad you liked it!
Carl
Hi Elizabeth!
I came here to look at your income report however this tasty looking chili took my attention :) I am going to make it this weekend!
The strange thing about this was I am currently living with my in laws (who also happen to be extremely generous and buy most of the food)…..While our house is being renovated before we can move in!! How crazy is that?!
You have a fantastic blog here, looking forward to more delicious recipes!
Carl
Elizabeth
Wow! Small world! Hope you like this recipe and thank you for the kind words about my blog :-) Good luck with all the renovations!
Kathryn
Would like to try this soon. Do you need to brown the meat first, or just break it up a bit when you combine things in the pot?
Elizabeth
Nope- just put it raw in the slow cooker with everything else and stir it around a bit! It will cook through and also separate quite a bit as it cooks. That’s what I love about it- one pot, super easy :-)
Lina R
Did the meat still appear pink? I cooked on low for 8 hours but it still looked pink, which worried me. I threw it on high for a little while in the hopes it will cook fully.
Elizabeth
It may look a bit pink because of the tomatoes. If your slow cooker works, and you cooked for 8 hours, it should be fine! You can always stick a meat thermometer in too just to make sure ????
Elizabeth C
So excited about the house! Looks great!
Elizabeth
Thank you!!!! :-)