Description
This 30-Minute Leftover Turkey Chili is a quick, hearty, and flavorful dish that transforms leftover turkey into a comforting meal. Packed with beans, tomatoes, and spices, it’s perfect for a filling dinner topped with your favorite chili accompaniments like sour cream, avocado, shredded cheese, and scallions.
Ingredients
Scale
Chili Base
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, small diced
- 1 green pepper, small diced
- 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
Beans and Tomatoes
- 2 (15-oz.) cans pinto beans in chili sauce
- 1 (15-oz.) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
- 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
Protein
- 4 cups chopped leftover turkey
Toppings (Optional)
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sliced scallions
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the olive oil to a large, heavy-bottom pot set over medium heat. Once warm, add the minced garlic, diced onions, and diced green pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until it caramelizes and deepens in color, approximately 2 minutes.
- Combine Spices and Beans: Add ground cumin, chili powder, pinto beans with chili sauce, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, and light brown sugar to the pot. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add Turkey and Simmer: Stir in the chopped leftover turkey, reduce the heat to low, and cook the chili, stirring occasionally, until the turkey is heated through and the flavors meld, about 10 minutes.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle the chili into bowls and top with desired chili toppings such as sour cream, avocado slices, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced scallions for added flavor and texture.
Notes
- This quick recipe takes only 30 minutes from start to finish, ideal for busy evenings.
- Using leftover turkey helps reduce food waste and adds lean protein to the dish.
- You can customize toppings to your preference, adding jalapeños or hot sauce for extra heat.
- For a thicker chili, simmer a bit longer before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 133 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 69 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
