Chili is one of my favorite cold weather meals. This is my go-to recipe, lightening it up with ground turkey and veggies. Whip this up in less than an hour on the stovetop or instant pot (see notes)

Easy Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 poblano pepper (or green), chopped
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cans beans, rinsed and drained (see notes)
• 1 can (15oz) tomato sauce (or two 8oz cans)
• 1 can (14.5oz) fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• optional: cayenne pepper for a little kick
• optional toppings: Cheese, sour cream, avocado, tortilla strips (or whatever you like!)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in pot over medium/high heat. Add the turkey and brown, breaking into pieces, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, peppers, chili powder and salt, and sauté for 5 more minutes.
2. Add the beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, cinnamon, and cayenne (if using) and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and simmer for 30min, stirring occasionally.
3. Serve and enjoy!

Notes:

1. Poblano peppers are my favorite in chili. They are not spicy and less bitter than traditional green peppers.
2. Cinnamon seems like an interesting addition in chili, but after trying a few recipes that use it, I’ll never go back.
3. I like to use a Three-Bean blend to get a little variety in my chili, but you can use any kind of beans.
4. I often make this in my instant pot. Use the sauté function on medium to brown the turkey and sauté the veggies. Then you can simmer on low or put on slow cook function to have ready for later. This makes for easy cleanup and then you can prep earlier in the day!