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Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with Black Beans

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This easy slow cooker turkey chili with black beans is a crowd-pleasing, make-ahead meal that lets you be a guest at your own party. Packed with smoky chipotle, cumin, and a secret touch of cocoa, it’s the perfect hands-off dish for game day or any gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 pounds ground turkey (93% lean)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or beef or vegetable broth)
  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced, plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels (optional)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for serving)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for serving)
  • Diced avocado (for serving)
  • Lime wedges (for serving)
  • Jalapeño slices (for serving)
  • Tortilla chips or warm cornbread (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Brown the Turkey: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink and golden-brown bits form (8-10 minutes). Season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer turkey to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker using a slotted spoon, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the skillet.
  2. Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion to the same skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Scrape into the slow cooker with the turkey.
  3. Bloom the Spices: Return skillet to medium heat. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute until it darkens. Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne, cocoa powder, salt, and pepper. Stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Deglaze the Pan: Pour 1/2 cup of the chicken broth into the skillet and scrape up browned bits. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker.
  5. Assemble the Chili: Add fire-roasted diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, drained black beans and kidney beans, remaining chicken broth, minced chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine.
  6. Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. For best flavor, cook on low for 7 hours.
  7. Finish and Adjust: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in frozen corn if using. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, sugar, cayenne, or lime juice as needed.
  8. Serve and Garnish: Ladle chili into bowls and serve with desired toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, lime wedges, jalapeños, and tortilla chips or cornbread.

Notes

For best flavor, brown the turkey and bloom the spices—don’t skip these steps. Rinse canned beans to reduce sodium and starch. If chili is too thin, mash some beans against the side of the slow cooker or cook uncovered on high for 30 minutes. Chili tastes even better the next day. To make ahead, complete steps 1-4 the night before and refrigerate; in the morning, add to slow cooker with remaining ingredients.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chili, turkey chili, black bean chili, game day chili, easy chili recipe, make-ahead chili, healthy chili

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/slow-cooker-turkey-chili-with-black-beans-easy/