The Best Turkey Chili Soup

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turkey chili soup is the best combination of turkey chili and soup!
turkey chili soup in a bowl witha spoon

Turkey chili soup is a twist on traditional turkey chili.  It’s a flavorful combination of white chili and soup. It’s thick, spicy, and satisfying.  It’s pure comfort food for a chilly winter day.

A bowl of turkey chili soup witha spoon

This hearty turkey chili soup will satisfy your cravings for chili and soup. It’s filled with lean ground turkey, beans, and vegetables in a hearty broth. For a more traditional chili recipe, try our instant pot turkey chili recipe.

Why this recipe works

  • It’s healthy, quick and easy to make.
  • Turkey chili soup is a great recipe for meal prep. Make it ahead of time and reheat it for dinner.
the ingredients for turkey chili soup

Here Is What You Will Need

Ingredient List

Equipment

Here’s how to make healthy turkey chili soup

Prepare the ingredients: chop the vegetables, measure out the spices and chicken broth. Heat the olive oil in a heavy pan or dutch oven over medium-high heat.

turkey cooking in a pan

Step 1. Cook the turkey

Once the oil is hot, add the turkey and cook it until it is almost cooked through.

turkey and vegetables cooking in a pan

Step 2. Add the vegetables

Reduce the heat to medium heat and stir in the peppers, onions and garlic; cook until the vegetables begin to soften.

turkey chili beans cookign in a pot with broth

Step 3. Add the spices and broth

Stir in the spices,beans and broth; and simmer for 30 minutes on low heat.

turkey chili soup in pan cooked

Step 4. Stir in the remaining ingredients

Mix in the cilantro, and sour cream and adjust the thickness of the soup with 1 teaspoon of flour mixed in a tablespoon of water.

Note: This soup is a great way to use up leftover turkey or chicken. Cook the vegetables, add the cooked meat and continue with the recipe instructions.

overhead view of turkey chili soup

Ingredient notes and substitutions

The complete list of ingredients to make this recipe is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients, along with ideas for substitutes.

Ground turkey can be substituted with ground chicken, ground pork or ground beef. You can also use cooked shredded turkey or chicken.

White Beans. Any type of beans can be used in turkey chili soup. You can use any combination of kidney beans, pinto beans, white beans, or black beans.

Red Bell Peppers add a touch of sweet flavor to the soup. They can be substituted with green bell peppers or orange peppers.

Jalapeno peppers. I like to use fresh jalapeno peppers, but they can be substituted with canned pickled jalapeno peppers. If you don’t like spicy food, you can leave the hot peppers out or replace them with a tablespoon or two of chopped poblano peppers.

Chicken broth can be substituted with an equal amount of vegetable broth.

Fresh garlic and onions be replaced with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 tablespoon onion powder.

How to store leftovers

This is one of those recipes that tastes better the next day, so be sure to make extra. You can store leftover turkey chili soup in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to three months.

Defrost the frozen chili soup in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it on top of the stove or in the microwave.

What to serve with turkey chili soup

This delicious soup tastes great with your favorite toppings such as shredded cheese, slices of jalapeno peppers, sour cream or Greek yogurt, avocado, guacamole, crushed tortilla chips, green onions and a splash of fresh lime juice.

Serve turkey chili soup with a salad and homemade cornbread on the side for a wholesome meal.

turkey chili soup in a bowl witha spoon

Recipe Variations

  • Add more beans and veggies such as diced zucchini, green pepper and less meat for a budget-friendly, and fiber-rich version.
  • For a thinner version of this soup, add 1/2 to a cup more broth depending on how thin or thick you like your soup.
  • Make it spicy, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste.

Turkey chili soup FAQs

Below are questions frequently asked about making this recipe. If you have a question and don’t see it below. Leave a comment at the end of this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Can I make turkey chili soup in a slow cooker?

Yes, it’s very easy to make this soup in a slow cooker. Follow the instructions on the recipe card until the vegetables and meat are cooked on top of the stove.

Transfer the cooked ingredients to a slow cooker, and add the broth; cook for 3 hours on low. Stir in the beans and chopped cilantro. Thicken the soup with a slurry of 1 tablespoon of flour mixed with 1/4 cup water. Gradually stir in the slurry until the soup is a consistency that you like.

Can you use dried beans to make this chili soup recipe?

Yes you can use dried beans, but they must be cooked before adding them to the soup.

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turkey chili soup in a bowl witha spoon

Turkey Chili Soup

turkey chili soup is the best combination of turkey chili and soup!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Click on serving size to scale this recipe

Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keyword: chili, comfort food, soup
Servings: 4
Calories: 294kcal
Author: Anne
Scale this Recipe 4

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon flour + 1/4 cup water

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a heavy pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the ground turkey and cook it until it is almost cooked through.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the peppers, onions and garlic; cook until the vegetables begin to soften.
  • Stir in the spices, beans and broth; simmer for 30 minutes on low heat.
  • Add the cilantro and adjust the thickness of the soup with 1 tablespoon of flour mixed with 1/4 cup water. Gradually stir in the slurry until the soup reaches a consistency that you like

Notes

Store leftover turkey chili soup in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or freeze it for up to three months.

Store leftover turkey chili soup in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or freeze it for up to three months.
Serve it with your favorite chili toppings such as shredded, cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, avocado, guacamole, crushed tortilla chips, green onions, a splash of fresh lime juice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 339mg | Potassium: 1052mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3413IU | Vitamin C: 81mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used

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34 Comments

  1. Since we are right in the thick of comfort food season, this is a great recipe. Not sure if you want chili or soup. You get the best of both worlds with this. Leftovers would be great too. I would make a double batch just to make sure I had some for another meal (or two).

  2. Looks great! I love a really thick chili. That way the leftovers can be toppings too, like on hot dogs or baked potatoes.

  3. this is EXACTLY what I need right now – something cozy and comforting, totally struggling with the winter at the moment! I love dishes like this that make you feel good from the inside out!

  4. Chili is my favorite, and this looks so good! I love that you used turkey, and the yogurt topping is a great idea.

  5. Love how simple this recipe is! And I love the different variations!! I love turkey chili but have never thought to make it into a soup!! So going to try this! You’ve made it super flexible with the variations! Loving that part!

  6. Yum!! You made the chili just the way I like it — thick. So thick your spoon could stand up in it. I haven’t tried it with turkey although I bet it is a calorie saver but it doesn’t stint on taste. In fact, your chili is so hearty and comforting I’d call it a stew versus a soup. A great recipe.

  7. Yum, I definitely need to try out this recipe with all these amazing flavors and spices. My husband could happily eat chili every day of his life, he’ll love this recipe.

  8. I’m a big turkey chili fan. I’ve never added northern beans but that sounds like a great way to switch up the usual kidney beans!!

  9. A perfect soup to warm up on chili days. Such a comforting soup and I love that it’s lightened up version of chili soup. All I need is a bowl of this soup right now!