Thick and Hearty Turkey Chili Soup – Healthy, Quick & Delicious!
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Warm, hearty, and bursting with flavor, this Turkey Chili Soup is the ultimate comfort food for chilly days. Packed with lean ground turkey, fiber-rich white beans and veggies, it’s a wholesome twist on a classic chili that combines the heartiness of stew with the warmth of soup.
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Recipe Highlghts:
Ingredient List
Ingredients for making turkey chili soup
Step-by-step instructions for 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
Step 1. Once the oil is hot, add the turkey and cook it until it is almost cooked through.
NOTE: if you are using cooked shredded meat, skip this step and start with the vegetables, then add the cooked meat and spices.
Step 2. Reduce the heat to medium heat and stir in the peppers, onions and garlic; cook until the vegetables begin to soften.
Step 3. Stir in the spices, beans and broth; and simmer for 30 minutes on low heat.
Step 4: Mix the flour and water together; gradually stir it into the soup until the broth becomes thick.
Tips & Tricks
- This soup has a very thick broth; for a thinner version, add half to a full cup more broth, depending on how thin or thick you like your soup.
- This healthy turkey chili soup is great way to use up leftover turkey or chicken. Cook the vegetables, add the cooked meat and continue with the recipe instructions.
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 healthy 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.
Craving more easy ground turkey ideas? Don’t miss my complete guide to ground turkey recipes—it’s packed with simple, flavorful dinners for every night of the week. Check them out here.
Recipe variations
- Add more beans and veggies such as diced zucchini, green pepper and less meat for a budget-friendly, and fiber-rich version.
- To make it more spicy, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper according to your taste.
Recipe FAQs
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.
Yes, you can use dried beans, but they must be cooked before adding them to the soup.
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You might also like these soup recipes
- Tuscan Kale and Sausage Soup
- Vegetable Minestrone Soup
- Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Instant Pot Turkey Chili
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Turkey Chili Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 2 red bell peppers diced or yellow, green or orange
- 1 clove of garlic diced
- 1/2 pound ground turkey
- 1 jalapeno pepper diced optional
- 2 1/2 tablespoons [chili powder]
- 1 teaspoon [cumin]
- 1 cup [chicken broth]
- 2 1/2 cup white navy beans
- 1/4 chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon flour + 1/4 cup water
- 1 onion small or half large diced
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. NOTE: if you are using cooked turkey or chicken, skip this step and start with cooking the vegetables in the step below. Once they are soft, add the vegetables and spices.
- 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
Ground turkey can be swapped with ground chicken, ground pork, shredded cooked chicken or shredded cooked turkey 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
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
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This looks delicious and I love how healthy it is. It reminds me of a stew my mom used to make.
Thanks Shelby!
A healthier way to start the new year…love it!
Oh , this is a winner! My family will love it. I love the addition of the Greek Yogurt on top instead of sour cream
Love this. Looks delish.
That looks like a perfect way to warm up on a cold day like today! Yum!
That looks like one delicious and hearty bowlful! Chili is just the thing on a cold day.
This is the perfect time of year for me to make chili- this one is going on my list!
Bookmarking this recipe – it looks like a 0 or very low-point, hearty main dish for Weight Watchers.
Yes, it probably is Liz. You can adjust the beans and meat also and it’s very filling
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).
Yes Gloria! Leftovers are great! It tastes much better the next day!
So hearty and delicious. Perfect for colder months!
Love all those flavors, and it’s simple enough to do on even a week night! Thanks!
Sounds delicious! Perfect for a chilly night. 🙂
It seems like a great bowl of comfort and goodness. Great weeknight meal.
I really love a great homemade chili recipe for the winter months! And this one sounds like it might be a little healthier, but still delicious!
Chilis are so important to me during the winter I love and easy hearty soup recipe!
Looks great! I love a really thick chili. That way the leftovers can be toppings too, like on hot dogs or baked potatoes.
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!
Mmm so hearty, healthy, and satisfying! This looks absolutely delicious…I wish I had a bowl right now 😀
Chili is my favorite, and this looks so good! I love that you used turkey, and the yogurt topping is a great idea.
Such a comforting recipe with a lightened up twist. I’ve never had arrowroot before, what does it taste like?
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!
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.
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.
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!!
This soup is the perfect soul warming meal for those busy weeknights! My boyfriend would eat this everyday if he could!
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!
So perfect for the winter months. So comforting, flavorful and hearty!
This turkey chili soup is so delish!
Such perfect comfort in a bowl!
looks amazing, hearty but mindful of health! Can’t wait to make a pot this week, we’re expecting another cold front!
I love the combination of ground turkey and navy beans! So hearty and delicious without being too heavy 🙂