Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe (Panera Copycat)
Published Jan 09, 2022 Updated Jul 11, 2023
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This Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe is inspired by Panera Bread’s recipe that most people know and love. Now you don’t even have to leave your house to get your Panera chili fix. You can make a big batch right at home using healthy and hearty ingredients. Chili is something that I make every single weekend during the winter months. I like to switch it up using this recipe along with my Smoked Pulled Pork Chili. These recipes are so comforting, warming, and healthy.
Reasons To Love This Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe
- Protein-packed: Each serving is almost 36g of protein.
- Quick and easy: Pop this in the crockpot and allow it to simmer all day or cook on the stove and it will be done in 30 minutes.
- Make a big batch and use it in different ways during the week: This recipe is perfect to make on Sunday and use in different ways throughout the week. Make nachos, chili dogs, chili mac, or pour stuff inside a sweet or baked potato.
How To Make
- Brown
In a 5- to 6-quart pot or Dutch oven, heat butter over medium heat until butter is melted. Add in the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook for a minute or two. Add in the ground turkey and brown.
- Simmer
Next, add all the other ingredients; chicken broth, beans, edamame, chickpeas, corn, tomatoes, tomato paste, green chilies, and seasoning. Mix together until combined. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes.Â
- Enjoy
Taste and adjust seasoning to liking. Top with dairy-free sour cream, dairy-free cheese, green onions, and tortilla chips.
Crockpot Method
This Healthy Turkey Chili and also be made in the crockpot. It’s super simple and makes dinner a breeze. Let it simmer all day and it will be ready when you walk through the door from a long day at work.
- Brown the ground turkey, onions, and garlic the same as in the recipe written below.
- Place the turkey mixture along with the remaining ingredients in the crockpot.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- Garnish as desired and enjoy.
How To Freeze?
Turn this recipe into a healthy Turkey Chili freezer meal.
- Allow the chili to cool completely.
- Divide chili into freezer-friendly containers or freezer bags. Add a date.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Before serving, allow frozen chili to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Heat and enjoy.
Favorite Toppings
- Diary-Free Sour Cream (I love Follow Your Heart and Forager brands)
- Dair-Free Cheese
- Lime Slices
- Green Onions
- Parsley
- Avocado Slices
- Tortilla Chips or Fritos
- Fresh red onions
- Cilantro
FAQs
Absolutely! If you do use ground beef instead of ground turkey it will change the calories and fat. Just be aware that the nutrition will not remain the same. But ground beef with this recipe tastes amazing too.
Beef broth is perfectly fine to use in place of chicken broth.
Yes! Removing this will not change so much of the taste, but it will change the spice level.
If you prefer a thicker chili consistency, add 1/2 tsp xanthan gum or 1 tbsp tapioca flour dissolved in 2 tbsp water. Add either of these in and stir. As it heats it will begin to thicken.
Draining and rinsing the beans to remove the metallic flavor along with removing excess salt and starch. This will improve the overall flavor.
Want More Healthy Recipes?
Healthy Turkey Chili (Panera Copycat)
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds ground turkey 85% lean 15% fat
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 5-7 cups low sodium chicken or beef stock depending on the consistency you want
- 1 4- ounce can green chiles
- 1 28- ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup edamame shelled
- 1/2 cup frozen corn thawed
- 1 15- ounce can red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 15- ounce can chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 15- ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoons black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Garnish (optional)
- Dairy-free sour cream
- Dairy-free shredded cheese
- Lime wedge
- Green onions
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- In a 5- to 6-quart pot or Dutch oven, heat butter over medium heat until butter is melted. Add in the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook for a minute or two. Add in the ground turkey and brown.
- Next, add all the other ingredients; chicken broth, beans, edamame, chickpeas, corn, tomatoes, tomato paste, green chilies, and seasoning. Mix together until combined. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning to liking. Top with dairy-free sour cream, dairy-free cheese, green onions, and tortilla chips.
Notes
- Brown the ground turkey, onions and garlic the same as the recipe is written below.
- Place the turkey mixutre along with the remaining ingredients in the crockpot.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- Garnish as desired and enjoy.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious and easy recipe.
Easy
Healthy
Delicious