Turkey & Vegetable Chili with Chipotle
A smoky, spice-packed chili made with lean ground turkey, kidney beans (optional), and a medley of vegetables for a satisfying weeknight meal. This american-inspired slow cooker (whole30) ready in about 200 minutes turns lean ground turkey, can, undrained diced tomatoes, chopped kale into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 310 calories and feeds 4, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz lean ground turkey
- 14 oz can, undrained diced tomatoes
- 2 cups, chopped kale
- 1 medium, diced zucchini
- 1/2 cup, diced onion
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 pepper, minced chipotle peppers in adobo
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Brown 12 oz lean ground turkey in a skillet over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes until fully cooked, breaking into small pieces.
- Step 2: Transfer turkey to the slow cooker, add 14 oz diced tomatoes (undrained), 1/2 cup diced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 minced chipotle pepper, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp sea salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 3: Stir in 1 medium diced zucchini and 2 cups chopped kale, ensuring kale is distributed.
- Step 4: Cook on LOW for 3 hours until zucchini is tender and flavors are well blended, stirring once halfway through.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Turkey & Vegetable Chili with Chipotle take to make?
Total time is about 200 minutes (20 min prep + 180 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Turkey & Vegetable Chili with Chipotle?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for crisp items, or in the fridge for anything dairy- or produce-based, for up to 3–5 days. Re-crisp baked snacks in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes if they soften.
Can I substitute ingredients in Turkey & Vegetable Chili with Chipotle?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Turkey & Vegetable Chili with Chipotle for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Turkey & Vegetable Chili with Chipotle whole30?
Yes — this recipe is tagged whole30 based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Made this for my family and everyone asked for the recipe.
- ★★★★★
Added some red pepper flakes for heat — highly recommend.
- ★★★☆☆
Not bad. Would need significant modifications to make it a regular.
