Three Bean Turkey Chili

posted by Katya on Oct 9, 2020 (updated Oct 24, 2022) 1 comment »

Hearty three bean turkey chili with turkey sausage, ground turkey, and a whole lotta beans. It’s thick, comforting, and makes enough for leftovers!

There’s no doubt that turkey chili is pretty popular here. Everything from Turkey Quinoa Chili, Leftover Turkey Chili, to Sweet and Spicy Chili. We love all types of chili recipes! Turkey chili is so easy to make, tasty, and a total crowd-pleaser.

Today, I’m sharing this 3 bean turkey chili recipe with seasoned Italian turkey sausage, ground turkey, and three types of beans. It’s thick, filling, and makes a big pot. So you have plenty of leftovers to enjoy the next day. Or to freeze for later!

The BEST Turkey Chili Recipe with Beans

Comfort food at its finest – Hearty chilis are the epitome of comfort food, especially during the cooler months. Once Fall is here, there’s no better time to start chili season than with a hearty bean chili with turkey to ‘tis the season.
Hearty and thick – I love this chili because it is loaded with three different beans in a rich, thick tomato base sauce.
Easy one-pot chili recipe – Start with browning the turkey, then the veggies, and continue to layer in the ingredients. Easy peasy!
Ready in just 1 hour – From prep to finish, this recipe comes together in an hour and has tons of flavor.

Ingredients

Chili recipes are versatile and easy to create a flavor that you want to enjoy over again. This chili recipe uses simple ingredients to create a wholesome meal with common pantry ingredients and vegetables. Here’s what you’ll need:

Turkey – I use turkey sausage and ground turkey. Remove the sausage meat from the casing before adding the pan, and use a spatula to chop.
Vegetables – onion, bell pepper, garlic, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and frozen corn. You can substitute green bell pepper for any color and use canned corn or fresh corn if preferred.
Beans – a can of each black bean, red kidney beans, and cannellini beans. Use dry beans instead and follow the package instructions to prepare beforehand.
Seasonings – chili powder and cumin. Add a little heat with a dash of cayenne or red pepper flakes to taste.
Chicken broth – you can substitute this for vegetable broth or another cooking liquid.

Best Beans for Chili

This chili recipe is all about the beans. You’ll need black beans, red kidney beans, and cannellini beans. Look for canned beans that are simply beans without any added ingredients.

Black Beans: Black beans are soft, creamy, and mild. They don’t have an overwhelming flavor and take on the flavor of whatever they’re cooked in. Not to mention you can pick up a can of black beans at just about any supermarket!
Red Kidney Beans: Kidney beans are a classic. Their soft and buttery texture makes them popular in chili recipes. A good substitute for kidney beans is red beans. They are smaller and rounder but similar in taste and texture.
Cannellini Beans: Originally from Italy, cannellini beans are white in color with a silky texture and nutty flavor. They are a delicious contrast to the black and red kidney beans.

How to Make Three Bean Turkey Chili

To make 3 bean turkey chili all you need is a heavy-duty soup pot or dutch-oven. I used a 6.5 quart dutch-oven for this recipe. This recipe makes 8-1o servings.

Cook the turkey & veggies: In a large dutch-oven brown the sausage and ground turkey. Stir in onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, and cumin. Cook until the onions are tender.

Add the liquids & beans: Add broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes until slightly reduced. Stir in beans and corn. Cook until heated through.

browned turkey and veggies in dutch oven

Topping Ideas

Avocado – Chopped avocado adds a creamy texture and earthy flavor.
Tortilla strips or potato chips – Add a nice crunch to your chili for texture and saltiness.
Chopped hot peppers – jalapeno or serrano peppers on top for a spicy kick. Fresh or pickled are both options.
Shredded cheese – any shredded cheese would go great on top of chili.
Sour cream or plain yogurt – Soothe the richness with a cool, creamy addition.

Can I Make This in a Slow Cooker?

This recipe can easily be made in a slow cooker. I highly recommend that you first brown the turkey and vegetables in a skillet and then transfer to a slow cooker. You’ll get the most flavor that way.

Add the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker and stir well. Cook on high 6 to 8 hours or low 10 to 12 hours.

Tips for Making Turkey Chili with Beans

Drain and rinse the beans – This will wash off the excess sodium and starch from the beans resulting in a cleaner-tasting chili.
Purchase pre-cut vegetables – Make this chili recipe easier by using precut veggies like onions, green peppers, and garlic.
Make extra for freezing – When you make the best 3 bean turkey chili, you can make more for meal prep or another dinner—double the batch for a quick and easy dinner from the freezer.
Use leftovers to make a dip – Mix a cup of this turkey chili in with my feta cheese dip for a tasty, creamy chili dip. Serve this up on Game Day for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Serve over rice or pasta – this is an easy way to extend the servings or to enjoy leftovers as an additional chili meal idea.

Leftover Chili

Leftover three bean turkey chili lasts in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container.

This chili also freezes really well and reheats really well. It will keep in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw out overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as usual.

More Chili Recipes to Try