Simple Turkey Chili Recipe Mediterranean-style

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This simple turkey chili recipe with ground turkey breast, beans and a homemade chili seasoning is one of the tastiest Mediterranean diet recipes. Whether prepared on the stove-top or in a slow cooker, this healthy chili recipe turns out perfect every time! My friends even call it 'award-winning' because it's the best chili they've ever had!

A bowl with turkey chili, lime slices, and parsley.

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📋Turkey Chili Ingredients
🔪 Turkey Chili Instructions
👨‍🍳 Turkey Chili Toppings
🎥Recipe Video
📖 Recipe

I find that Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine share some similarities, so I had to make a Mediterranean chili con carne which is so easy and simple to make and yet so flavorful!

You could also call it Greek chili, and if the Kalamata olives, the oregano and the Greek yogurt don't make it Greek enough, then just add some crumbled feta cheese as topping. It pairs extremely well!

Most of the times I eat it with brown rice, quinoa or homemade pita bread but for a low carb dish you can also serve it with steamed green beans or even peas.

For more ground meat recipes check these Pitacos - Pita bread tacos with ground beef and beans, these healthy (and low calorie) Mediterranean style chicken lettuce wraps and of course the ultimate comfort food, this spaghetti sauce with ground beef - Ragu Bolognese

😍 Why to make this Mediterranean chili recipe

✓ Delicious: The careful browning of the meat and the chili seasoning give tones of flavor making this one of the tastiest ground turkey recipes.

✓ Easy: It can be made on the stove or in your slow cooker or crock-pot.

✓ Healthy: Made with lean ground turkey breast, fiber-rich red kidney beans (or your favorite beans like black beans), and a generous serving of vegetables, this dish is sure to top your list of favorite Mediterranean diet recipes.

✓ One of the best freezer friendly foods which can easily be incorporated in your monthly meal plan.

📋Turkey Chili Ingredients

For this healthy Mediterranean turkey chili recipe you'll need the following simple ingredients:

Ground turkey breast
olive oil
Onion (can be fresh or onion powder)
garlic clove (can be fresh or onion powder)
Chicken broth (or water with 1 chicken bouillon added)
Pureed tomatoes
Green bell pepper
Red bell pepper
Red kidney beans (you can also use black beans)
Sweet corn
Parsley
Kalamata olives
chili seasoning (homemade or store bought)

Mediterranean turkey chili ingredients with tags.

For the homemade chili seasoning:

Sweet paprika
Smoked paprika (can probably replace this with a few drops of liquid smoke but I've never tried it)
Ground cumin
Dried oregano
Freshly grated black pepper

Optional: If you want your chili spicy, add some cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce.

✏️ Top Tip! Spices can have a stronger or weaker flavor depending on their origin, age and storage conditions (especially cumin can lose its smell very fast). Taste your chili halfway through cooking and add more seasoning if needed.

🥣 Variations

With ground beef: Just replace the turkey with ground beef. Everything else stays the same.

🔪 Turkey Chili Instructions

This is a quick guide for how to make ground turkey chili recipe. For the detailed step-by-step instructions with photos, check out the recipe card at the end of this post-or watch the quick video just before the recipe!

1. Sauté the ground turkey over high heat until well browned.

2. Add the chili powder, the onion, and the garlic and stir until the onion is soft.

3. Add the chicken stock, the tomatoes, the bell peppers, the beans and the olives and simmer until the chili remains with a thick sauce.

4. Just before the end, add the sweet corn and the parsley.

✏️ How do you thicken turkey chili?

The best way to thicken chili is to let it simmer over low heat until some of the liquid is evaporated. If you want it extra thick, all you have to do is mix some corn starch with cold water and add this mixture to the chili while it is still simmering. Stir well until the corn starch coagulates and forms a thick sauce.

Serve this Mediterranean turkey chili with fluffy long grain rice on the stove, tortillas, homemade pita bread or even with Italian-style mashed potatoes.

How to make this recipe in the slow cooker

Reduce the chicken broth to half and brown the turkey and the onions before adding them to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Cook the chili on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.

👨‍🍳 Turkey Chili Toppings

This easy turkey chili is delicious on its own, but here are some toppings for your chili bowl, to make it even better:

Greek Yogurt (or even this Greek yogurt dip) will add some tanginess and it's also healthier than the usual sour cream. If you've run out of yogurt, check these Greek yogurt substitutes and how to use them.
Green onions, chives, or these quick pickled onions.
Cheese: Feta cheese is great (it's also lower in fat), but shredded cheddar cheese, pepperjack, or Monterey Jack will also do.
Red pepper flakes
Tortilla chips
Avocado and lime juice.

💭 FAQs

What is chili?

According to mvtimes.com chili is a thick sauce of meat and chilies (peppers). For a lot of people meat is essential while for others beans should never exist in it. Many recipes include tomatoes, but there also a lot of chili recipes without.

What is the best secret ingredient for chili?

If I had to chose just one ingredient that should never be omitted then that would be smoked paprika. It gives character and a subtle smoky flavor you will adore. Also, though it's not an ingredient, a long and slow simmer will result in a perfectly delicious chili.

Is Turkey Chili good for you? And is it healthier than beef chili?

Yes it is! Most dietary guidelines recommend reducing the amount of dark red meat (such as beef) since over-consumption is linked with heart and cardiovascular problems. White lean meat like chicken and turkey breast is considered to be healthier and also has fewer calories.
In addition, turkey is a great source of selenium, an important antioxidant with a key role in the metabolism.