Nothing warms your bones like chili. And this spicy red kidney bean chili, made with ground turkey and a touch of cayenne pepper, really hits the spot! Prepared in just 30 minutes, this hearty comfort food is a great choice on any 'chilly', fall or winter night!
Why this recipe works
This quick and easy turkey red kidney bean chili is great for when you want to make a tasty meal without too much effort.
Cook a batch for a lazy weeknight dinner then take the leftovers into work as a packed lunch. It is super easy to store and will keep you full throughout the day because it is packed with protein and fiber.
You can serve it with rice or tortilla chips depending on how hungry you are. The rich tomato sauce is packed with spices and flavor to bring you the ultimate comfort meal. Spicy cayenne pepper and aromatic cumin layered with earthy oregano and fresh cilantro combine to form this chilis multidimensional flavor palette.
Though this dish is typically cooked with ground beef, we’ve opted for ground turkey to provide a leaner and healthier protein base. Garnish with some red onions, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and tangy cheddar cheese and enjoy!
If you like a good comfort food with beans, try this Pasta Fazool. It's a family recipe that you're sure to love.
Table of contents
Ingredients
This spicy red kidney bean chili calls for just five main ingredients, a little olive oil, a few spices and some toppings. It's a no frills, no stress, damn good tasting turkey chili.
Ground Turkey
Ground turkey offers a neutral protein to this dish which is the perfect base to soak up the herbs and spices this chili is saturated in. This meat is packed with protein and praised for being a ‘clean’ meat. It provides other B vitamins and zinc and is relatively low in fat.
Cheddar Cheese
Though not compulsory, garnishing your bowl of rich chili with some sharp cheddar cheese seems like an essential step to me. When it melts into the surface layers of your stew you’ll be left with a creamy stringy cheese pull with each bite you take. Delicious!
Spice mix
We use a few different spices for this recipe. It is possible to switch some out if you find your spice rack has gaps. For me cumin is a must and cayenne gives it a nice kick but can be omitted for those who don’t like spice. If you’re feeling lazy you could find yourself a good pre-made spice mix which you can keep in your cupboard for recipes like this one, but to me, a homemade spice makes all the difference.
How to make it
I love how simple it is to make this chili. It makes an easy weeknight dinner and a great option to store for a packed lunch. Below is a step by step walkthrough with all the exact measurements of ingredients in the recipe card below. Let's get to it!
- Heat some oil in a pan and saute the onions and garlic.
- Add your ground turkey and cook until browned and most of the liquid from the meat has evaporated.
- Add your tomato paste and mix all together.
- Add your spices and mix together. Cover and let simmer for a few minutes.
- Add your red kidney beans and simmer for about five minutes.
And there you have it! This is one of my absolute favorite recipes, not just for the flavor but for how easy it is to put together. A true win-win for all us busy people!
Substitutions & variations
- Meat - ground turkey can be replaced with ground beef, pork or chicken.
- Beans - you may replace the red kidney beans with other beans of your choice. Black, pinto, navy, and fava beans are all good options if you're going to go with something other than red kidney beans. Just be sure to wash and drain the beans properly if they are canned.
- Tomato - this chili recipe is unique because it calls for only tomato paste. In my opinion, the paste makes it heartier and gives it a nice, deep red color with some good flavor. But you can absolutely swap out the tomato paste for diced tomatoes. Just keep in mind that it will be more liquidy, so if you want a drier chili, just simmer it for longer in step 3.
- Vegetarian/Vegan - for a vegetarian version of this red kidney bean chili, you can replace the meat with a mix of different types of beans that you want. Removing the cheese from the vegetarian version, will make it vegan.
FAQs
Chili can last 3-4 days in the fridge if sealed in an airtight container immediately after cooling. Alternatively, batch cook this meal and store in the fridge to whip out for an easy dinner over the next few months.
I love my chili with a side of tortilla chips. They act as a great serving utensil and give the meal an added crunch with each mouthful. Alternatively you can serve it with rice which I find is more filling and slightly healthier. If you’re wanting something lighter you can always have it on it’s own. Sometimes I slice an avocado on top to add some healthy filling fats into the mix.
The dreaded ground turkey vs ground beef debate! Turkey is praised for being a lean healthy protein. Compared to beef it is lower in saturated fats and calories. Of course feel free to substitute turkey for your preferred meat or whatever you feel like that day!
Tips & tricks
- Be sure to cook off most of the liquid when browning the ground turkey. Remember, we're going for a thicker chili here, so try and let most of the juices evaporate before adding the tomato paste.
- Don't forget to rinse and drain the red kidney beans if you're using canned. If you've ever used canned beans, you probably noticed a thick, goopy liquid that covers the beans. This gooey substance is high in both starch and sodium so unless you're following a recipe that specifically calls for it, remove it and allow the beans a sufficient amount of time to drain. Here's a stand up mesh strainer I typically use. If you're in the market for one, you can purchase it here through my Amazon affiliate link.
- Go easy on the cayenne pepper to start. If your tolerance for spicy foods is low, my advice is to start with ⅛ of a teaspoon, taste it, and then add more if you want.
- Chilis are great when they're loaded with toppings. This red kidney bean chili recipe calls for cheddar cheese, red onion and fresh cilantro on top, but feel free to pack it on! Avocado, crushed tortilla chips, fresh lime juice, sour cream, diced tomatoes and sliced jalapenos are all great additions to your chili.
Other recipes you may like
So, what did you think? If you enjoyed it, I would much appreciate if you leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. And don't worry I'm an Italian from New Jersey...I got thick skin!
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Recipe
Spicy Red Kidney Bean Chili with Ground Turkey
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 2 tbsp garlic minced
- ½ cup white onion minced
- 2 cup red kidney beans washed and drained
- 3 oz tomato paste
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp oregano dried
- cayenne pepper to taste
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
Toppings
- 2 tbsp red onion chopped
- 2 tbsp cheddar cheese shredded
- fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Heat up oil in a pot then saute the white onions and garlic until fragrant.
- Add the ground turkey, and cook until almost all of the liquid from the meat has evaporated - about 10 minutes or so.
- Add the tomato paste and mix all together.
- Mix in the chili powder, cumin powder, dried oregano and a touch of cayenne pepper. Cover, then simmer over low heat for about 5-10 minutes.
- Mix in the red kidney beans and add the salt and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Serve in bowls and garnish with cheddar cheese, red onions and chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Be sure to cook off most of the liquid when browning the ground turkey. Remember, we're going for a thicker chili here, so try and let most of the juices evaporate before adding the tomato paste.
- Don't forget to rinse and drain the red kidney beans if you're using canned. If you've ever used canned beans, you probably noticed a thick, goopy liquid that covers the beans. This gooey substance is high in both starch and sodium so unless you're following a recipe that specifically calls for it, remove it and allow the beans a sufficient amount of time to drain.
- Go easy on the cayenne pepper to start. If your tolerance for spicy foods is low, my advice is to start with ⅛ of a teaspoon, taste it, and then add more if you want.
- Chilis are great when they're loaded with toppings. This red kidney bean chili recipe calls for cheddar cheese, red onion and fresh cilantro on top, but feel free to pack it on! Avocado, crushed tortilla chips, fresh lime juice, sour cream (or Greek yogurt if you want it healthier), diced tomatoes and sliced jalapenos are all great additions to your chili.
- Nutritional information provided is based on a best guess-timate and will vary depending on the brands you use and other variations you take with this recipe. It is recommended you check your exact measurements to come up with your own figures.
Nutrition
About The Skinny Guinea
Hey...how you doin'? I'm Tommy, The Skinny Guinea…just a busy dad who loves to cook. Offering easy to cook dinners and family friendly recipes, while always staying true to my Italian roots!
Quick, easy, delicious