Skinny Slow Cooker Turkey Chilli

A delicious, healthier version of an American Classic. My Skinny Slow Cooker Turkey Chilli is not only tasty and healthy, it is really easy too!

An alternative to an American classic 

Chilli Con Carne was the first meal my Mum taught me to make as a child. It is still one I make often and really love.

However I do like to try and adapt tasty recipes to make healthier versions. Obviously healthier recipes can’t compromise on taste and my Skinny Slow Cooker Turkey Chilli definitely doesn’t. 

Is Chilli American or Mexican?

Chilli Con Carne is a well known recipe but there are sometimes questions about it’s origin. Although it is inspired by Mexican flavours, it is definitely an American dish. 

I don’t think Mexicans would generally like Chilli Con Carne to be credited as a Mexican recipe!

However, in this Skinny Slow Cooker Turkey Chilli I have tried to use a few more ingredients that you would find in Mexican cooking. 

Switching from beef to turkey mince 

The most noticeable change from the usual chilli to my Skinny Slow Cooker Turkey Chilli is the change in the meat. 

Instead of using beef mince (ground beef), I decided to use turkey mince (ground turkey) as a way to make the meal healthier. 

It makes is a lighter dish altogether which makes it especially perfect for the warmer months. 

Which turkey is best to use?

Most supermarkets and butchers will offer two types of turkey mince. This is either breast or dark meat from the leg and thigh. 

The breast mince is usually around 2% fat whereas the dark meat is around 5% fat. I use both but it depends on the recipe as to which I use.

If I am making something like my Herby Turkey Burgers I would use the ground thigh mince to add moisture and flavour. 

With this recipe you can use the breast meat mince as there are so many flavours in the dish it will be far from bland!

However as always, use whichever you prefer. 

What makes this skinny?

Aside from switching the meat to a leaner, healthier option there are other things that make this a skinny meal option.

The amount of meat in the recipe would usually serve four people. However in dishes that include pulses as well as meat (like my Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken); I like to stretch the portions to serve a few more people. 

This is because the pulses and vegetables help bulk out the dish without adding additional meat. It is also a great way of keeping a meal healthier. 

Adapting to your own taste

As with a lot of my recipes, you can easily adapt my Skinny Slow Cooker Turkey Chilli. If you don’t like sweetcorn, leave it out. If you really love peppers, add more.

You can also play around with the heat depending on your taste. Obviously everyone’s spice tolerance is different, but I would say that this has a mild to medium rating. If you are making this recipe for children or spice intolerant people, you can add less.

One advantage of this recipe is that you can taste it after an hour or so to see how the flavours are developing and then add a little bit more chilli powder if needed. 

Can I use different chilli powders?

I have used some of my favourite chilli powders for this recipe. You should be able to buy ancho and chipotle chilli powders in most large supermarkets. 

However if you can’t find them or would prefer not to buy them, you can use other chilli powders. Standard mild or medium chilli powder would be suitable depending on how spicy you like it.

What to do if you don’t have Mexican oregano 

Mexican oregano is a completely different plant family to the more common known oregano. 

It has a more earthy flavour with citrus notes which mean it compliments Mexican cooking really nicely. 

Mexican oregano isn’t unfortunately readily available in supermarkets. But it is fairly inexpensive to buy online. If you do like cooking Mexican food I would recommend buying some. 

However if you don’t have any, I would just leave it out altogether. It isn’t a flavour that will make or break the final dish, but more a flavour enhancer. 

I wouldn’t be tempted to simply replace it with standard oregano as it has a different flavour that wouldn’t necessarily compliment the rest of the flavours. 

How to serve this dish

I always serve chilli with rice, salad and soured cream and my Skinny Slow Cooker Turkey Chilli is no exception.

Add whichever toppings you like – avocado, coriander and onion would also be good toppings to use. I like to add a sprinkling of feta cheese because it is the closest to the cheeses traditionally used in Mexican cooking. It is also better for you that cheese like cheddar. 

You could also use this as a filling to enchiladas and burritos or even on top of nachos. It is a really versatile recipe. 

Can I still make this without a slow cooker?

Absolutely! 

Start by sweating down the onions in a small amount of oil until slightly softened. Add the ground turkey and break up and cook until browned. 

Add the spices and tomato puree and stir through for a couple of minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients. 

Allow so simmer on a medium/low heat, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes. You may need to add a splash more water if it starts getting a little dry. 

Can I freeze this Skinny Slow Cooker Turkey Chilli?

Yes, it freezes really well. 

Make sure you freeze it within two hours of it finishing cooking. When you want to defrost it, leave it in the fridge to defrost for eight hours or overnight. 

When it comes to reheating it, I like to do this in a pan on the hob. You can reheat it in the microwave if you prefer. Just make sure it is piping hot before serving. 

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