White Bean Turkey Chili

Looking for a cozy, protein-packed meal that the whole family will love? This White Bean Turkey Chili is your answer. Lean turkey, creamy white beans and a touch of warming spices come together in one pot to create a comforting, healthy dinner — perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.

Author and food advocate Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma created this recipe while trying to find an alternative for a family favourite: red chili with beef. “I’m using new (to me) vegetables to make this dish wholesome,” Chhitwal-Varma writes, referring to the 3 cups of leafy greens in the chili recipe.

When Chhitwal-Varma, and other nutrition experts, talk about leafy greens, they’re referring to those nutrient-packed vegetables with edible green leaves — low in calories, high in fibre and loaded with vitamins and minerals. Adding leafy greens – like kale, spinach, collard greens and mustard greens – to your chili is an easy way to up the nutrition.

Why You’ll Love This White Bean Turkey Chili

• Healthy & High-Protein: Lean turkey keeps it low in fat but rich in flavour.
• One-Pot Wonder: Minimal cleanup — cook everything in a single pot.
• Versatile: Serve it on its own, with cornbread or over rice.
• Family-Friendly: Mildly spiced but full of flavour — kids love it too!

White Bean Turkey Chili - Healthy, One-Pot Dinner

Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma

Warm up with this comforting White Bean Turkey Chili. Made with lean turkey, creamy white beans and subtle spices, it’s an easy 40-minute meal perfect for cozy weeknights.

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Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 2 black cardamom pods
• 2 bay leaves
• 8 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 1 cup chopped white onions
• 10 oz (300 g) ground turkey
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 can (19 oz/540 mL) white or navy beans drained and rinsed
• 1 cup sweet apple cider
• salt to taste
• 3 cups dark leafy greens
• lime juice and wedges
• chopped cilantro to taste

Instructions

 

• Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot on medium heat. Once you see the oil shimmer, add the fennel seeds, cardamom pods and bay leaves. Toss and let the seeds brown gently, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and let it sauté for a couple of minutes.
• Add the onions and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. The onions will slowly turn translucent and release their liquid. Once that happens, add the ground turkey, coriander, and black pepper. Turn the heat to medium-high and allow the meat to brown for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the beans and apple cider and cook on high for 1 minute. Turn the heat down to medium, add salt to taste and stir it all together. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes. Stir halfway through to check that it’s all coming together, and add water if needed.
• Turn the heat off and stir in the greens. Put the lid back on and let the chili sit for a few minutes. Taste and adjust the salt and consistency to your preference.
• Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lime juice, chopped cilantro and lime wedges.

Notes

Examples of leafy greens to add to chili

• Spinach
• Kale
• Swiss chard
• Romaine lettuce
• Collard greens
• Mustard greens
• Beet greens

Keyword chili, comfort food, family-friendly, healthy, high-protein, one-pot meal, turkey, weeknight meal, White bean

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Recipe excerpted from Good Food, Healthy Planet by Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma. Adapted for ELLE Gourmet. Copyright © 2024 by Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma. Reprinted with permission of TouchWood Editions (touchwoodeditions.com).