QUICK White Turkey Chili Recipe (spicy or mild) - Delicious Little Bites (2024)

White Turkey Chili is a really quick and easy, hearty recipe that is just loaded with flavor. It’s a great way to use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. The instructions include both spicy and mild variations.

QUICK White Turkey Chili Recipe (spicy or mild) - Delicious Little Bites (1)

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White Chicken Chili has been on my to-make list for so long, and when I finally got around to making it, it turned into a White Turkey Chili. Ah well, I’ll get around to that chicken chili someday, but for now, I am loving this turkey version.

This is considered a white chili because it uses a milk-base rather than tomato, like in this other recipe of mine for Instant Pot Turkey Chili. It’s not actually white though. This is due to the added chili powder and cumin.

White Turkey Chili tastes great on its own, but also pairs will with breads like Rosemary Focaccia for soaking up all the extra liquid. It’s definitely healthy comfort food at it’s best!

Why This Recipe Works

This is an incredibly easy recipe that takes less than 30 minutes, but tastes as if you spent hours upon hours making it.

It’s a great way to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey. You can use a roasted, grilled, or smoked turkey. If you don’t have leftover turkey, you can quickly cook turkey chops or tenderloins instead.

This recipe uses ingredients like kale, shallot, garlic, white beans to keep it light and healthy yet comforting and hearty. Whole milk is added to make it creamy. There are approximately 285 calories per serving and only 9 grams of fat.

This recipe can be made spicy or mild to keep it more family and kid-friendly.

How to Make White Turkey Chili (spicy or mild)

What You Need To Make This Recipe

QUICK White Turkey Chili Recipe (spicy or mild) - Delicious Little Bites (2)

To make this recipe, you will need:

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 shallot (finely diced)
  • 1 jalapeno pepper (finely diced, optional)
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (can add more later, if needed)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 4 cups kale (roughly chopped)
  • 2 cups turkey (cooked and shredded)
  • 1 15 ounce can cannellini beans (drained)
  • 1 cup vegetable stock
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch

The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.

Prep!

If you are not using leftover turkey, you will need to cook and shred your turkey first.

Mince the garlic, and finely dice the shallot, and jalapeno. Roughly chop the kale and cilantro. Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and set aside.

Create!

QUICK White Turkey Chili Recipe (spicy or mild) - Delicious Little Bites (3)

Add the olive oil to a stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.

Once the oil is hot, add the garlic, shallot, jalapeno (if using), cilantro leaves, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the vegetables are just tender.

QUICK White Turkey Chili Recipe (spicy or mild) - Delicious Little Bites (4)

Add the kale and cook another 2-3 minutes until it is just starting to wilt.

QUICK White Turkey Chili Recipe (spicy or mild) - Delicious Little Bites (5)

Stir in the turkey, cannellini beans, vegetable stock, milk, and cornstarch slurry. Raise the heat to simmer and cook 3-4 minutes until the liquid starts to thicken.

Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed.

Present!

QUICK White Turkey Chili Recipe (spicy or mild) - Delicious Little Bites (6)

Serve hot with your favorite chili toppings.

Topping Suggestions For White Chili

Here are some ideas for toppings for your white chili:

  • Shredded cheese like white cheddar or even crumbled queso
  • Sour Cream
  • Avocado
  • Lime
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Green onion
  • Jalapeno pepper slices
  • Tomatoes
  • Salsa
  • Corn
  • Bacon
  • Tortilla strips

Tips and Techniques

  • Omit the jalapeno pepper for a mild chili. You can also remove the seeds from the jalapeno for a hint of spiciness.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cooked turkey should be used within 3-4 days from the day it was first prepared.

FAQ’s

Can You Freeze White Turkey Chili?

Yes. You can freeze white turkey chili in freezer bags or airtight containers. Use within 3 months.

To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

More Turkey Recipes

Here are more turkey recipes that you might want to try:

  • Healthy Turkey Quinoa Bowls
  • Rosemary Apricot Glazed Turkey
  • Strawberry Basil Roasted Turkey Recipe
  • Parmesan Crusted Turkey Cutlets
  • Turkey Cutlets with Rosemary and Thyme
  • Italian Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
  • Grilled Turkey BLT Sandwich with Roasted Garlic Aioli

Love this White Turkey Chili recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

If you try this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would please leave a comment and star rating. Thanks!

QUICK White Turkey Chili Recipe (spicy or mild) - Delicious Little Bites (7)

Print

White Turkey Chili

White Turkey Chili is a really quick and easy, hearty recipe that is just loaded with flavor. It’s a great way to use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. The instructions include both spicy and mild variations.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, Gluten Free, Turkey

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 285kcal

Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the olive oil to a stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Whisk together cornstarch and water. Set aside.

  • Once the oil is hot, add the garlic, shallot, jalapeno (if using), cilantro leaves, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the vegetables are just tender.

  • Add the kale and cook another 2-3 minutes until it is just starting to wilt.

  • Stir in the turkey, cannellini beans, vegetable stock, milk, and cornstarch slurry. Raise the heat to simmer and cook 3-4 minutes until the liquid starts to thicken.

  • Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed.

  • Serve hot with your favorite chili toppings.

Notes

Tips and Techniques

  • Omit the jalapeno pepper for a mild chili. You can also remove the seeds from the jalapeno for a hint of spiciness.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cooked turkey should be used within 3-4 days from the day it was first prepared.

** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary. Optional toppings are not included.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 733mg | Potassium: 598mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 7273IU | Vitamin C: 86mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 5mg

This recipe was originally published on February 6, 2020. It was updated with new images, more thorough instructions, tips, techniques, and FAQ’s in October 2020.

QUICK White Turkey Chili Recipe (spicy or mild) - Delicious Little Bites (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between chili and white chili? ›

Regular chili has a rich base of red chilies (or chili powder) and sometimes tomato, while white chili calls for green chilies. We use canned Hatch green chilies, white beans, and tender shredded chicken to make our white chili recipe. It tastes quite different from red chili but is just as delicious!

How do you fix bland turkey chili? ›

In addition to those, I like adding ground cumin, and usually more chili powder than any recipe calls for. If it needs depth, I like to add some molasses. If it needs a little sweetness, either molasses or maple syrup. I enjoy dishes that have a good salt to sweetness balance.

How to make chili more flavorful? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

Is mild spicy or not? ›

Mild is the lowest level of spice.

Mild means “not extreme,” so it's used to describe the least spicy foods. Medium, on the other hand, means “to be in the middle,” and is between mild and hot. Some mild and medium store-bought products can taste pretty similar, which can cause a little bit of confusion.

What cancels out spicy taste? ›

Sweet Defeats Heat

Adding something sweet to a too-spicy dish is another great way to reduce spiciness. A sprinkle of sugar or honey should do the trick. Or add a touch of sweet ketchup. If it's a tomato-based sauce, stir in a little more tomato sauce and maybe a touch of sugar.

What is a thickening agent for white chili? ›

Cornmeal is one of our go-to thickening agents for chili. Unlike all-purpose flour, this Southern pantry staple adds a subtle earthy flavor to the chili in addition to thickening it up. You can use white or yellow cornmeal that is fine to medium-grain.

Why do you put white vinegar in chili? ›

Stirred into the pot right before serving, a spoonful of vinegar brightens up the finished product, and gives it that full, rounded taste that was missing. Even if the chili recipe you're using doesn't call for vinegar, go ahead and add it anyway. You won't actually taste the tang or sharp flavor of the vinegar.

Which color chilli is hottest? ›

The more capsaicin, the hotter the chili pepper. And this means that of the same variety, red ones are hotter than green chili peppers.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

Should I cook onions before putting in chili? ›

Sautéing onions, garlic, and other veggies first coaxes maximum flavor out of them. So make sure your onions, for example, are soft and translucent before you add your liquid.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What to add to chili to make it spicy? ›

Spicier chili: to make chili even spicier, don't remove the ribs or seeds from the jalapeño. You can also add hot sauce, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes or dice up another hot chili pepper. I recommend trying the recipe as stated and letting the flavors sit for a few hours before adding additional spice.

How to give chili a deeper flavor? ›

How to Give Chili a Flavor Boost
  1. Add something acidic. ...
  2. Try to identify what about your chili is boring. ...
  3. Add tomato paste. ...
  4. Drop in some chocolate. ...
  5. Embrace pickling liquid. ...
  6. Stir in some molasses.

What neutralizes spicy chili? ›

Remember how we said capsaicin is an alkaline molecule? Balancing it with an acid can help neutralize the molecule's activity. This means drinking or eating something acidic — such as lemonade, limeade, orange juice or a tomato-based food item or drink — may also help cool your mouth down.

How do you neutralize white pepper taste? ›

Sour cream, yogurt, ghee, butter and milk can all neutralize the pepper flavor, depending on the dish. Mix in a small amount of a dairy and see if you taste a difference. Cream or milk helps balance out broth-heavy dishes, as well as a variety of other recipes.

How do you reduce the taste of white peppers? ›

One of the simplest ways to reduce the pepper taste in your food is by diluting it with neutral ingredients. This can be done by adding more of the other ingredients in your recipe to balance out the strong flavor. For example: Add more vegetables or proteins to your dish to spread out the pepper flavor.

How do you neutralize the effects of chili? ›

How can I counteract the effects of eating too much chili? One way is to drink a glass of milk or eat some dairy products, which contain casein, a protein that can help neutralize the effects of capsaicin. Drinking water or eating starchy foods can also help dilute the spiciness.

References

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