Healthy 30-Minute Turkey Quinoa Chili

Name: Healthy 30-Minute Turkey Quinoa Chili
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 6 slices bacon (cut into ½ inch pieces); 1 medium sweet onion (diced); 5 cloves garlic (minced); 1 smoked ham hock (or use smoked shank or turkey wings); 2 lbs ground turkey; 2 poblano peppers (fire roasted and diced); 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon chili powder; 2 teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste); 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 14.5 oz can fire roasted tomatoes; 3 ½ cups chicken stock; 2 cans black beans (rinsed and drained); 1 ½ cups corn (roasted or regular frozen corn); ¾ cup quinoa (uncooked); avocado (sliced); greek yogurt; radishes (sliced); cilantro (chopped); lime (cut into wedges)

You’re going to love this hearty and Healthy 30-Minute Turkey Quinoa Chili. Filled with ground turkey, quinoa, bacon, beans, and roasted poblano peppers, this comforting one-pot meal is perfect for weeknight dinners and meal prep!

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Originally posted on 02/25/2017 – Updated on 10/20/2021

large bowl filled with turkey chili and topped with avocado, radishes, sour cream, and cilantro

I could go on and on about how much I love this Healthy 30-Minute Turkey Quinoa Chili! It’s the ultimate cold weather meal because it’s loaded with plenty of smoky, comforting ingredients like ground turkey, poblano peppers, hearty bacon, quinoa, and black beans. Enjoy it as an easy weeknight dinner or freeze it for later!

womans hand dipping a spoon into a bowl of turkey chili topped with avocado, cilantro, sour cream, and radishes.

You’ll be surprised at just how low maintenance this turkey quinoa chili recipe really is. Once the poblano peppers are roasted, everything is thrown in one big pot and left to simmer to bring all of the intricate layers of flavor together. Every bite is filling, smoky, hearty, and savory!

Want more quick, easy, and family-friendly one-pot dinners? You should try my Beef Short Ribs and Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup!

Turkey chili ingredients and substitutions

Ground turkey – Lean ground turkey is very nutritious and flavorful on its own, making it a great choice for healthy chili. If you want, feel free to use ground chicken or lean Mexican beef instead.
Quinoa – The quinoa cooks right in the chili, making this an easy one-pot chili recipe. Feel free to substitute quinoa with rice, barley, or another grain if you want.
Bacon – Because chili is always better with bacon!
Smoked ham hock – This is completely optional but it gives the chili a beautiful smoky flavor. You should be able to find a ham hock in the deli section at your local grocery store, but if not, feel free to omit it.
Black beans – Or use pinto beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans, or chickpeas.
Corn – Use frozen corn to keep things simple or roast or grill corn on the cob for extra flavor.
Poblano peppers – I love the smokiness roasted poblano peppers add to chili but if you can’t find any, you can replace them with chopped bell peppers to saute with the onions.
Seasonings – Classic chili seasonings like cumin, oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika are all you need.
Fire roasted tomatoes – These charred tomatoes are perfect in a hearty, healthy turkey chili, but regular diced tomatoes will work just as well.

small white bowls filled with raw onion, corn, beans, tomatoes, ground meat, quinoa, bacon, and spices.

How to make turkey quinoa chili

Time needed: 35 minutes

Roast the poblano peppers.
Roast the poblanos on your gas stovetop or in the oven until they’re charred on all sides. Transfer them to a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap to help the peppers “sweat”. When the peppers are cool enough to handle, peel the charred skin off and chop them up.
Saute the onion and bacon.
To a large pot, add some oil and heat over medium heat. Saute the bacon and onion together for about 5 minutes.
Add the turkey and seasonings.
Add the ground turkey, garlic, chopped peppers, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt to the pot and stir. Cook until the turkey begins to brown.
Add the rest, simmer, then serve.
Next, add the diced tomatoes, smoked ham hock, chicken stock, beans, and quinoa, and corn. Stir everything together and bring it up to a boil. Once it’s boiling, turn down the heat and let it simmer until the quinoa is cooked. When it’s ready, top each bowl with lots of toppings and enjoy!

wood spoon mixing bacon and onions in a black skillet.

wood spoon mixing ground meat in a black skillet.

overhead view of a black pot filled with corn, beans, broth, quinoa, and green peppers.

Healthy toppings for chili

Avocado slices or chunks
Greek yogurt
Sliced radishes
Pickled red onions
Cilantro
Lime wedges
Tortilla chips
Sour cream
Shredded cheese
Red chimichurri sauce

Don’t forget the cornbread or dinner rolls on the side!

wooden spoon stirring chili in a large black pot.

Helpful tips and FAQs

Make this chili recipe after Thanksgiving or the holidays when you have lots of leftover turkey to use up.
Customize your ground turkey chili by adding in sweet potato, butternut squash, broccoli, greens, or anything else you like.

A bowl of turkey chili topped with avocado, cilantro, sour cream, and radishes.

Can you make turkey quinoa chili in the slow cooker?

Turkey chili with quinoa is really easy to make in the slow cooker. Saute the bacon, onions, garlic, and turkey in a pan on the stove. Once they’re all ready, add them to the crockpot along with the rest of the chili ingredients. Cook on High for 4 hours or on Low for 7 hours.

Can you make it in the Instant Pot?

To make turkey quinoa chili in the Instant Pot, first saute the ground turkey in some oil on Saute mode. Transfer it to a plate when it’s browned, then saute the bacon, onion, and garlic in the IP with a little more oil.

Turn off Saute mode and add everything into the IP. Cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes. Release the pressure valve and remove the lid once all of the pressure has been released. Adjust the seasonings as needed, then serve with all of the toppings you love.

Can it be made ahead of time?

Chili is one of the best make ahead meals and a great choice for meal prep and easy weeknight dinners. When the batch is ready, let it cool and store it in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Can you freeze turkey quinoa chili?

Yes! Add the cooked and cooled batch to airtight containers or ziploc bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Let the frozen chili thaw in the fridge before you reheat it on the stove or microwave.

Looking for more hearty and comforting dinner recipes?

Did you try this Healthy 30-Minute Turkey Quinoa Chili? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below and giving this recipe a rating! Don’t forget to take a picture tag me on Instagram or use #lenaskitchenblog to be featured in my stories! I love seeing what you come up with!