Turkey and Black Bean Chilli

This hearty, one-pot, turkey and black bean chilli recipe is packed with the usual Mexican flavours. We have cumin, chilli powder, and fresh chillis. But in addition to that we’re upping the vegetable and protein count. This turkey chilli delivers a bowl brimming with lean protein, fibre-packed black beans, and a rainbow of vegetables. Turning this comfort food favourite into a nutritional powerhouse. This is great reheated, as the flavours develop further. It’s also a great ‘batch’ dish, simply double up the quantities and load up the freezer.

Healthy Turkey Chilli: Comfort Food That Loves You Back

Turkey mince is the unsung hero here, providing all the savoury depth you crave while keeping things lighter than the traditional beef version. Combined with protein-packed black beans and a generous medley of vegetables—peppers, onions, tomatoes, carrots, celery—every spoonful delivers both flavour and nourishment.

This isn’t about sacrificing taste for health. It’s about creating a chilli that’s so satisfying and delicious, you’ll forget it’s doing you good. Perfect for a ‘get ahead’ dinner, family gatherings, or those chilly evenings when you need something warming that won’t weigh you down. This turkey and black bean chilli recipe proves that eating well can be absolutely delicious.

Other one-pot protein-packed dishes

For more similar dishes on the blog, see the list below:

• Salad of warm vegetables, lentils and halloumi
• How to cook dried chickpeas (no soak)
• Creamy lentil and carrot soup
• Carrot and lentil Bolognese
• Moroccan chicken, chickpea and vegetable tagine
• Chicken, chickpea and sweet potato curry
• Sticky beef mince stir fry

Turkey and Black Bean Chilli

This hearty turkey chilli recipe is packed with lots of vegetables and black beans. All the comfort food satisfaction with lean protein and full of fibre – healthy never tasted so good.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Calories: 446kcal

Equipment

• Large casserole with lid

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Servings: 4

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion
• 1 green pepper or any colour really
• 1 celery stick
• 1 carrot
• 3 garlic cloves
• 500 g lean turkey mince
• 1 green chilli de-seeded and finely chopped
• 1 tbsp mild chilli powder
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• 400 g tinned tomatoes
• 300 ml chicken stock link to recipe
• 400 g tin of black beans
• ½ tsp sea salt
• Ground black pepper

Instructions

• Finely dice the onion, pepper, celery and carrot. In a large casserole with a lid, heat 2 tbsp olive oil, add the diced vegetables, and cook over a medium to high heat for 8-10 minutes until softened but not coloured. Add the crushed garlic and finely chopped chilli and cook for another minute.
• Add the turkey mince and stir to combine with the chopped vegetables. Cook until the turkey loses it’s raw colour. This should take around 5 minutes.
• Add in your spices to the dish (chilli powder, ground cumin, dried oregano and cayenne) along with the tbsp of tomato puree and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the tinned tomatoes (rinsing the tin with a little water to ensure you don’t waste anything and adding this to the pan) and the chicken stock along with ½ tsp salt and the same of freshly ground black pepper. Put the lid on the casserole dish and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Next, drain, rinse and add the can of black beans and cook uncovered for the final 15 minutes to thicken the sauce slightly.
• Serve with any combination of the following: avocado, fresh coriander leaves, sour cream (or Greek yoghurt), grated cheese, tortilla chips, soft tortillas, or rice.

Notes

• If you are cooking this for younger children, you will probably want to tone down the chilli powder to just 1 tsp.
• This dish is great reheated a day or two later, as the flavours develop even further.

Nutrition Facts

Turkey and Black Bean Chilli

Amount per Serving

Calories

446

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

20

g

31

%

Saturated Fat

 

4

g

25

%

Trans Fat

 

0.1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

5

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

9

g

Cholesterol

 

95

mg

32

%

Sodium

 

1119

mg

49

%

Potassium

 

1215

mg

35

%

Carbohydrates

 

36

g

12

%

Fiber

 

12

g

50

%

Sugar

 

9

g

10

%

Protein

 

35

g

70

%

Vitamin A

 

3763

IU

75

%

Vitamin C

 

42

mg

51

%

Calcium

 

150

mg

15

%

Iron

 

7

mg

39

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.