Smoky Turkey Black Bean Chili is a spectacular way to enjoy chili. This recipe can be prepared mild or hot depending on how much jalapeno, chipotle pepper and spices you use. It includes black beans, fire roasted tomatoes and roasted bell peppers along with ground turkey and bacon. Serve it with sliced avocado or jalapenos, cheddar cheese, sour cream, salsa, extra cilantro or Fritos--as you desire. It's one delicious dish that's nice enough to serve even for company dinners. If you're a chili lover, you've got to have this fantastic recipe!
Course Main Dish, Soup, Stews and Chowders, Turkey Main Dish
Cuisine Tex-Mex
Servings 10
Calories 375kcal
Ingredients
2stripsthick-cut Applewood smoked bacon(I used regular bacon)
1largesweet oniondiced small
2lbs.ground turkeycrumbled
1mediumjalapeno pepperdiced small (I used about one tablespoon finely diced jalapeno pepper)
4medium clovesgarlicfinely minced
1tbsp.dried oregano
2tbsp.ancho chili powder(I used regular chili powder)
2tsp.brown sugarpacked
1 1/2tsp.garlic salt
1 1/2tsp.smoked paprika(I used regular paprika)
1tsp.ground cumin
1/2tsp.ground black pepper
2cupslow-sodium chicken broth
215-oz. cansroasted tomatoes (or fire roasted tomatoes)undrained
1/2cupfinely chopped fresh cilantro
215-oz. cansblack beansdrained but not rinsed
12oz. jarroasted red peppersundrained
1mediumchipotle pepper in adobo saucediced (or more as desired)
1tsp.sea salt
Instructions
Stack bacon on top of each other and cut lengthwise in half and then in small pieces.
Heat a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Add bacon and cook until crisp, stirring occasionally.
Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
Increase heat slightly.
Add ground turkey to the bacon fat and cook until turkey is no longer pink.
Use a hamburger masher to cut the pieces of turkey into smaller pieces while cooking.
Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender.
Add jalapeno pepper, garlic, oregano, chili powder, brown sugar, garlic salt, smoked paprika, cumin and black pepper.
Stir to combine and cook another minute until garlic is fragrant (but not burnt).
Add chicken broth, roasted tomatoes, chopped cilantro, black beans, roasted red peppers, chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, reserved bacon and salt.
Stir until well combined.
Reduce heat and bring mixture to a low boil.
Cook covered with lid about 25-30 minutes until chili has thickened and flavors meld.
Check seasonings.
Add more salt, chili powder or adobo if needed.
Serve with cheddar cheese, extra bacon pieces, Fritos, sour cream and/or sliced avocados or jalapeno peppers, if desired.
Notes
NOTE: You can adjust the heat in this recipe by decreasing the jalapeno pepper (like I did), or increasing the heat by adding more jalapeno, chipotle peppers or using smoked paprika and ancho chili powder rather than regular.