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This hearty and flavorful White Turkey Chili is loaded with turkey, white beans, corn, and just the right spices. It’s the perfect comfort food, ready in only 30 minutes! Plus, it’s a great way to use up leftover turkey from the holidays. Get ready for a warm, cozy, and naturally gluten free meal that everyone will love!
Looking for more cozy recipes? Try my chicken and orzo soup, Instant Pot white chicken chili, and slow cooker turkey chili recipes too!
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Why You’ll Love This White Turkey Chili
When the temperature drops, there are few things more comforting than a steamy bowl of hot chili. While I usually fall back on what I think it the best chili recipe ever, this white bean turkey chili has become a new favorite. Here’s why:
- Great way to use up leftover turkey. This easy chili recipe will warm you up any day of the year. But it’s especially good right after Thanksgiving because it comes together quickly using leftover turkey.
- Quick and easy. Since you’re starting with cooked turkey, this white turkey chili recipe comes together in just 30 minutes – just long enough for everything to heat through and the flavors to meld.
- Family friendly. One thing I love about white turkey chili is that it appeals to even those who aren’t big fans of traditional beef chili. It’s cozy and comforting and there is some warmth to the flavor but it’s not spicy. (Though you could make it so, if you desired!)
- Naturally gluten free. This is a gluten free (and even dairy free) meal that doesn’t require any special ingredients. It’s thickened with a cornstarch slurry to make it rich and creamy without using flour or cream.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s an overview of what you’ll need to make this white bean turkey chili. See the recipe card below for measurements.
- Cooked turkey – Shredded or diced, depending on your preference. You can also use chicken.
- Turkey or chicken stock – This tastes extra rich and flavorful if you made homemade turkey stock with the carcass after Thanksgiving dinner. But you can always used a box of chicken broth.
- Spices – A simple blend of cumin, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, bay leaf, salt, and pepper make it perfectly flavorful and smoky with a hint of spice. If you want to kick up the heat, you can add more cayenne.
- Frozen corn – If you have leftover fresh corn or even canned corn, that will work fine too. Just be sure to rinse drain the liquid from the can.
- Canned navy beans – Make sure these are drained and rinsed well. Other white beans like cannellini or Great Northern beans can be substituted.
- Cornstarch slurry – A mixture of equal parts cornstarch and water helps thicken the chili, but it still naturally gluten free.
How to Make White Turkey Chili
This easy white turkey chili recipe comes together in just a few simple steps. While this is definitely a quick chili recipe, you can always feel free to simmer it longer to really let the flavors develop. See the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Combine the ingredients. Add the turkey, stock, spices, corn, and beans to a stockpot.
- Simmer. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Thicken. Whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth. Add to the chili, stirring constantly. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes to thicken.
- Enjoy. Ladle into bowls and enjoy with your favorite toppings!
Tips for Success
- Use the right pot. To make this chili, you’ll need a 6- to 8-quart stock pot, preferably a heavy-bottomed one such as enameled cast iron to ensure even heat distribution, especially if you’d like to let this simmer longer. A Le Creuset Dutch Oven is a fantastic investment because it will last forever. But you can get great results from a Lodge Dutch Oven at a lower price point.
- Make it ahead. As you’ll see below, chili stores well, and often gets better after a day or two. So make a big pot and follow the directions below to refrigerate or freeze all of a portion of the batch.
- Customize it. As mentioned above if you don’t have leftover roast turkey or crockpot turkey breast, you can use homemade or storebought rotisserie chicken. You can also swap out the beans for whatever you have on hand, and even replace the corn with other veggies. Add even more flavor by sauteeing some onions and peppers in the pot before you add the chili ingredients.
- Add some toppings. The ability to customize each bowl with your favorite toppings is one of my favorite things about chili and this white bean turkey chili is no exception. Some of my favorites are sour cream, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, sliced jalapenos, chopped avocado, crushed tortilla chips, minced cilantro, or diced red onion. Keep reading for more serving ideas!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. White turkey chili can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Just allow it to cool then transfer to an airtight container.
- Freezer. This chili also freezes well. Let cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer storage bag. For the best flavor, enjoy it within two months.
- Reheat. Reheat gently on the stove, or even keep it warm in a slow cooker. If needed, stir in some extra chicken broth to thin it out.
Make it a Meal
A hearty bowl of white turkey chili can be a meal on its own, but maybe you want to spoon it into some Gluten Free Bread Bowls or maybe on top of Baked Potatoes or go sweet and savory with Baked Sweet Potatoes. Then you might also want to serve it with one of these simple side dishes:
- Bread. You can never go wrong with a hunk of Gluten Free Cornbread or maybe you have leftover Gluten Free Biscuits from Thanksgiving.
- Salad. Enjoy a bowl of greens topped with Avocado Ranch Dressing or Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette.
- Grains. For something different, try chili on top of a grain bowl with a base of Brown Rice or Cheesy Quinoa.
- Veggies. Round it out with some Pepper Jack Cauliflower Tots or use leftover cranberry sauce to make Cranberry Balsamic Glazed Cauliflower.
White Turkey Chili
This hearty White Turkey Chili is so flavorful and ready in 30 minutes! Packed with turkey, white beans, corn, and spices, it's a cozy comfort food and perfect way to use up holiday leftovers.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 3 cups diced or shredded cooked turkey
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch of cayenne , or to taste
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
- two 15 oz. cans of navy beans , drained and rinsed well
- 4 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 Tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a large stockpot or dutch oven add the turkey, stock, cumin, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, bay leaf, salt, pepper, corn, and beans.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
- In a small bowl whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth. Pour the slurry into the chili while stirring constantly.
- Simmer an additional 5 minutes or until thickened.
- Serve and top with your favorite toppings such as tomatoes, sour cream, cilantro, and diced avocado.
Nutrition Facts
White Turkey Chili
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 391
Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Cholesterol 54mg18%
Sodium 1458mg61%
Potassium 966mg28%
Carbohydrates 53g18%
Fiber 9g36%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 34g68%
Vitamin A 284IU6%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 82mg8%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
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