Crock Pot Kid-Friendly Turkey Chili Recipe
This chili recipe is just for the kiddos (or picky family members)! A kid-friendly chili with ground turkey, corn, bell pepper, tomatoes and spices. Serve it with some chips on the side for the perfect back to school lunch.

Crock Pot Turkey Chili Recipe
My youngest daughter is heading to school next week (Pre-K) and this year she’ll be bringing lunch to class for the first time. She doesn’t eat sandwiches (neither did my oldest), so I’m going to have to get pretty creative to make sure she’s still eating healthy balanced meals. I just ordered this Foogo Stainless steal leak-proof thermos from Amazon, which I also did with my oldest daughter and I’ll be filling it with some of her favorite warm meals.
Now I love me some chili, and I’m super excited for the colder weather to make some of my faves like Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili, Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili, and Turkey Chili Taco Soup, but for my little one who doesn’t like beans… or spicy food, this recipe is perfect (it’s also gluten-free). It’s super easy to make, I did it in the crock pot, but you can also simmer it on the stove. It makes 5 adult size servings, and you can easily double the recipes and freeze it for future freezer-friendly meals.
And since so many are asking, I have the 6 Quart Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker. I love it because you can adjust the time you want it to cook, and it automatically turns to warm when it’s done. It also has a probe for meat that automatically shuts off when done. I hated my old crock pot, it burnt everything and my food had a weird taste. This crock pot is so great, I actually own two!

Crock Pot Kid-Friendly Turkey Chili
This one’s just for the kiddos (or picky family members)! A mild, kid-friendly chili is made with ground turkey, corn, bell pepper, tomatoes and spices. Top it with your favorite toppings, and serve it with some chips on the side for the perfect, back to school lunch.
Ingredients:
- 1.3 lbs 99% lean ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced fine
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
- 10 oz can Rotel Mild Tomatoes
- 8 oz small can plain tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 bay leaf
Optional Toppings:
- diced avocado
- reduced fat sour cream
- reduced fat shredded cheese
- baked tortilla chips
Directions:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the turkey, season with salt and cook, breaking up with a spoon until turkey browns and is no longer pink; place into the slow cooker.
- Add the oil to the skillet and sauté the onion, garlic and bell pepper over medium heat for about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Spoon over turkey into the slow cooker and stir in corn and tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, paprika and salt, mix until well blended.
- Pour chicken broth into the crock pot and add the bay leaf.
- Cover and cook on HIGH 4 hours or LOW 6 hours.
- Serve with desired toppings.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 5 servings, Serving Size: 1 cup
- Amount Per Serving:
- Freestyle Points: 0
- Points +: 6
- Calories: 226 calories
- Total Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: g
- Cholesterol: 59mg
- Sodium: 688mg
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 3.5g
- Sugar: 5g
- Protein: 31g
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Are the canned veggies, etc, drained first?
Have you made this in the Instant Pot? Curious on time settings. Thanks!
I haven’t but the chili button would be a good guide.
Nice recipe, thank you! I made it in the Instant Pot yesterday — I sautéed the turkey and then the veggies (together with the turkey) right in th woot using the sauté function. I had 2 lbs of turkey so just used all of it. Also used a bit more chicken broth than what the recipe called for.
I cooked it at high pressure for 12 minutes, then let it de-pressurize for about 12 mins before doing quick release. I then put it on sauté for a little bit longer for flavor purposes. It came together pretty quickly and was very good! Unfortunately my kids wouldn’t eat much of it, but at least we got dinner and lunch leftovers out of it!
Question on the nutrition information. Does it include the optional sides or just the chili? Logging calories!!!
Just the chili. 🙂
Can this be adapted to be frozen first and then popped into the slow cooker? I’m looking for recipes that I can prep beforehand so that we have easy meals during the week 🙂 Thanks!
This should work fine!
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Quick, easy & FABULOUS flavor. Switched the corn with cannellini beans to pump up the fiber.
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Does it have to go in the crock pot or can this be done on stove top for t to be done quicker?
You can do it either way.
How long would you summer on stove??
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Hi Gina! I’ve made this recipe a bunch of times and it’s definitely the best chili I’ve ever had! I saw in one of your other crockpot recipes you added ground beef and chicken straight to the crockpot without browning the meat first. Do you think I could do that with the ground turkey, along with the onion and garlic here? If so, would you adjust the cooking time at all?
Thanks so much!
Make sure you strain after cooking in the pot. Things can get pretty over saturated in fat and liquid if you don’t
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So the tomato sauce and oil you cook the veggies in still has this come out to 0?
This chili is so flavorful and so easy to make! I always pair it with a serving of sweet potato tortillas which I crush and mix into the chili, 1/4 of an avocado and mexican blend shredded cheese. Another win for Gina and SkinnyTaste!
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What can I use to substitute the canned rotel mild tomatoes with? I try not to use tomatoes in can.
My family loves this chili!!!! We just bought an instant pot. Trying to figure out how long I need to cook it under high pressure. Guessing 20 minutes? Our go to meal for the Super Bowl!
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I always double the recipe. There is always a considerable amount of liquid in the skillet after I brown the turkey. I use lean ground. Do you drain the turkey and toss out the liquid or dump it in the crock pot with the browned turkey? Thank you.
Drain it.
How can this POSSIBLY be Zero points when there are, ground turkey, corn in it? Aren’t those a few points in themselves? Used to be a few years ago! Now it seems like A LOT of things are zero! So what’s the Point of joining WW if everything is zero? Sorry, seems counter productive to me.
Few things are zero points. I’ve lost 5.5 lbs so far in 2 weeks so it must work.
The foods that are zero points are healthier choices and encourage better eating habits. I’ve lost weight as well. Carbs and snack foods that can easily be over eaten are more points, the system is explained on their website. Turkey is zero. Ground beef and red meat are more. Fruits and veggies are zero for the most part. It’s definitely easier to track.
This was my 1st WW recipe and it was delicious. Looking forward to trying General Tso’s chicken tomorrow. Thank you!
I am down to one vehicle and made this with what I had on hand. I had everything but Rotel so I substituted it for medium salsa and omitted the tomato sauce. I did cook it on the stove top so added an extra cup of salsa for liquid and flavor. It has been simmering and I just had a bite and it’s amazing! Zero points too minus chips and cheese but I’m so excited. I’m such a picky eater but your website has been my go to lately. Thanks so much for all your hard work and sharing.
I don’t have a slow cooker. How long would you let it simmer on the stovetop??
Can I just tell you I love this recipe! The fact that it is 0 points is an added bonus 🙂 I know I will be forpulling (is that a word? ?) this for fall and winter ? Love love love your recipes
Love this recipe! I made this for my bf(who does not like beans)but we love spicy so I added 1 finely chopped jalepeno and added it when browning the turkey. I also added alittle red pepper flakes on the last hour. Will make again! Thanks!
I have made this many times and it is delicious. Ready to start 2018 fall with making it again.
Love this chili! I have been making it for years. Just bought an instapot- can you give directions to adapt? Thanks!
How long would you do if you made this in the instant pot?
I made this for our dinner yesterday and it was a HIT. i will definitely make again!
What size of crockpot did you use?
I have a 6 qt
If i wanted to make this in my instant pot, what modifications would need to be made? This is my favorite recipe of yours and I really want to try it in my new instant pot!
We have made recipies of yours every night for 2 weeks! They are wonderful.
Made this tonight for the first time. My kids loooooved it. Everyone did!
Very delicious recipe. I did add kidney beans and black beans to mine. Leftovers freeze great for lunches down the road!!
what’s the serving size? answer asap
1 cup, serving size is listed with the nutritional info.