Low Sodium Turkey Chili Recipe
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Jump to RecipeThis low sodium turkey chili recipe is savory, delicious, and loaded with lean ground turkey, onions, bell peppers, and spices without salt. A hearty delicious dinner idea that the whole family will love!
This simple turkey chili recipe is a great low sodium dinner idea, loaded with your favorite toppings. Serve with cooked macaroni, low sodium rice, or our favorite low sodium cornbread and enjoy!
Chili season is upon us, and we love a good low sodium chili loaded with lean ground turkey (DASH diet friendly) and fresh veggies. This tasty version is loaded with spices, no salt added beans, and delicious lean ground turkey – loaded with a few added spice surprises. And it’s even better the next day! I love making a big batch of this easy turkey chili recipe, it’s a great way to make comfort food without extra salt.
I included a few great flavor additions like cocoa powder, balsamic vinegar, and extra heat for a really great low sodium chili. The spice combo in this chili is perfect, and we can’t wait to make this every chilly evening!
Also, if you are a chili lover check out our low sodium beef chili and low sodium white chicken chili recipes!
This Low Sodium Turkey Chili Recipe Is
- Bright
- Fresh
- Flavorful
- Spicy
- Savory
- Earthy
Ingredients You’ll Need
See the recipe card below for a full list of instructions and ingredient amounts!
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Extra lean ground turkey – I used a lean ground turkey for this recipe, but you can use ground beef or pork if desired. I like using lean protein to keep the saturated fat down to keep the recipe DASH-diet friendly.
- Onion & Fresh garlic cloves
- Salt Free Chili Powder – chili powder blends can contain salt, so I like this no-salt version. Check your spices before adding to the recipe.
- Brown Sugar for a little sweetness
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Cumin, Oregano, Cayenne Pepper (or Red Chili Flakes)
- Cocoa powder which brings out the flavors in the spices.
- Smoked Paprika: if you’re on a low sodium diet and you haven’t tried smoked paprika yet – I highly recommend! It gives a sweet & smoky, mild flavor to recipes, with no added salt. It’s one of my favorite spices, we use this on proteins, potatoes, sauces, and veggies.
- No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes
- Tomato Paste
- Chicken Broth or vegetable broth
- Beans: I used both black beans and kidney beans for this recipe. You can also add pinto beans, white beans, or even chickpeas if desired.
- Bell pepper – I used both red pepper and green bell pepper for this recipe.
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Favorite Chili Toppings: fresh cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, green onions, or jalapenos
Additions and Substitutions
You can top your chili with some fresh black pepper, green chiles, or chipotle peppers.
Add a bit of liquid smoke for an even smokier taste. Instead of topping with sour cream, you can add plain Greek yogurt.
Top with a low salt queso, low sodium cheddar cheese, or make your own low sodium ricotta. Top with chopped yellow onion, red onion, or green onions!
Substitute any other kinds of beans too, whatever you enjoy that has no added salt.
How To Make This Recipe
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the ground turkey and brown until cooked through. Add the chopped onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned.
- Add the spices: chili powder, cumin, oregano, cocoa powder, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Heat for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the no-salt-added diced tomatoes with their juices, the tomato paste, chicken stock, bell peppers, and low sodium soy sauce (if using). Stir well to combine.
- Bring to a boil, the reduce heat to a simmer and simmer on the lowest setting for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Serve hot over no-salt-added rice or pasta, and store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Enjoy this Turkey Chili any Time of Year
This homemade turkey chili recipe is great for busy weeknights with it’s simple ingredients and delicious flavor. It makes the perfect meal for game days served with tortilla chips.
It’s a favorite recipe for cold days, and it’s great in the winter and fall months.
More Low Sodium Soup & Chili Recipes You’ll Love
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Low Sodium Turkey Chili
Equipment
- large pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1 large sweet onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ¼ pinch cayenne pepper
- 28 ounces no-salt-added diced tomatoes with juice
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 2 cups no-salt-added chicken stock diced
- 28 ounces no-salt-added beans I used kidney beans and black beans
- 2 large bell peppers diced
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- Toppings: chopped cilantro sour cream, green onions, or jalapenos
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the ground turkey and brown until cooked through. Add the chopped onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned.
- Add the spices: chili powder, cumin, oregano, cocoa powder, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Heat for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the no-salt-added diced tomatoes with their juices, the tomato paste, chicken stock, drained and rinsed beans, bell peppers, and low sodium soy sauce (if using). Stir well to combine.
- Bring to a boil, the reduce heat to a simmer and simmer on the lowest setting for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Serve hot over no-salt-added rice or pasta, and store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
*Please note, all nutrition content is estimated based on the ingredients we used, it may vary based on your ingredients. Always check your nutrition labels to verify sodium amounts.
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A real family pleaser
Made it again. Sooo tasty