Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FlavorYourWorld #CollectiveBias

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Chipotle Turkey Chili is savory, flavorful and so perfectly warming on a cold, Winter day. You can use up leftover turkey meat or substitute the same amount of lean ground turkey. This recipe uses flavorful and smokey, TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce.

Chipotle Turkey Chili

Hi Everyone, did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving? We certainly did. It was quiet, mellow and delicious. We had a small gathering with just our family and a few relatives.

I have the perfect recipe for you to use up all that delicious leftover turkey meat: Chipotle Turkey Chili.

Don't worry if you don't have leftover turkey to use up, I have included directions for using the same amount of lean ground turkey in the recipe card.

I made this recipe the night my parents came down to visit from New Hampshire after Thanksgiving.

It was the perfect recipe to welcome them after a long drive. It makes enough for 4 generous helpings but you could probably make this for 6 people and it would be okay.

For example, if I make this for my family of 4 (with two kids), I would have leftovers for the next day.

I love that I'm finally off being dependent on seasoning packets for chili, it's fine if you need something quickly but if you already have ground smoked paprika (or regular), TABASCO® pepper sauce(s), ground cumin, chili powder, Cayenne pepper, Kosher salt, and pepper - it actually tastes better and more authentic (I feel) to make your own spice mix. The best part is that you can customize it to your liking.

I would say this recipe, has a "medium" level of hotness.

The longer it cooks, I find that the level of spiciness dissipates.

You can always add more TABASCO® to make it spicier at serving - that works well especially if you are serving people who like different levels of heat to their chili.

This is also a recipe that tastes great the next day after the spices have really marinated into the turkey meat.

I used TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce to make this chili super smokey and flavorful and I also topped it with TABASCO® Green Jalapeño Sauce.

About TABASCO®

Did you know that TABASCO® Sauce is the one sauce that can be found anywhere in the world, adding flavor to virtually any type of cuisine? I keep my TABASCO® sauce right near my spices. Here are a few more fun facts about TABASCO®:

• This year marks TABASCO® Brand’s 150th anniversary! Happy anniversary TABASCO®!
• This is a fact that I didn't know before, every bottle of TABASCO® Brand hot pepper sauce comes out of Avery Island, Louisiana.
• Did you know that TABASCO® brand Original Red Sauce is made with just three ingredients: aged red peppers, salt, and distilled vinegar it is Non-GMO, Gluten-free, and has zero calories.
• The Green Sauce is made with Jalapeño peppers and it is the TABASCO® Sauce flavor with the lowest Scoville Heat Units. This sauce is most often used as a condiment for Mexican cuisine.
• Did you know that Chipotle Pepper Sauce is made with smoke-dried jalapeno peppers which brings a rich balance of smoke and heat? As I found with this Chili recipe, it pairs especially well with any kind of protein dish and it can be used in marinades and as a condiment over prepared meats. I learned that it can also be combined with pineapple for a sweet-savory dish which I definitely want to try.

Ingredients

• 1 pound of cooked turkey meat, cut into bite-sized pieces or you can substitute the same amount of lean ground turkey (see directions in the recipe card below)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, regular
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced (1-2 peeled and minced cloves), or more to taste
• 1 medium (about 1 cup) onion, sliced or chopped
• 1 (28 ounce/1 pound, 12 ounces/794 grams) can of whole peeled plain plum tomatoes (or diced tomatoes) with canning juice or the same amount of fresh, chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce
• ½ teaspoon smoked, ground paprika, you can substitute regular paprika
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground Cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt *depending if your cooked turkey was seasoned, you may need more or less salt, season to taste
• ¼-1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Optional Toppings

• more TABASCO® pepper sauce, amount to taste
• fresh chopped parsley or cilantro
• lime wedges
• grated or shaved cheese, amount to taste, I used a 3 cheddar cheese blend
• 1 dollop of sour cream
• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, amount to taste

Kitchen Tools

• measuring spoons and cups
• chef's knife
• large soup pot or Dutch oven
• wooden spoon for stirring
• ladle for serving
• serving bowls and spoons

Web Story

Process Photos for Chipotle Turkey Chili

Here are some process photos to help you along when making this Chipotle Turkey Chili recipe:

Latest Posts

• Memorial Day Recipes
• Iced Cashew Milk Latte
• Mother's Day Recipes
• Breakfast and Brunch Recipes Collection
• Blueberry Syrup

If you make this Chipotle Turkey Chili, let me know in the comments below, thank you for reading and following along!

Our Other Recipes and Posts

• Nettle Pesto
• Turkey Taco Boats
• Stuffed Zucchini Boats
• Chicken Pizza Crust Recipe
• Baked Dijon Lemon Caper Salmon Dinner
• Vegetarian Mac n Cheese
• Scrambled Eggs in Bacon Fat
• Steamed Broccoli Rabe Rapini
• How to Roast a Turkey
• Air Fryer French Fries
• Ginger Cookies
• Homemade French Onion Soup
• DIY Crayons with Metal Channels
• Liege Belgian Waffles
• Vegan Golden Milk Smoothie
• Lemon Rosemary Salmon
• Candied Pecans
• Oatmeal Raisin Cranberry Cookies

Continue to Content

Chipotle Turkey Chili

Yield: 4 people

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Chipotle Turkey Chili is savory, flavorful and so perfectly warming on a cold, Winter day. You can use up leftover turkey meat or substitute the same amount of lean ground turkey. This recipe uses flavorful and smokey, TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce.

Print

Ingredients

Chipotle Turkey Chili

• 1 pound turkey meat, cut into bite-sized pieces , or you can substitute the same amount lean ground turkey
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, regular
• 1 teaspoons garlic, minced (1-2 peeled and minced cloves), or more to taste
• 1 cup onion (1 medium onion), sliced or chopped
• 28 ounces (1 can: 1 pound, 12 ounces/794 grams) whole peeled plain plum tomatoes, with canning juice or the same amount fresh, chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon TABASCO Chipotle Pepper Sauce
• ½ teaspoon smoked, ground paprika, you can substitute regular paprika
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground Cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt, *depending if your cooked turkey was seasoned, you may need more or less salt, season to taste
• ¼-1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Optional Toppings

• more TABASCO pepper sauce, amount to taste
• fresh chopped parsley or cilantro
• lime wedges
• grated or shaved cheese, amount to taste, I used a 3 cheddar cheese blend
• 1 dollop sour cream
• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, amount to taste

Instructions

Chipotle Turkey Chili

1. Preheat a soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, and saute the garlic and onions in preheated olive oil until they start to brown and are translucent.
2. If making with lean ground turkey instead of cooked, diced turkey meat at this point add the lean ground turkey and cook over medium-high heat until browned. Then proceed to the tomato step.
3. Add the cooked and diced turkey meat and stir until combined with the onions.
4. Over medium heat, add the whole peeled plum tomatoes, and using your spatula, break them up into smaller pieces. Stir to combine.
5. Drain and rinse both types of beans. Add the black and dark red kidney beans.
6. Add the spices (TABASCO Chipotle Pepper Sauce, paprika, cumin, Cayenne pepper, Kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper) to the mixture. Stir to combine.
7. Simmer over medium heat until bubbling (about 20 minutes).
8. Serve in bowls with optional toppings. Enjoy!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. #CommissionsEarned #ad

• 
  OXO Good Grips Brushed Stainless Steel Ladle
• 
  OXO Good Grips Nylon Ladle
• 
  OXO Good Grips Lewis Pepper Mill
• 
  Pyrex Prepware 2-Cup Glass Measuring Cup
• 
  Homestia Gold Measuring Cups and Spoons Set Stainless Steel 8 PIECE for Dry and Liquid Ingredients Engraved Measurement Heavy Duty Baking & Cooking Utensils
• 
  Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife, 8-Inch Chef's FFP
• 
  Gorilla Grip Original Reversible Cutting Board (3-Piece) BPA Free, Dishwasher Safe, Juice Grooves, Larger Thicker Boards, Easy Grip Handle, Non Porous, Extra Large, Kitchen (Set of Three: Black)
• 
  OXO Good Grips 15-Piece Everyday Kitchen Utensil Set
• 
  Calphalon Classic Nonstick Dutch Oven with Cover, 7 quart, Grey
• 
  Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven. Classic Red Enamel Dutch Oven (Island Spice Red)

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 558Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 198mgSodium: 995mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 4gSugar: 14gProtein: 56g

Please note that the Calculated Nutrition is an estimate at best.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? If you share it on social media tag us @lifeslittlesweets and hashtag it #lifeslittlesweets - Thank you in advance!

• First published: 12/6/2018
• Updated: 2/5/2019, 2/6/2023

• Author
• Recent Posts

Follow me

Sara Maniez

Owner at Life's Little Sweets

Sara is an architectural designer turned work-at-home Mom. She lives in New Jersey by way of New England and New York, with her husband and 3 kids under 8. She loves design, being creative, and spending time with family and friends. She loves checking out local businesses and eats and being apart of the local farm to table community.

Follow me

Latest posts by Sara Maniez (see all)

• Memorial Day Recipes - May 23, 2025
• Iced Cashew Milk Latte - May 13, 2025
• Mother's Day Recipes - May 9, 2025