Recipe: Healthy Turkey Chili

Stay warm this winter with a hearty bowl of turkey chili!

This recipe calls for sweet potato in place of beans but you could easily add in your favorite beans to bulk up your meal. Pair with a healthy fat, like avocado or a side salad, and you've got a well rounded meal!

Healthy Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

• 3 garlic cloves, mince

• 2 medium onion, diced

• 2 bell peppers, cored and chopped

• 2 large carrots, peeled and diced

• 2 celery stalks, diced

• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed

• 2 lbs ground turkey, 93% lean

• 1.5-2 cups water

• 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce

• 3 Tbsp. chili powder

• 1 Tbsp. cumin, ground

• 1 Tbsp. paprika

• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper

• 1 tsp. sea salt

• ½ tsp. black pepper, ground

• 1 pinch red pepper flakes

  Optional toppings:

• avocado, shredded cheese, non-fat Greek yogurt, chopped cilantro

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, onions, bell peppers, carrots, celery, and sweet potato. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until soft.

2. Add the turkey and cook until browned, 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often to break up the chunks.

3. Once the meat is browned, add 1 1/2 cups water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes in their juices, chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a moderate bubble. Let cook, uncovered, until the chili thickens, about 45 minutes, stirring every so often so that the chili does not stick to the bottom. If the chili becomes too thick, add a little water to reach your desired consistency.

4. Toward the end of the cooking time, taste and adjust the seasonings as desired. Add more cayenne pepper for an extra kick and more salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot with desired toppings.

Makes 8 servings (2 cups/serving):

1 serving (excluding toppings) = 227 calories, 24g protein, 14g carbohydrates, 8.5g fat