Looking for a light and flavorful dish for your hot summer evenings? Try this white bean turkey chili – made with lean ground turkey, creamy cannellini beans, and a medley of spices, it’s the perfect blend of sweet and spicy that is both light and satisfies!
When you’re thinking of what you want for dinner on these hot summer nights, you’re…probably not thinking of chili.
No, you’re probably thinking of things that start with “chilled” and come with refreshing sides, or maybe that you can throw on the grill and have done quickly so you can get out of the heat and humidity. Or at least that’s how we feel on the devil’s front porch here in Florida.
The great thing is that spices and heat, like that chili and cumin and cayenne kind of heat, actually are great for heat! Most hot spices, especially those that come from peppers, contain capsaicin. Capsaicin causes an increase in your blood circulation, moving the heat more evenly throughout your body, and can also increase your breathing.
It’s why a lot of foods and ingredients local to hot climates are spicy. Enjoying a spicy dish, like a spicy chili, on a hot summer day can be a great strategy to beat the heat.
Of course, this is far from a “pure” chili. My Texans out there will argue that there is only one kind of chili and it’s beef, chili peppers, and spices – no beans. So we can get away with modifying it however we want. Make it spicy, make it sweet, make it to your liking.
Truth be told, this one isn’t too spicy. I like my spice when left to my own devices. What’s the saying, don’t sprinkle when you can pour? But my husband likes milder spice and my son has entered those extremely picky kid years where he doesn’t want to actually see spice or else he’s convinced he won’t like the dish (however, if he doesn’t see it, it seems to be okay). So this dish has a mild bit of heat to it.
Don’t worry. If you like your spice, you can always up the cayenne!
Enjoy this sweet and spicy dish on a hot summer day and enjoy both the heat of the spices and that it’s light and delicious ground turkey, which won’t sit in your stomach like typical chili and make you want to hibernate.
White Bean Turkey Chili
Ingredients
For the chili:
- 1 each onion, medium chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 2 each canned diced tomatoes 14 oz cans
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cayenne
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 each canned cannellini beans
- 2 each canned diced green chili 2 oz cans
For toppings:
- sliced avocado
- sour cream
- grated cheese
- chopped parsley or cilantro
- tortilla strips
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large flat-bottomed pan or skillet and heat over medium heat until shimmering.
- Cook the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the ground turkey and cook until lightly browned all the way through, stirring as needed, 5-8 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, beans, chilis, and spices and stir to combine. Lower heat slightly and let simmer 25-30 minutes, or until everything is nicely cooked and combined.
- Serve topped with sour cream, grated cheese, avocado, chopped parsley or cilantro, or whatever fits your fancy! Enjoy!