Sweater weather is almost here. Which also means chili season! I know they say soup is good for the soul, but I just want to say, especially when it comes to this Hearty Paleo Chili. While it’s definitely bittersweet when the colder weather hits (I live in Seattle, so I get it!), there’s just nothing like the smell of a fresh pot of this turkey chili cooking on the stovetop while relaxing in the house with Bridge and the weens. 12/10 cozy vibes!
IT’S CHILI SEASON
This is one of those recipes you’ll never get sick of (yet will be so happy to make for the last time of the season before Spring comes back around 😉). It’s hearty, loaded with veggies, herbs & protein, and just so nourishing. Not only will you nurture your body with the ground turkey and vegetables this recipe calls for (green beans, tomatoes, bell peppers & more), but using a bone broth helps to provide essential nutrients like protein, calcium, and electrolytes – all of which your body needs to replenish itself when it’s feeling run down. I love adding sweet potatoes to this chili for a sweet but (another) nutrient-dense touch – when they’re in season, they’re hard to pass up!
I’m a big fan of cooking once and eating twice so sometimes I’ll double the recipe and store the leftovers in the fridge or freezer so Bridger & I have something filling & healthy to reach for on those busier days. I also love making this chili whenever I do another round of my 7-Day Added Sugar Detox (read more on that here). This recipe made that book, and you’ll see why the second you try it. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1 lb organic ground turkey (or sub favorite protein)
- 1 15 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1.5 cups bone broth
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 1 can chopped green beans
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
HOW TO MAKE HEARTY PALEO CHILI
Put on your coziest ‘fit, throw on a good playlist and let’s get cooking! First, cut up and sauté the diced onion in oil until caramelized. Next, add in the ground turkey to brown, along with all of the spices. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and bone broth. Stir altogether. Cover and let simmer on low-medium heat for 25 minutes (and enjoy the incredible aroma that is about to fill your home!). While that’s simmering, wash, peel and chop your sweet potato, bell pepper and beans.
Once done simmering, add in your sweet potato, bell pepper and beans. Cover with lid and cook for an additional 10 minutes. And that’s it!
Serve with avocado, nutritional yeast and/or organic cheese & chives. You can also add a handful of chopped spinach once finished for extra greens. We love eating with Siete chips 😊
RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS & QUESTIONS
Feel free to sub your preferred protein for the ground turkey and serve with however many toppings you’d like.
A quick note on the bone broth: this can be homemade (typically, by simmering marrow-rich animal bones – like chicken, beef, or turkey – for hours), however, I typically buy store-bought organic to save time.
WHAT IS THE HEALTHIEST MEAT TO PUT IN CHILI?
There’s really not one specific meat that’s the healthiest to put in your chili as we all have different protein needs and health goals. If you’re aiming for lean meat, I’d suggest using ground turkey or chicken. Ground beef is a good choice as it’s a little higher in terms of healthy fats, but still an excellent source of animal protein that naturally contains all nine essential amino acids, and is rich in B vitamins as well as minerals such as iron and zinc. No matter what protein you use, I always recommend buying organic, pasture-raised or grass-fed.Â
IS CHILI WITH BEANS HEART HEALTHY?
While some studies have shown that those who eat beans regularly have lower risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, you can still make a delicious, heart-healthy chili without them! If you do prefer to include beans, typically pinto, kidney or black beans are used.
SHOP THE RECIPE
Don’t forget to make my homemade gluten-free cornbread.
Click here for the Reel I made of this recipe 🙂
Hearty Paleo Chilli
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1 lb organic ground turkey, (or sub favorite protein)
- 1 15 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1.5 cups bone broth
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 1 can chopped green beans
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
Instructions
- Cut up and sauté the diced onion in oil until caramelized.
- Add in ground turkey to brown, along with all spices.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and bone broth. Stir altogether.
- Cover and let simmer on low-medium heat for 25 minutes.
- Add in peeled and chopped sweet potato, bell pepper, beans, cover with lid, and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Serve with avocado, nutritional yeast and/or organic cheese & chives. You can also add a handful of chopped spinach once finished for extra greens. We love eating with Siete chips 🙂
This recipe was pretty amazing! It was quick to make and you get so many veggies in this meal. It’s really hearty, well flavored, super filling, and the turkey tastes delicious. My only feedback is that the sauce cooked out pretty fast so I had to add more chicken stock. Overall it was scrumptious!
Another bomb meal! Very tasty, and love the addition of green beans and sweet potato!
Just made this tonight and the sweet potato is such a lovely addition for chili.. makes me not miss the cornbread! Every single one of your recipes comes out perfect… thank you for an awesome cold night dinner .
I love this recipe! It’s so good and nice twist with the extra vegetables.
This recipe has been great!! My wife and I make it a culmination of United States chili by making it have a taste of Cincinnati by adding a dash of cinnamon and cacao powder with the rest of the spices for a slightly richer taste, and then making it Texas influenced by adding chili beans instead of green beans when you add in the peppers. It was really hard to save leftovers!!
My favorite go-to meal when I’m craving something warm and comforting.
So easy and yummy!! I added more Chile flakes because I’m Mexican and like my spice. Next time i will add some mushrooms also!! Thanks!!
I am not normally a fan of chili, but we absolutely love this!
Best chili hands down. It is filling and you can feel good eating it knowing that there are lots of veggies in there for you. I have made it a dozen times and it always turns out great. Bonus: it is super easy.
I’m a vegetarian but this sounds amazing! I’d replace the bone broth with vegetable broth for sure, what would you recommend replacing the ground turkey with? My first thought is kidney beans but maybe you have a better recommendation ?