Note from The Girl in the Apron:
Game nights are one of my favorite things to do. Bringing friends together, embracing your competitive spirit and laughing till you start to cry. But all good game nights MUST be accompanied by delicious food. This Southwest Turkey Chili is so simple to put together. You can even buy all the ingredients the same day, come home and throw everything on the stove to simmer to wonderfully magical chili goodness. I love to create a chili bar. I put out bowls, a ladle and then every topping imaginable. Itās fun watching your friends create their on tasty masterpiece. For my vegetarian or vegan friends out there, this recipe is great for you as well. Substitute the ground turkey meat for ground vegetarian crumbles, 1 cup cooked quinoa or 1 cup chopped sweet potato. This is a fun entree that can be made any time of year. āFood tastes better when you eat it with friendsā. xoxo
Ingredients:
4 tablespoon olive oil (or preferred cooking oil)
1 lb ground turkey or beef (Vegetarian Version: 1 bag vegetarian crumbles, I like to use Quorn Meatless Grounds. Vegan: 1 cup cooked quinoa or 1 cup chopped sweet potato.)
2 carrots, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (about Ā½ cup)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped (about Ā½ tablespoon)
Sprinkle of salt (to help sweat the meat and veggies)
3 (15oz) cans chili beans (variety is great. mix spicy and mild chili sauce beans. kidney and black beans)
1 (15.8oz) can white beans (cannellini bean, great northern, etc.), drained and rinsed
1 (15oz) can whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed
3 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons cumin powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Ā¼Ā teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
Ā¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
3 cups stock or broth (vegetable, beef or chicken. I did 3 cups hot water and 1/2 tablespoon vegetable bouillon, dissolved.)
Toppings:
Shredded Cheese, Sour Cream, Avocado, Tortilla Chips and Chives
Hereās How You Do It:
In a large pot, add oil and heat for 2 minutes on medium-high heat. Add beef or turkey and saute for 1-2 minutes, breaking apart the ground to make smaller pieces. Add onion, carrots and garlic, sautƩing for an additional 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent sticking.
When sautĆ©ing is done, add beans, corn, seasonings and broth. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer on very low heat, covered for 30 minutes to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer the chili cooks, the better the flavor will be.Ā
Ladle chili into serving bowls. Garnish with toppings and enjoy!