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Apple Sage Turkey Chili

Apple sage turkey chili with tender apple pieces and white beans in a savory, simmered chili base. Golden-brown turkey and autumn herbs create a hearty texture that thickens as it simmers.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Turkey base
  • 2 lb ground turkey
  • 1 onion
  • 2 apples peeled and diced
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
Chili liquids and beans
  • 2 cup chicken broth
  • 2 can (15 oz) white beans drained
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
Seasonings
  • 2 tbsp fresh sage chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 pepper to taste
Serving toppings
  • 0.25 sour cream
  • 0.25 cheddar
  • 0.25 fresh sage leaves for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the turkey
  1. Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the ground turkey. Brown until golden-brown, then drain off excess fat.
Sauté aromatics and herbs
  1. Add the onion, celery, and diced apples to the pot and sauté for 5 minutes until the onion softens. Stir in the minced garlic, chopped fresh sage, fresh thyme, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika, and cook for 2 minutes.
Simmer the chili
  1. Add the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and drained white beans, then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes until the flavors meld and the apples soften into the chili.
Season and serve
  1. Season the chili with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with cheddar and sour cream, and top with fresh sage leaves.

Notes

For best flavor, dice apples into small, even pieces so they soften and distribute throughout the chili. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4 days; the chili freezes well up to 3 months (thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop). For a lighter option, use reduced-fat sour cream and swap in low-sodium chicken broth.