Weight Watchers Hearty Turkey Chili

I find myself having to make things for other people quite a bit lately... just last night I threw together some apple walnut muffins (coming soon) for a function at church... I have a much harder time figuring out what to make for others than I do for myself, my lovely wife can confirm that I am perfectly happy eating the same three or four things over and over again... but most people have an expectation that something new and exciting is going to be offered, which is why I gave this recipe a chance. I'm usually confident enough to unleash something new on people without ever having made it before, which is something my home-ec teacher would probably have strongly discouraged. This was pretty foolproof though, so there wasn't too much to worry about.

I've been on a chili kick lately... I'm not sure if it's been the weather or my mood, but as most can tell comfort food has been dominating the blog lately. Some day I'll actually have to post about meatballs again. Anyhow, this recipe calls for some interesting ingredients that aren't usually found in chili but really distinguish the dish from other chili recipes. I would never have thought to put carrots in chili, but it really works in this dish. Congrats to weight watchers for making a mostly healthy chili interesting as well.

One thing to keep in mind with this recipe is that it will be quite spicy if you follow the instructions exactly. I chose to moderate the heat a bit by adding a little less spice.


(Picture coming soon)


1 tsp canola oil
1 large onion(s), chopped
2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
2 medium carrot(s), thinly sliced into rounds
1 pound(s) lean ground turkey
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp ground cumin
2 medium tomato(es), chopped
1 cup(s) canned tomato sauce
1 cup(s) canned chicken broth
1 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cup(s) cooked kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium green pepper(s), chopped
1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
1/4 cup(s) scallion(s), chopped

Coat a large pot with cooking spray; place over medium heat. Add oil and onion; sauté onion until soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and carrots; cook until garlic is softened, about 1 minute. Add turkey; brown meat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Stir to break up lumps.

Add chili powder, paprika, red pepper flakes, cumin, tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, vinegar, beans and green pepper; bring mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until meat and vegetables are tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper; garnish with scallions.

Makes 6 servings

Adapted from: Recipe on WeightWatchers.com

Coming Soon: Chipotle Beans and Pork