Name: The Best Paleo Turkey Chili
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground turkey; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper; 1 onion, chopped; 1 jalapeno pepper, diced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 red bell pepper, diced in large chunks; 1 green bell pepper, diced in large chunks; 1 pasilla pepper, diced in large chunks; 3 tablespoons chili powder; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 tablespoon ground coriander; 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 1 28 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes

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Hands down, this is the best paleo turkey chili I’ve ever tasted and one of my all time favorite healthy recipes.

A big batch of chili is the perfect answer for easy weeknight meals, game day cookouts, and potlucks. Try this paleo chili recipe as your new go-to!

If you’re following an Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet and are eliminating nightshades, don’t worry – I’ve got you covered with this Paleo Pumpkin Chili recipe!

What Makes This The Best Chili Recipe?

Everyone needs a go-to chili recipe – and this is it! This recipe is always in rotation on my weekly meal plan. It’s simple and delicious, packed with protein, and flavored with the perfect blend of spices. I promise, you won’t even miss the beans in this bean-less, paleo chili!

This recipe is completely customizable. You can add extra vegetables and have the option to cook in the Instant Pot.

Paleo Turkey Chili Ingredients and Substitutions

This chili recipe is Paleo, Whole30, and Low Carb, and loaded with real food ingredients.

Ground Turkey – Feel free to use ground beef if you prefer it in this chili recipe. If using beef, I prefer to use grass-fed beef for optimal nutrients.
Onion and Garlic – Onion and garlic provide classic aromatics in this chili recipe. If you are following a Low FODMAP diet, you can substitute with my recommendations listed further down in this post.
Jalapeno and Pasilla Pepper – These peppers pack a spicy and flavorful punch. If you prefer your chili less spicy, feel free to leave these out of the recipe. Alternatively, you can add more for extra spice.
Red and Green Bell Pepper – Feel free to use your favorite colored bell peppers in this recipe.
Tomato Paste and Fire Roasted Tomatoes – I prefer fire roasted diced tomatoes for extra flavor in this chili, but you can use regular diced tomatoes as a substitute. You can also use crushed, pureed, or whole tomatoes if you prefer.
Ground cumin, coriander, cinnamon and chili powder – All these spices provide the chili with a robust flavor. Trust me on the cinnamon. If you haven’t tried adding cinnamon to your chili, you’re in for a treat!

Can you Add More Veggies?

Absolutely! Soups, stews, and chili recipes are the perfect way to add an extra serving of vegetables.

Additional veggie add-ins:

Chopped leafy greens (kale, swiss chard, spinach)
Shredded or diced zucchini
Cubed butternut squash or sweet potato

Can you Add Beans?

Yes! If you can tolerate beans, then by all means, add them. Just remember to adjust the salt and spices to taste, if needed.

How to Make Paleo Turkey Chili

I love making a big batch of chili over the weekend for the week ahead, but this recipe is easy enough that you can prepare on a weeknight and you will still have plenty of leftovers. Just chop up all your veggies, brown some ground turkey, and let the flavors simmer together until ready to eat.

Brown the ground turkey with olive oil, salt and pepper.
Saute the aromatics until tender.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
Season with additional salt and pepper to taste and serve with your favorite toppings!

Can you Make This Recipe Low FODMAP?

The onion and garlic in this recipe provide a classic aromatic flavor. However, there are other ways to add this flavor without using FODMAP’s!

Try These Low FODMAP Substitutions:

Substitute the onion for chopped leek leaves (green parts only).
Substitute the garlic for garlic infused olive oil. How to: Infuse the garlic in the oil and then discarding the garlic itself. This is Low FODMAP compliant because garlic is water soluble, and is not oil soluble. This means that the FODMAPs within garlic will dissolve in water (and other water-based liquids like broth), but not in oil.

Can you Make This Paleo Chili Recipe in the Instant Pot?

If you don’t want to make this chili on the stove top, you can absolutely use the Instant Pot!

Instant Pot Instructions:

Start by setting your Instant Pot to saute mode. Then, add the oil and brown the ground turkey with salt and pepper.
Add the onions, garlic and jalapeno and saute until tender.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes, then manually release for 10 minutes.

How to Serve Paleo Turkey Chili

Chili topping ideas:

Cilantro
Green onion
Chopped red onion
Sliced radishes
Fresh lime juice
Avocado
Coconut Cream
Siete grain-free tortilla chips

Other ways to enjoy this chili:

Spoon over baked potatoes or sweet potatoes
Make loaded chili fries
Serve over spaghetti squash
Top tortilla chips to make nachos

Can you Freeze Chili?

Yes, chili is the perfect recipe to make ahead and freeze! I like to make a double batch and freeze the second batch for easy weeknight meals. Store the chili in a freezer safe container like wide-mouth Mason Jars or Weck Jars. To reheat, either let it thaw in the fridge and microwave individual servings, or simmer on the stove to thaw and reheat.