When the holidays leave you with a fridge full of leftover turkey, this white turkey chili is the cozy, high-protein dinner that makes it disappear. It’s creamy, a little smoky, and ready in just 30 minutes. No leftovers? Ground turkey works just as well.
Save This Recipe to Your Email!
We'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
White chili skips the tomatoes and leans on white beans, green chiles, and warm spices instead. The result is a lighter-colored chili with a creamy broth and a gentle, smoky heat. This version works with shredded leftover turkey or ground turkey, so you can make it the week after Thanksgiving or any weeknight all winter long. Everything cooks in one pot in about 30 minutes.
As a dietitian, this is one of my favorite ways to get a filling, balanced meal on the table fast. Each bowl has 39 grams of protein from the turkey, beans, and Greek yogurt, plus 11 grams of fiber from three cans of navy beans. Greek yogurt makes the broth creamy without cream cheese or heavy cream. It’s the kind of meal that keeps you full for hours.
If you’re looking for more ways to use up leftover turkey, I’ve got you covered. These turkey enchiladas are a cheesy, family-friendly dinner, and this creamy turkey noodle soup is pure comfort in a bowl. For an easy lunch, try my leftover turkey salad. Between all four, none of that turkey will go to waste.
Jump to:
- What Does White Turkey Chili Taste Like?
- Why You Will Love This White Turkey Chili Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make White Turkey Chili
- Recipe Success Tips
- What to Serve with White Turkey Chili
- How to Store White Turkey Chili
- Is White Turkey Chili Healthy?
- Pricing Info
- FAQs
- Other Leftover Turkey Recipes
- Recipe
What Does White Turkey Chili Taste Like?
White turkey chili is savory and creamy, with a mild heat from the green chiles. Cumin and chili powder add warmth, while smoked paprika gives it a subtle smoky depth. The Greek yogurt makes the broth rich and slightly tangy. A finish of fresh lime juice and cilantro brightens every spoonful.
Why You Will Love This White Turkey Chili Recipe
- Ready in 30 minutes. It’s faster than most white chili recipes, with just 5 minutes of prep.
- Leftover or ground turkey. Make it as a leftover turkey chili after the holidays, or start fresh with ground turkey.
- High in protein. Each serving has 39 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber.
- One pot. Everything cooks in a single Dutch oven for easy cleanup.
- Budget-friendly. The whole pot costs about $11.47, or $1.92 per serving.
Ingredients Needed
The main ingredients for white turkey chili are turkey, white beans, green chiles, broth, and warm spices, with Greek yogurt for creaminess. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Avocado oil: This is for sautéing the onion and garlic. Olive oil works too.
- Yellow onion and garlic: They build the flavor base of the chili.
- Turkey: Use 4 cups of shredded leftover turkey or 2 pounds of ground turkey. Both work great.
- Low-sodium chicken broth: It forms the base of the chili while keeping the salt in check.
- Navy beans: You’ll need three 15-ounce cans, drained and rinsed. They add creaminess, protein, and plenty of fiber.
- Canned green chiles: A 4-ounce can adds mild heat and that classic white chili flavor.
- Spices: Chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Plain Greek yogurt: It makes the broth creamy and adds extra protein.
- Fresh cilantro and lime juice: These are stirred in at the end for a bright, fresh finish.
Substitutions & Variations
- Swap the beans: Great northern, white kidney, or cannellini beans work in place of navy beans.
- Use chicken: Shredded rotisserie chicken or ground chicken works just like turkey.
- Use sour cream: Swap the Greek yogurt for sour cream if that’s what you have. It will lower the protein slightly.
- Make it spicier: Add a diced jalapeño with the onion, or use hot green chiles instead of mild.
How to Make White Turkey Chili
- Step 1: Soften the onion and garlic. Warm the avocado oil in a Dutch oven or large stockpot over medium heat. Cook the diced onion for 2–3 minutes, until translucent, then stir in the garlic for 1 more minute.
- Step 2: Add the turkey. If you’re using shredded leftover turkey, simply stir it in and move to the next step. If you’re using ground turkey, cook it until browned, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks.
- Step 3: Build the chili. Pour in the chicken broth, then add the beans, green chiles, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Stir everything together.
- Step 4: Simmer. Bring the chili to a simmer, cover the pot, and let it cook for 15 minutes, stirring every so often.
- Step 5: Finish with yogurt. Remove the lid and stir in the Greek yogurt, cilantro, and lime juice. Let it gently simmer for another 2–3 minutes.
- Step 6: Serve. Ladle the chili into bowls and add your favorite toppings.
Recipe Success Tips
- Keep it gentle after adding the yogurt. A gentle simmer is all you need. A hard boil can cause the yogurt to curdle.
- Rinse the beans. Rinsing removes the starchy canning liquid and some of the sodium.
- Taste before salting. If your leftover turkey was brined or well seasoned, start with less salt and add more at the end.
- Cover the pot while it simmers. Keeping the lid on holds in the moisture so the chili doesn’t cook down and get too dry. This matters most with leftover turkey, which can dry out quickly.
What to Serve with White Turkey Chili
Top your chili with diced avocado, shredded Monterey Jack, sliced jalapeños, crushed tortilla chips, or an extra dollop of Greek yogurt. Then round out the meal with one of these sides:
- Quesadillas: Cut them into wedges for dipping.
- Cornbread: It’s the classic chili pairing.
- Tortilla chips: They’re perfect for scooping.
- Green salad: A crisp salad with a lime vinaigrette adds freshness.
How to Store White Turkey Chili
This white turkey chili recipe keeps well, so store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To freeze it, let it cool completely and transfer it to freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
The Greek yogurt may separate slightly after freezing, so stir it well as it reheats. Warm it on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth if it’s too thick.
Is White Turkey Chili Healthy?
With 39 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per serving, this chili is a filling, balanced meal on its own. That combination helps keep you satisfied for hours. Greek yogurt adds creaminess and extra protein without cream cheese or heavy cream.
One serving of this white turkey chili (1/6 of the recipe) has about 321 calories, 30 grams of carbs, 39 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, 11 grams of fiber, and 498 milligrams of sodium. These numbers are based on shredded turkey breast. Using ground turkey will make the calories and fat higher. Toppings like avocado, cheese, and tortilla chips are not included.
The protein comes from the turkey, beans, and Greek yogurt, while the fiber comes almost entirely from the navy beans. Most of the sodium comes from the added salt, the canned beans, and the green chiles. Rinsing the beans and using low-sodium broth help keep it moderate. If your leftover turkey was brined or heavily seasoned, it can add extra sodium.
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 321 calories
- Carbohydrates: 30 grams
- Protein: 39 grams
- Total Fat: 5 grams
- Sodium: 498 mg
- Fiber: 11 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Pricing Info
This is what I personally paid to make this recipe:
- 1 tbsp avocado oil: $0.19
- 1 medium yellow onion: $0.61
- 4 cloves garlic: $0.08
- 4 cups shredded turkey: $3.33
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth: $1.72
- 3 15 oz cans navy beans: $3.54
- 4 oz canned green chilies: $0.93
- 1 tbsp chili powder: $0.06
- 2 tsp cumin: $0.10
- 1 tsp smoked paprika: $0.02
- ¾ tsp salt: $0.02
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt: $0.72
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro: $0.03
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice: $0.12
A single bowl of chili at a restaurant can easily cost $8–$12. Making a full pot of this white turkey chili at home costs about $11.47, or $1.92 per serving. That’s 6 hearty servings for about the price of one restaurant bowl. If you’re using leftover turkey you already have, it’s even more budget-friendly.
FAQs
White turkey chili skips the tomatoes and red kidney beans found in classic chili. Instead, it uses white beans, green chiles, and a creamy broth, which gives it a lighter color and a milder, tangier flavor. Using turkey instead of beef also makes it leaner. That’s why you’ll often see it called white bean turkey chili.
White chili doesn’t have a tomato sauce. The base is chicken broth, and many recipes thicken it with cream cheese, heavy cream, or a flour roux. This version uses Greek yogurt for creaminess, while the starch from the navy beans naturally thickens the broth as it simmers.
The most common mistake is boiling the chili after adding the dairy, which can cause it to curdle. Over-salting is another, especially when using seasoned leftover turkey or unrinsed canned beans. Finally, leftover turkey only needs to heat through, so cooking it too long can make it dry.
Yes! Let it cool completely, then freeze it in airtight containers for up to 3 months. The Greek yogurt may separate a little, but a good stir while reheating brings it back together.
Other Leftover Turkey Recipes
Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!
Recipe
White Turkey Chili (Leftover or Ground Turkey!)
Equipment
- 1 5 or 6 qt Dutch Oven (or large stockpot)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups shredded turkey (or 2 lbs ground turkey)
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 3 15 oz cans navy beans drained and rinsed
- 4 oz canned green chilies
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Add avocado oil to a Dutch oven or stockpot and heat over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute.
- Add the turkey. If using shredded turkey, move on to step 3. If using ground turkey, saute until browned, crumbling as it cooks.
- Stir in the chicken broth, beans, green chilies, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Uncover and stir in the plain Greek yogurt, cilantro, and lime juice. Simmer for another 2-3 minutes, then serve with your favorite chili toppings!
Video
Nutrition
If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!
xoxo Megan
Leave a Reply