There must be something in the water. Over the past week, my 8- and 5-year old boys have, on their own accord, added several previously gag-inducing foods to their repertoires. Mustard is now being slathered onto sandwiches, salads are in high demand, and black beans are now considered "awesome". When I made this chili for dinner, there was a back-up can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup in the pantry. Rich with cocoa powder, packed with black and white beans, and smoky with heat from chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and chili powder, this chili packs a punch and was not what I considered to be kid-friendly.
Remind me never to underestimate kids.
Two bowl-clearing helpings later, I was honored with two thumbs up. Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather! If you prefer less heat, simply decrease the amount of chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and chili pepper. On the other hand, if you like to blow steam out of your ears, well... you know what to do. Chipotle peppers are the key to the smokiness in this recipe, and lend a unique flavor to a variety of dishes, such as Crockpot Chicken, Black Bean & Chipotle Pepper Soup.
The recipe:
Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large, heavy pot set over medium heat. Add 2 chopped medium onions and sauté until tender and light brown, about 10 minutes. Add 1 ½ teaspoons cumin and 1 ½ teaspoons oregano.
Stir for 30 seconds, then add 2 chopped garlic cloves. Stir for an additional 30 seconds. Increase heat to medium-high. Add 2 pounds ground turkey, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until it is cooked through. Add ¼ cup chili powder, 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
Add 1 (28 oz.) can whole tomatoes, including juices. Break up the tomatoes with wooden spoon while cooking. A couple of them weren't breaking up well, so I took them out of the pot, chopped the tomatoes, then added them back to the mixture.
Mix in 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 chopped chipotle peppers, 2 teaspoons of the adobo sauce, and 3 cups low-salt chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard bay leaves.
Drain and rinse 1 (15 oz.) can black beans and 1 (15 oz) can small white beans. Add to the chili and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
Ladle chili into bowl, and serve with sour cream and chopped cilantro.
Smoky Turkey Chili with Chipotle Peppers, & Black & White Beans
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 2 medium onions chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 2 pounds ground turkey meat
- ¼ cup chili powder
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 28 oz. can whole tomatoes (including juices)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo chopped
- 2 teaspoon adobo sauce from chipotle pepper can
- 3 cups low-salt chicken broth
- 1 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 ounce can small white beans, drained and rinsed
- sour cream
- fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Heat canola oil in a large, heavy pot set over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until tender and light brown, about 10 minutes.
- Add cumin and oregano. Stir for 30 seconds, then add garlic cloves. Stir for an additional 30 seconds.
- Increase heat to medium-high. Add ground turkey, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until it is cooked through.
- Add chili powder, bay leaves, cocoa powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add whole tomatoes, including juices. Break up the tomatoes with wooden spoon while cooking. If the tomatoes are breaking down easily, remove from the pot, chop, and then return to the mixture.
- Mix in tomato paste, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and chicken broth.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard bay leaves.
- Add black and white beans to the chili. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
- Ladle chili into bowl, and serve with sour cream and chopped cilantro.
Nutrition
Kalyn
Good work with the new camera, and the chili sounds great!
pegasuslegend
This recipe is perfect for this weather delicious!
NOELLE
I agree! The pictures are so crystal sharp. Great recipe.
Rochelle
Your chili looks fantastic! I haven't tried mine with turkey yet but your photos make me want to give it a try next time I do a batch 🙂
My Man's Belly
Congrats on getting the kids to all eat the same thing.
This looks and sounds fantastically delicious. A MUCH BETTER version of the Cincinnati chili I had in college.
Love the new picture...btw.
Tasty Trix
Omg, could your photos get any better?? So pretty.
The Chickenless Chick
Lovin the cocoa powder... And what a gorgeous picture!
Cathy
What a gorgeous bowl of chili. It's still very much chili weather here in Minnesota--this one is going to be added to the list!
Emily Ziegler
What a great blend of flavors!
And black beans are my favorite thing to put into chili. It is honestly the best thing since potatoes.
Maria
I love all of the spices going on in this chili. Great recipe!
Drick
the addition of cinnamon is a nice touch with the spices ... with the chipotle, this must be really great taste experience....
Sortachef
Nice chili recipe - I think my kids will get a kick out of this one. Thanks!
Claudia
Cocoa or chocolate seems to be going into all bean dishes these days. This is a very good trend! I love the different beans, the heartiness, the spice, the warmth to drive away winter.
wasabi prime
Heavenly winter dish! I like the use of different beans; nice reminder to mix things up a bit!
Elin
Hi CC...that look delicious. I wish turkey meat are cheaper here. It is expensive 🙁 Thanks for sharing the recipe. I will substitute turkey with chicken :))
LollyChops
Hi Shirley! hehehe
I could not resist!
This sounds like a fantastic chili recipe! Thanks for sharing!
kathyvegas
A lovely, fragrant dish that would thaw frozen toes for sure! I love the cocoa in the the recipe, gives it a mole flavor.
Tasty Eats At Home
This sounds SO good. You know, we have three picky eaters at home. (One isn't SO picky, but rarely can I get all three to eat the same thing.) Chili, however - even vegetarian chili - is loved among all three. I'd definitely like to try your version out on them too!
Miranda
Hey there C.C!
I have missed your lovely recipes!!
I have been stuck in MI and my husband is in FL. It has been this way since the holidays!! He is relocating us, but it has been hard to stay on top of things.
Anyway, this looks fantastic. I love smoky chili. Well done!!!!
Divina Pe
I actually thought they were ground beef but they're turkey. I love a good bowl of chili and thanks for sharing this recipe. Glad your kids gave it a two thumbs up, and you might not need any backup of Campbell's soup. 😀