Easy Low Carb Turkey Chili with No Beans

ByBrooke Burks Published: Modified:
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This easy, low carb turkey chili with no beans will become your new favorite low carb chili recipe. Packed with lean protein and tons of flavor from seasonings and fresh vegetables, it is as delicious as it is healthy for you.

A bowl of chili with a spoon, placed next to a pot filled with more chili. The chili appears to be thick, containing ground meat and diced tomatoes, and has a rich, reddish-brown color. The bowl has a blue and white pattern on its rim. The pot sits on a wooden surface.

There are certain foods that just scream comfort food. In the Fall and Winter, I find myself wanting more and more of those. Like our BBQ PULLED PORK, this recipe helps me curb my cravings but keep in line with my low-carb lifestyle.

We also include a surprise ingredient that helps give this keto turkey chili recipe the same texture of traditional chili recipes. The butternut squash. Creamy and sweet, it helps provide a smooth texture that makes this much more than meat, veggies and broth.

Ingredients

We use a ton of fresh, whole ingredients but nothing out of the ordinary. If you find cutting a butternut squash difficult, check out our post on how to CUT AND COOK winter squash.

A patterned bowl filled with thick chili containing ground meat and diced tomatoes. A spoon rests inside the bowl, which is placed on a wooden surface.

What You’ll Need

  • Avocado oil
  • Celery
  • Onion
  • Fresh minced garlic
  • Ground turkey
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Chili powder
  • Smoked paprika
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Bell pepper
  • Butternut squash
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Tomato sauce
  • Beef broth
  • Salt and Pepper

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Like any good soup or stew, we season and cook in layers. It may seem like a lot of ingredients and steps but it really is a dump and cook recipe at its core. One that will be worth all you put into it.

Prior to cooking, we cut and seeded a butternut squash. Placed it on a parchment lined pan and roasted it at 425 for 30 to 40 minutes. Allowed it to cool.

A top-down view shows a person, mostly their hands, pouring oil into a large pot on a stovetop. Next to the pot, there are chopped vegetables, ground meat, and additional ingredients on a wooden countertop. The person is wearing a smartwatch.

In a large dutch oven, add avocado oil over medium high heat.

A person holds a small bowl of chopped green peppers, red onions, and celery over a large pot on a stovetop. A container of ground meat, a pepper grinder, and a jar of sauce are placed on a wooden board next to the stovetop.

Stir in celery, onion and bell peppers. Cook until softened.

A person is seasoning a mixture of chopped red onions and green bell peppers in a red-handled pot on a stovetop. To the side, there's a container of raw ground meat and an open jar of a yellow seasoning or sauce on a wooden cutting board.

Season vegetables with a bit of salt and pepper.

A person is stirring chopped vegetables in a pot on a stovetop while holding a jar of minced garlic. Beside the pot, there is a container of raw ground meat on a wooden cutting board.

Add in minced garlic and cook a minute more.

A person holds a tray of raw ground meat over a stovetop. A pot with a spoon resting inside contains chopped vegetables and is positioned on the burner. A wooden cutting board and a jar can be seen on the right side of the image.

Break up and add in ground turkey and cook with vegetables until browned.

A person seasoning food with a pepper grinder over a pot on a stovetop. The focus is on the pot, with vegetables and possibly meat inside. A wooden cutting board and a jar with a spoon are visible on the right side of the image.

Salt and pepper the meat to add another layer of flavor.

A person wearing a watch is seen from above adding a spice into a pot with ground meat and vegetables on a stovetop. The pot has red handles, and the stove is black with three visible burners. A wooden cutting board with a jar is on the right side of the image.

Add in chili powder and red pepper flakes and stir into the meat mixture.

A person is cooking on a stovetop, stirring ingredients in a pot. The pot is filled with chopped vegetables, ground meat, and a brown seasoning being sprinkled in. A wooden cutting board with a jar and a pepper mill is beside the stovetop.

Add in smoked paprika and cayenne to the pot and stir well.

A pot of cooked ground meat is on a stovetop, with a wooden spoon resting inside it. A person's hands are seen holding a piece of dough over a wooden cutting board with a jar of seasoning, a salt shaker, and a pepper grinder nearby.

Mix in onion powder and garlic powder.

A kitchen countertop featuring a baking tray with roasted butternut squash on the left, a pot of ground meat and vegetables being cooked in the center, and a wooden cutting board with seasonings and jars on the right.

Prepare the roasted butternut squash once cooled. Scoop out the flesh from the roasted halves and place about 2 cups of it in the chili mixture.

Top view of a kitchen scene showcasing a pot filled with a mixture of ground meat and vegetables, topped with cooked squash. The pot sits on a stove next to a baking sheet with a roasted squash cut in half. Nearby, there is a wooden cutting board and salt and pepper shakers.

Mix well.

A person pours liquid from a measuring cup into a large pot with cooked ground meat and squash. To the left, there is a baking sheet with roasted squash pieces. The scene takes place on a stovetop with a wooden cutting board nearby.

Stir in the tomato sauce.

A person is preparing a meal on a stovetop. On the left, a baking pan with cooked squash is visible. In the center, a pot contains various ingredients, and a person is pouring a can of sauce into it. On the right, kitchen utensils and containers are arranged on a wooden countertop.

The diced tomatoes, undrained.

A person adds a seasoning or spice to a large pot of a hearty stew on a stove. The pot is beside a pan of baked squash, and there are kitchen tools like salt and pepper shakers on the wooden counter nearby. The person is wearing a smartwatch.

And the beef broth. Bring back to a low boil and reduce heat to simmer, covered for 30 to 40 minutes.

A bowl of chili with a spoon sits on a wooden surface. The chili has visible chunks of tomatoes and beans. Behind the bowl, there is a larger red pot filled with more chili and a ladle resting inside it. The setting appears to be a kitchen countertop.
A person wearing a white chef's hat and gray shirt is smiling and holding two wooden spoons. They are leaning forward over a white table next to a silver laptop displaying the Apple logo. The background is plain white.

Why Brooke loves this recipe!

Recipes are like antiques. They are meant to be handed down from one generation to another. Each one holding a special memory or nostalgic memory. Here is why we love this one!

Logo for "The Buttered Home" featuring a butter churn in the center enclosed by a circular design. The text "EST 2018" is on either side of the churn. Below the circle, the text reads "THE BUTTERED HOME" with the tagline "home cooking made easy" underneath.

Finding healthy substitutions for the things I love has been my quest these last few years. Comfort foods and southern cooking are not known for being the most healthy so I get excited when I can develop a recipe that curbs that comfort craving and also keeps me in check with my health goals.

Substitutions and Variations

You can have chili and add so many things to it to change it up. Here are a few ideas.

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  • Vegetarian – leave out the turkey and add finely diced tofu or replace it with more vegetables like zucchini and eggplant. Replace beef broth with vegetable broth.
  • Ground Turkey – replace with lean ground beef or even ground chicken if turkey is not your thing.
  • Butternut squash – replace with cooked and peeled sweet potatoes or another type of sweet squash like buttercup or kabocha.

Some of our favorite toppings.

Chili was made for toppings! Here are some low carb options to keep this following a low-carb diet.

  • Sour Cream
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Hot Sauce
  • Green Onions
  • The juice of fresh limes
  • Avocado
  • Jalapeños

Equipment

🔧 I love to share recipes that are no special equipment required but here are a few things that would definitely make this recipe easier!

Storage and Reheating

Once cooled to room temperature, store in an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat on low heat on the stove.

This freezes beautifully for up to 3 months in a freezer safe container. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat over low heat on the stove.

A blue and white patterned bowl filled with chunky chili with visible ground meat and tomatoes sits on a wooden surface. A spoon rests in the bowl, and a red pot partially filled with the same chili is in the background.

⭐ LOVE THIS RECIPE? It would mean so very much to me if you would take a moment to rate this recipe and leave me a sweet comment in the recipe card below! ❤️❤️We hope you love all of the Southern and healthy recipes we share here at The Buttered Home and would love to see you back here often!

A bowl of chunky tomato-based sauce with ground meat is placed on a wooden surface. The sauce is served in a white bowl with blue decorative patterns on the inside. A spoon rests in the bowl. In the background is a red pot filled with more of the sauce.

Easy Low Carb Turkey Chili with No Beans

This easy, low carb turkey chili with no beans will become your new favorite low carb chili recipe. Packed with lean protein and tons of flavor from seasonings and fresh vegetables, it is as delicious as it is healthy for you.
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Serving Size 10

Ingredients

  • 2 TBSPS avocado oil
  • 1/2 cup celery diced
  • 1/2 cup onion diced
  • 1/2 cup bell pepper diced
  • 2 TBSPS garlic fresh, minced
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tsps chili powder
  • 2 tsps smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 cups butternut squash cooked
  • 2 cups diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 tsps salt
  • 2 tsps black pepper

Instructions

  • Prior to cooking, carefully half and deseed butternut squash. Place on a rimmed sheet pan fitted with parchment and roast at 425 F until soft and golden brown. Set aside to cool.
  • In a large dutch oven, heat avocado oil over medium-high heat. Add in celery, onions and bell peppers. Cook until softened. Add garlic and cook a minute more, stirring to avoid burning.
    2 TBSPS avocado oil, 1/2 cup celery, 1/2 cup onion, 1/2 cup bell pepper, 2 TBSPS garlic
  • Add in ground turkey and season with half of salt and pepper. Cook until browned. Season with red pepper flakes, chili powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, onion and garlic powder. Add remainder of salt and pepper.
    1 pound ground turkey, 1 tsp red pepper flakes, 2 tsps chili powder, 2 tsps smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsps salt, 2 tsps black pepper
  • Scoop 2 cups of cooked butternut squash out of skin and add to meat mixture. Mix well. Add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and beef broth. Bring back to a low boil, turn down heat and allow to simmer covered for 30 to 40 minutes.
    2 cups butternut squash, 2 cups diced tomatoes, 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 cup beef broth

See How To Make It!

🍴 PRO TIP!

If you are following a keto diet and just really seem to miss the kidney beans in your chili, try adding something a little different. Serve this healthy turkey chili over seasoned cauliflower rice for more flavor and texture.

🗹 RECIPE FAQ’S

Can I make this in the instant pot or crock pot?

Yes, saute the veggies as normal for both. If using the IP, you can do it on the saute setting there. Add all other ingredients and cook on manual for 12 minutes in the IP and on low in the the slow cooker for 3 to 4 hours.

Can I make this and add kidney beans?

You can but it will no longer be keto friendly or low carb. If you wanted to serve it with beans, I would make this large pot as is and at the simmer time, add in beans with half of it in another pot. Two to serve, one with beans and one without.

Want more veggies?

Adding cubed zucchini or even eggplant will help with flavor and texture and get even more vegetables into your meal.

🍽️ SERVING SUGGESTIONS. What goes great with this recipe? Let me tell you!

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this keto chili recipe:

If you make this recipe, be sure and post it to Facebook or Instagram and tag us. We love pictures of food.

Also, if you pin this recipe, we would appreciate that when you make it, you use the Made It function in Pinterest too. 

And don’t forget to subscribe to our YOUTUBE channel for some great tutorial videos!

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Reader Review

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“I loved the freezer tips and made a double batch so we could enjoy some next week. This easy delicious recipe is a keeper.”

– Karen

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Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

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One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    I made this last night and it was delicious!! The leftovers for lunch today were even better!! Another low-carb recipe going into my regular lineup, thank you Brooke!!

    Reply