Best Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

I love cooking in my slow cooker while I work all day. It is so magical to come home to dishes like pot pie, meatballs, or stuffed peppers. This easy crock pot turkey chili is another favorite. It is loaded with meat and beans and tastes like you were standing over the stove all day. We love it for chilly Fall evenings and game day .

1. Brown Meat and Veggies: This creates hundreds of flavor compounds you just can't get from the slow cooker alone.
2. Use 2 Kinds of Meat: Ground turkey adds bulk while kielbasa adds fat and a smoky flavor.
3. Add a Touch of Sugar: It balances out the acid in the tomatoes
4. Thicken with Tortilla Chips: They soak up extra liquid and add a hint of corn flavor.
5. Baking Soda: Turkey is lean so adding baking soda helps it retain more moisture.

• Ground Turkey: Look for 93% not 99% lean ground turkey. 99% is too lean and tends to dry out quickly.
• Baking Soda: Don't skip this! It increases the pH of the meat and helps it stay moist.
• Kielbasa: I used Turkey Polska Kielbasa, but any rope sausage even chicken or pork will do.
• Sugar: Don't be scared of this, it won't make the chili sweet, it just cuts some of the acid.
• Broth: I used low sodium. You could even use water or even half water half beer.

1. Don't Skip Sauteing: I know it's annoying to have a crock pot recipe where you also have to use the stove. Trust me the flavor is worth this extra step. Browning gives the meat so much flavor and tasty brown bits you can't get any other way. If you have an Instant Pot you could even sauté and then slow cook in it.
2. Use a Crock Pot Liner: This makes cleanup a breeze. If you don't have any, you could also spray it down with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Always Rinse Canned Beans: This removes the salty canning liquid and improves their flavor/texture.

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