(This post is sponsored by Chocolove! Thank you so so much for reading and supporting the brands that I love!)
This chipotle turkey chili has a secret ingredient: dark chocolate! It adds the perfect amount of richness and flavor, and compliments the chipotle and spices beautifully! It’s super easy to make too!
There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of chili when it’s frigid outside and you don’t feel like cooking all day. This chili is SO easy and it’s filled with tons of flavor. And it has a secret ingredient: dark chocolate! What more could you want?!
If you’ve never put chocolate in your chili, don’t run away! It’s seriously SO good. It adds the perfect amount of richness and that “what is that?” flavor that leaves you wanting to go back for seconds. And thirds.
I used my favorite chocolate brand, Chocolove, in this chili because of the amazing quality and flavor in their dark chocolate. It melts so perfectly into the chili and compliments the flavors of the chipotle peppers and spices beautifully. I cannot say enough good things about their chocolate!
Now there’s only a half of a bar (about 1.5 ounces) in the chili, so there’s not much! Just enough to give that rich flavor.
And you can save the rest for yourself to snack on 🙂
This chili is super healthy too. I used lean ground turkey, and two types of beans, so there’s tons of protein!
It also keeps really well in the fridge, so it would be great to make for meal prep too! And it freezes well, so I’d even make a double batch!
And the toppings! We can’t forget about those. They might be my favorite part of eating chili in general. And everything, really. Toppings make the world go round.
Especially when they are in the form of avocado, sour cream, pepper jack cheese, lime, and cilantro. And some (not pictured) crushed tortilla chips! Gotta have texture, always!
Another reason why I love Chocolove chocolate is because it is filled with all real ingredients, and nothing fake. They are all natural and I feel my best when I am fueling my body with real food! And yes, chocolate counts! I can’t live without my dark chocolate at night. Anyone else?
This chili is PERFECT to make for the Super Bowl coming up this weekend too! You can make it ahead of time, and set up a topping bar for everyone to add their own toppings. Super fun.
I’m pretty sure this recipe would work in the crockpot too. Or, if you wanted to make it on the stove top, and just keep it warm in the crockpot until your guests arrive, that would work great!
Definitely adding dark chocolate to my chili from now on!
Chipotle Chocolate Turkey Chili
This chipotle turkey chili has a secret ingredient: dark chocolate! It adds the perfect amount of richness and flavor, and compliments the chipotle and spices beautifully! It's super easy to make too!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 chipotle pepper (from a can of chipotles in adobo, very finely chopped, or add two if you like spicy!)
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 (15 ounce cans) tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 bar (about 1.5 ounces) dark chocolate (I use Chocolove 70% dark!)
- sliced avocado for topping
- chopped cilantro for topping
- sour cream for topping
- freshly grated pepper jack cheese for topping
- lime wedges for serving
- tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper and garlic and sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently, until veggies have softened and are starting to turn golden. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the chipotle pepper and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add the ground turkey, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, paprika, smoked paprika, and salt. Cook for 5-6 minutes, until turkey is cooked through, breaking up the turkey into small pieces with your spatula.
Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, maple syrup, pinto beans, and black beans and raise heat to high. Bring to a boil, and once boiling, reduce to medium-medium/high and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes, then uncover and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
Once chili is finished cooking, add the chocolate and stir until completely incorporated. Let cool for a few minutes before serving. Portion into bowls and top with sliced avocado, cilantro, sour cream, pepper jack cheese, and lime wedges. Serve with tortilla chips!
Where do you purchase Chico love chocolate? Think it is a good day to make chili! Thank you.
I find mine at Whole Foods, Safeway, and some natural foods markets near me!
I made the turkey chili yesterday. Was worried husband would complain about the beans as he usually prefers those left out. I loved it. He absolutely loved it. Huge hit.
I am so happy to hear that Jeanette! Thank you!!
Just made this for dinner and it was delicious. I used a 70% Lindt bar and next time I might use a higher % bar because the chili was slightly sweet. Having said that, it was very popular and even though it makes a fair amount, it went quickly. The directions are easy to follow. I do think the spice level is on the tame side. I added two chipoltle’s from a can of Goya Chipotle’s and I added a fresh jalepeno and there was just a tickle of heat. Next time, I’ll add more chipotles.
I’m so glad you tried it and that it was a hit! I sometimes add extra chipotles also, I like the heat too! Thanks Joe!!
This is my new go to favorite chili recipe! Thank you for such a delicious turkey chili! I’ve added dark chocolate and chipotle to my own version before but your measurements make an amazing chili and I like the addition of maple syrup for a hint of sweetness and balancing out the acidity of the tomatoes. One tip I learned since I never use an entire can of chipotle peppers in adobo is to freeze them in a ziplock squeezing the air out to make a log almost then when I need some like in this recipe I can just grate what I need with a micro plane straight into the pot and put the rest back in the freezer. Making this again in a couple weeks when my family gets together for a week at Christmas! It’s so good!
Hi Chelsea! Thank you so much for your sweet comment! I’m so glad you love the chili! That’s such a great tip about the chipotles in adobo – I can’t even tell you how many cans I’ve wasted after only using one or two peppers. I hope your family loves it too 🙂 Have a great rest of your holiday season!
This is an absolute home run! Thank you so much for sharing. I have made several chili recipes before but this is my all time favorite. It’s in my rotation for a quick and easy meal. Here are my few modifications: I added more chipotle peppers and sauce from the can. I also squeezed half a lime for some brightness at the end. I used an 85% chocolate. All your ratios are great so it’s a winner on its own.
Thank you so much Sheila!! This makes me so happy! Love your addition of lime at the end, and the super dark chocolate. I bet it was amazing! I really appreciate you making my recipe and commenting! 🙂