Description

This Spicy Buffalo Turkey Chili is a flavorful and hearty dish combining ground turkey with bold spices, hot sauce, and enchilada sauce, simmered to perfection and topped with cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, and crunchy tortilla chips. It’s a comforting yet spicy meal perfect for chilly days or game day gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

3 tablespoons salted butter
2 pounds ground turkey or chicken
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 poblano peppers, seeded and chopped
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup hot sauce
3 cups red enchilada sauce
2–4 cups bone broth
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or melted cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

For Serving

Lots of salted tortilla chips
Additional yogurt
Avocado slices
Green onion, chopped
Lime wedges (for squeezing)

Instructions

Brown the Turkey and Vegetables: Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground turkey, chopped onion, poblano peppers, celery, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, and season with salt and black pepper. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the turkey is browned evenly and vegetables are softened.
Add Sauces and Broth, then Simmer: Pour in the hot sauce, red enchilada sauce, and 2 to 4 cups of bone broth, depending on desired thickness. Stir well and bring the mixture to a simmer. Allow it to cook for at least 10 minutes, but for deeper flavor, simmer for several hours or even all day on low heat, stirring occasionally.
Incorporate Creamy Elements and Cheese: Stir in the plain Greek yogurt or melted cream cheese to add creaminess to the chili. Add the shredded cheddar cheese and let it cook for another 5 minutes until the cheese melts thoroughly into the chili.
Finish with Fresh Cilantro: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the chopped fresh cilantro for a burst of freshness.
Serve with Toppings: Ladle the chili into bowls and top generously with salted tortilla chips. Add dollops of yogurt, slices of avocado, chopped green onions, more cilantro if desired, and a squeeze of lime juice to brighten the flavors. Enjoy hot.

Notes

You can adjust the level of spiciness by using more or less hot sauce and chipotle chili powder.
If bone broth is unavailable, chicken broth or vegetable broth can be substituted.
For a thicker chili, use less broth or simmer uncovered to reduce the liquid.
This chili can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Make it dairy-free by skipping the Greek yogurt/cream cheese and cheddar, using dairy-free alternatives.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes (plus optional longer simmering)
Category: Soup/Chili
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: buffalo turkey chili, spicy turkey chili, enchilada sauce chili, ground turkey recipes, hearty chili, game day chili