The Best Chili Ever - Canadian Maple Turkey Chili

I just finished having a bowl of the best chili my daughter and I have ever made. We wanted to make the recipe from the Dinner Survival cookbook but did not have everything for the recipe. So, we decided to wing it. Following is the recipe we came up with.

1 to 1 1/4 lbs. lean ground turkey

6 slices bacon cooked in the microwave on paper towels, about 4 minutes or until done

1 onion, diced

2 ribs celery, sliced

8 oz. container of white mushrooms, cleaned and quartered

1/2 of a green bell pepper, diced

1/2 of a 1 lb bag of baby carrots, chopped

2 to 4 Tbsp maple syrup

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 Tbsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp salt

ground pepper to taste

1/2 ground ancho chili powder, less if you don't like spicy food (you can substitute ground cayenne pepper)

1 Tbsp tomato paste (we use a tube because it is easier to store)

1 small can Muir Glen Fire Roasted tomatoes

1 can cannellini beans (mix with 1/4 c. bbq sauce and 2 tbsps molasses) or 1 can baked beans

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 can of corn, drained (save the other have to put in cornbread)


Put 1 to 2 Tbsps oil in dutch oven or large pot. Heat over high heat and add ground turkey. When meat is browned add the onion, celery, carrot and mushrooms. Cook 1 to 2 minutes to soften vegetables, then add maple syrup, salt, pepper and spices. Cook for 3 more minutes, then add tomato paste, canned tomatoes, baked bean mixture, corn, and ketchup. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes.

This chili goes great with homemade cornbread. We follow the recipe on the canister of cornmeal and add the leftover 1/2 can of corn. We mix up the cornbread while the vegetables are cooking.

I hope you will try this recipe and let us know what you think.

For more great recipes, you can visit The Groery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap.