Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

Sharing our favorite turkey chili today! This Turkey Bacon Chili Mac is a perfect weeknight dinner the whole family goes nuts for!

Turkey Chili

Turkey chili is the best during chilly months! This time of year is so great to be in the kitchen. I don’t know if it’s the cooler weather or what, but I love breaking out my big cast iron pots and whipping up a new hearty recipe. We have chili on a very regular basis and I have been wanting to put a fun new twist on it for a while now. I decided it would be fun to create a Turkey Bacon Chili Mac. It was a huge hit with my boys. We had it as leftovers for a few days too. Comfort food in a pot. Win! Hope you enjoy!

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Chili Mac Recipe

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

You’ll need some chopped red bell peppers, chopped onion and a mild green chili pepper. I used an Anaheim.

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

Saute those babies until softened.

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

Add two pounds of ground turkey and season.

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

Once the turkey is browned, add your broth, tomatoes and tomato paste.

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

Add your cumin and chili powder.

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

I added a small packet of dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning. This is optional, but it went great with the turkey and bacon. You could add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt if you choose to leave the Ranch seasoning out.

Chili Mac

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

Add some cooked pasta and your bacon.

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

Let simmer until ready to serve. Mmmm!

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

Turkey Bacon Chili Mac

Turkey Chili Mac with Bacon

This turkey bacon chili mac is a hearty weeknight dinner idea, made with tender pasta smothered in savory homemade turkey chili.
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 15
Calories: 321kcal
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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped white onion
  • 1 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced Anaheim green chile or other mild chile
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 pounds lean ground turkey
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 36 ounces broth I used chicken
  • 10 ounce can Rotel diced tomatoes mild
  • 4 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 packet dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning
  • 4 cups cooked Ditalini pasta (slightly underdone)
  • 20 strips cooked crumbled bacon pieces (I used the microwave ready)

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, red bell pepper, green chili and garlic. Cook and stir until softened, about 5-8 minutes.
  • Add turkey, salt and pepper. Cook until crumbled and browned. Add broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, garlic salt and Ranch Dressing Seasoning. Stir to combine.
  • Stir in cooked pasta and bacon pieces. Simmer on low until ready to serve. Serve with chopped green onions if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 781mg | Potassium: 508mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 860IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg
Keywords: best chili recipe, ground turkey chili, homemade chili recipe

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27 Responses
  1. Ruby

    This is a great chili dish for a cold day. I substituted black beans for the pasta. And everyone loved the dish at the pot luck dinner.

  2. Kathy R

    Made this last night – it was a big hit! And tons leftover! This will become a standard this fall and winter.

  3. Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss

    This looks SO hearty and delicious for the upcoming fall weather. Anything with bacon in it is certainly worth trying!!

  4. Sommer @ASpicyPerspective

    I must try this soon! A savory, gorgeous, dish! I love fall comfort food!

  5. Meagan @ A Zesty Bite

    Easy comforting foods when its chilly outside. It makes me want to put on stretchy pants go sit by the fire with a big bowl of this chili mac.

  6. Julie @ HostessAtHeart

    This would be a great recipe to put together at the end of the day, and I am sure the leftovers would be just as good or better.

  7. Linda | Brunch with Joy

    Yum! This totally helps when feeding a big crowd…or small group with big appetite. Very comforting, indeed.

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