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Bowl of spicy turkey chili with black beans, tomatoes, farro, and fresh toppings

Spicy Turkey Chili with Black Beans, Tomatoes and Farro

Spicy Turkey Chili with Black Beans, Tomatoes and Farro is a hearty, grain-filled chili with a chewy texture and smoky, savory flavor. It is an easy, comforting meal for weeknights or gatherings when you want a satisfying bowl with plenty of depth.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Tex Mex
Calories: 294
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Farro
  • 1 cup farro (another grain like brown rice or quinoa would work)
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups water, divided
Chili
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 red onion, minced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2-3 jalapeños, minced (remove ribs and seeds if you don’t want it to be spicy)
  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • one 14-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained (14 ounces / 397 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup salsa
  • two 14-ounce cans crushed fire roasted tomatoes (28 ounces / 794 grams total)
  • 2–3 jalapenos, minced (remove ribs and seeds if you don’t want it to be spicy)
Toppings
  • toppings (sour cream, cheese, green onions, tortilla chips)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring the chicken broth and 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir in the farro, cover, and lower the heat to maintain a simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed.
  2. While the farro cooks, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeños and sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring often to prevent the garlic from burning.
Cooking
  1. Add the ground turkey to the pan and cook until browned and separated into small crumbles.
  2. Mix in the black beans, ancho chili powder, chili powder, cumin, salt, and salsa. Simmer for a few minutes.
  3. Add the crushed tomatoes and use as much of the remaining 2 cups water as needed to reach the desired consistency. Simmer for a few minutes while the farro finishes cooking separately.
Assembly
  1. Stir the cooked farro into the chili mixture until evenly combined.
  2. Top with sour cream, cheese, green onions, and tortilla chips before serving.

Notes

Cook the farro separately before adding it to the chili so the grain can absorb its own cooking liquid and the chili consistency can be adjusted before combining.