clean 17-day diet turkey chili

The 17 day diet portion (rules here) of this 4-week eat-clean challenge is certainly limiting in terms of recipes (how much can you really make with chicken, turkey, and vegetables?), but there ARE options. And I'm sharing one of my favorites with you! Super healthy, clean, natural turkey chili.

This is a great option on this diet because you WILL get sick of salads. Sometimes you need something warm and hearty -- and this is it! It is satisfying, comforting, and super filling. Eat as much as you want! Two whole cups only has 150 calories and 4 grams of fat -- but it's chock full of protein (14 grams) and fiber (10 grams). Make it for dinner then enjoy the leftovers for lunch (or as a snack!) throughout the week. Yes, the beans are missed (carrots aren't quite the same...), and no, it's not QUITE as tasty as traditional beef chili. But it's about as good as it gets on this diet ;)

Here's how to make it:


Chop up an onion and mince 5 cloves of garlic (or use the kind from a jar). Heat up 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Add the garlic and sauté for another minute or so. 

Then, add in the ground turkey. You want to use the leanest ground turkey you can find, and be sure to get natural, organic turkey (the only ingredient should be turkey breast). Let's just say... I've heard some horror stories about cheap non-organic ground turkey. 

Break the turkey up with a spatula as it cooks. Cook until it's no longer pink, about 10-15 minutes. 

Then, add in 2 cups of chicken stock and 2 cans of natural, organic diced tomatoes with fire-roasted green chiles. If you're sensitive to heat, use 1 can of plain tomatoes and 1 can with the green chiles. Also add in about a cup of chopped carrots. You could also add in some chopped bell peppers if you'd like. 

Then, add in your spices. Chile powder, paprika, cayenne, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and pepper. 

Stir. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. 

Then, reduce heat and cover. Cook on low for 30-45 minutes. 

Serve!

Even my fiancé, who is most certainly NOT following the 17 day diet, approved of this chili. Although, he made his a *little* tastier by eating it over rice, adding jalapeños and shredded cheese on top, and dipping tortilla chips in it :)

17 Day Diet Turkey Chili

For 5-8 servings

Adapted from Spark Recipes

Ingredients

-1 to 1.5 lb 99% fat free ground turkey

-1-2 tbsp olive oil

-1 onion, diced

-5 cloves garlic, minced

-1 cup chopped carrots (optional)

-1 chopped red, orange, or yellow bell pepper (optional)

-2 cups low sodium chicken broth

-2 cans (14.5 oz each) organic diced tomatoes with green chiles

-2 tbsp chile powder

-1 tsp paprika

-1 tsp oregano

-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (less or none if you don't like spicy)

-1 tsp black pepper

-1/8 tsp cinnamon

-1/8 tsp allspice

-1/2 tsp salt

Directions

-Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. 

-Add chopped onion and saute for 3-4 minutes. 

-Add garlic and cook for another minute or so. 

-Add the turkey and cook for 10-15 minutes, breaking up with a spatula, until no longer pink.

-Add in the remaining ingredients. Stir. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil. 

-Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-45 minutes. 

Enjoy!