Start by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the 99% lean ground turkey. Season it with kosher salt and cook, breaking it up with a spoon. You should see the turkey browning nicely and turning from pink to a light golden brown. This process usually takes about 5 to 7 minutes. Once browned, transfer the turkey to your slow cooker.
Next, you’ll want to use the same skillet to sauté the onion, garlic, and red bell pepper. Add the oil to the skillet and turn the heat down to medium. Sauté these veggies for about 4 to 5 minutes until they become soft and fragrant. The onions should turn translucent, and the peppers should soften. This step is crucial for layering flavors in your chili.
Once the vegetables are cooked, spoon them over the turkey in the slow cooker. Give everything a good stir to combine. Now, add in the frozen corn kernels, Rotel Mild Tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and kosher salt. Mix until everything is well blended, ensuring the spices are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Pour the low sodium chicken broth into the crock pot and add the bay leaf. This will add more moisture and flavor to the chili. Make sure to press everything down a bit to ensure it's submerged in the broth.
Now it's time to cover your slow cooker and set it to cook. You can choose to set it on HIGH for about 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours, depending on your schedule. Either way, you can expect a delicious aroma to fill your kitchen as it cooks!
After the cooking time is up, carefully remove the lid. Be cautious of the steam! You’ll want to give the chili a good stir, allowing all the flavors to meld together perfectly.
Finally, it’s time to serve! Ladle the chili into bowls and top with your choice of diced avocado, reduced fat sour cream, reduced fat shredded cheese, and baked tortilla chips. Enjoy your warm and delicious Kid Friendly Crock Pot Turkey Chili with your family!
