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January 11, 2011

Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili

Dairy Free Main Dishes Meat Soups + Chili
44 comments
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This Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili is hearty, filling, and full of flavor! Chili is one of my favorite comfort foods for chilly nights, and the combination of turkey, barley, and tons of veggies makes this chili the perfect meal for when I’m craving something cozy but not too heavy.


Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili - the perfect hearty and filling weeknight meal from Registered Dietitian Anne Mauney of fannetasticfood.com

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The barley is my favorite addition in this chili – the chewy texture is super hearty and satisfying, and adding a whole grain to the recipe makes this chili super filling and high in fiber. I also love all the veggies packed into this chili, making it colorful and full of nutrients. All together, it’s a well rounded and healthy meal that definitely keeps you full and warms you up, but doesn’t leave you weighed down.

Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili ingredients

Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili - the perfect hearty and filling weeknight meal from Registered Dietitian Anne Mauney of fannetasticfood.com

This chili is super easy to make, too! Start by cooking the barley – since it takes a little while to get tender, you can prep the remaining ingredients while it’s cooking. Then saute the veggies and turkey, add canned tomatoes and spices, and stir in the barley once it’s cooked!

how to make Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili

You’ll definitely want to get some tupperware containers ready for leftovers, too. This recipe makes a ton of chili, but I think it tastes even better heated up the next day!

Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili - the perfect hearty and filling weeknight meal from Registered Dietitian Anne Mauney of fannetasticfood.com

Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili

Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili
January 29, 2020

This Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili is hearty, filling, and full of flavor! Chili is one of my favorite comfort foods for chilly nights, and the combination of turkey, barley, and tons of veggies makes this chili the perfect meal for when I’m craving something cozy but not too heavy.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Yield
4-6 servings
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Ingredients:

  • 1 32-oz container low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 cup pearled barley
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb lean ground turkey
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 bell peppers, diced
  • 1 zucchini, diced
  • 1 cup mushrooms, diced
  • 2 14-oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 8-oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 15-oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin

Instructions:

  1. Combine vegetable broth and barley in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until barley is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
  2. While barley is cooking, chop all veggies and prep remaining ingredients.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large pot or saute pan with tall edges. Add ground turkey, garlic, onion, bell pepper, zucchini, and mushrooms. Saute until turkey is fully cooked and veggies are tender, about 7-10 minutes. 
  4. Add remaining ingredients to the pan, along with the barley and any remaining broth once it's tender. 
  5. Stir all ingredients together and cook until heated through. 

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Turkey, Veggie, & Barley Chili - the perfect hearty and filling weeknight meal from Registered Dietitian Anne Mauney of fannetasticfood.com

Looking for more awesome chili and soup recipes? Here are some of my favorites!

  • Sweet Potato Lentil Chili
  • Chicken & White Bean Chili Soup
  • Butternut Squash Turkey Chili
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Raspberry Chipotle Black Bean chili
  • Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Stew

 

- anne
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44 comments
  • Victoria (District Chocoholic)
    January 11, 2011 · 9:13AM:
    Regarding the cutting board (which does look beautiful in the photos), I have a dark wood cutting board that I reserve just for pictures - don't chop anything on it. That way, it won't get knicked up. I cut on a plastic board and transfer for photos as necessary.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 9:18AM:
      I think life is too short to not actually use my nice cutting board :) I hear you on not wanting to mess it up, but it just felt so much better and easier to cut stuff on it than on my plastic one!
      Reply
      • Victoria (District Chocoholic)
        January 11, 2011 · 9:20AM:
        Solution: Get two nice cutting boards :). Or, like, five.
        Reply
        • Anne P
          January 11, 2011 · 9:20AM:
          I like the way you think ;)
          Reply
  • Rachel
    January 11, 2011 · 9:19AM:
    I LOVE having leftover soup in the freezer. I use freezer ziplocs, fill them 1/2 to 2/3 full, and then lay them flat in my freezer. Then, when they're frozen, they take up less space and stack oh-so-nicely.
    Reply
  • Jenna
    January 11, 2011 · 9:25AM:
    Mmm... chilli is so delicious! I think the best way to freeze it is to buy small freezer bags and put one serving's worth of chilli in each bag. Then make sure to freeze them as flat as possible. You can stack them in a nice column in the freezer and you have perfect frozen meals in the event of a busy day. It's great for lunches because they can thaw during the morning and then be heated at lunchtime.
    Reply
  • Hunter January 11, 2011 · 9:33AM:
    That chilli looks and sounds SO GOOD I might actually try to cook!! I also think as soon as I pay off my MBA student loans I am going to try to become you, Anne, and go to UNC-Chapel Hill for an MPH-- I love your classes! Sooooooo cool!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 11:26AM:
      Do ittttt!!! :) Miss you! xo
      Reply
  • Renie January 11, 2011 · 9:35AM:
    The chili looks delicious. I made a big pot of chili Sunday evening anticipating the snow and ice storm. I have never used ground turkey, I have always used ground chuck or sirloin. I will give it a try next time. I love barley, but never thought to use it in my chili. Great idea. It looks like your weather forecast is better than Atlanta's. We are still stuck in the house and it iced over last night. High yesterday 29, high today 30. I have cabin fever, HELP. I am like you, I would use the nice cutting board too. I don't save things anymore, I use them. Good luck on this semester.
    Reply
    • Renie January 11, 2011 · 9:44AM:
      P.S. Glad to see "ya'll" is now in your vocabulary. Southern Belle
      Reply
  • Heather
    January 11, 2011 · 9:44AM:
    Barley in chili sounds amazing - I was thinking how I need to make my favorite chili recipe soon. I love the cylinder ziploc containers to freeze things in - you can buy taller or smaller 1 serving sizes. We are supposed to get 16+ inches of snow tomorrow so I am hoping to spend some of my day cooking as well.
    Reply
  • Marci
    January 11, 2011 · 10:32AM:
    I freeze chili in big tupperware or Glad containers. Not Ziplocs. That sounds messy. Barley is on my list of things to try. Lentils too!
    Reply
  • Avery (Young Aspirations)
    January 11, 2011 · 10:58AM:
    Your semester sounds (hard but) awesome! I'm so jealous. I would love to major in something more health/food related, but honestly I'm terrible with science courses and I'm afraid I would start to resent it. But you don't seem that way at all! Exciting! :)
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 11:26AM:
      I avoided all science stuff in undergrad, and was terrified of them starting prerequisites for this program - surprised to find they weren't bad!
      Reply
  • Lauren
    January 11, 2011 · 11:24AM:
    Ah good luck in biochem! I just took it last semester, and it was by far the hardest class I've ever taken.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 11:27AM:
      Yeah I took it over the summer online as a prereq - online biochem was horrendous, but I think in person it will be fine :)
      Reply
  • Katrina January 11, 2011 · 11:31AM:
    Here's that chili recipe for the chili I made the other day: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Debdoozies-Blue-Ribbon-Chili/Detail.aspx I made the following adjustments: 1 can of diced tomatoes + a small can (maybe 4 oz?) of tomato sauce instead of 2 1/2 cups of tomato sauce 1 can of light red +1 can of dark red kidney beans + 1 can of black beans instead of just the 1 can of light red kidneys and 1 can of dark red kidneys For the chili seasoning mix, I made my own using this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chili-Seasoning-Mix-II/Detail.aspx I used Newman's Own salsa (mild) for the salsa Enjoy! You could probably add some other beans as a meat substitute if you wanted to go vegetarian.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 11:49AM:
      Thanks lady! And thanks for inspiring my dinner last night :)
      Reply
  • Clare @ Fitting It All In
    January 11, 2011 · 12:17PM:
    I buy little freezer friendly tupperware. You can get portioned ones (~ 2 cups each) and then they are perfect for a quick meal!
    Reply
  • Sarah (Sarah Learns)
    January 11, 2011 · 12:31PM:
    i like freezing in tupperware. it's easier to divide soup into smaller amounts to freeze so you only have to thaw 1-2 servings at a time! that chili does look delicious - i just "starred" this post in my google reader to make soon!
    Reply
  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels
    January 11, 2011 · 12:52PM:
    yeah I need to get some freezer friendly tupperware myself . . . but I had been using ziplocs for broth and tomato sauce and they've worked fine for me, I just don't like the waste
    Reply
  • Kelly
    January 11, 2011 · 1:21PM:
    Yum. I love switching up what I put in my chili and barley sounds like a fun addition. I have a ton in the pantry which is making me think I should try that. I'm also considering millet and some of the other wacky grains I have in the cabinet. And you are so making me miss classes. And snowdays.
    Reply
  • Salah (My Healthiest LIfestyle)
    January 11, 2011 · 2:01PM:
    mmm that chili looks so bomb!!! I always love trying out different variations of chili! Great idea of putting the barley in there!
    Reply
  • Rose
    January 11, 2011 · 2:14PM:
    Holy crap that chili looks delicious.
    Reply
  • Jen
    January 11, 2011 · 3:03PM:
    My cutting board is in all of my photographs, my brother made it for me a few years ago and it's my favorite! Delicious chili! I freeze soups and chili in ziplock bags, they stack easier in the freezer...and easy to thaw as well. Jen
    Reply
  • Raya @ RayaRuns
    January 11, 2011 · 3:13PM:
    That dish looks awesome!! I've been eyeing barley for some time now and I might just have to try it out now. I do love orzo, so it might be a love-match for me. Glad to see you're back home after all that traveling!
    Reply
  • Emily
    January 11, 2011 · 3:55PM:
    I was so happy to stumble upon your blog and find that you attend UNC! I'm an undergrad and I love it here. Your pictures are so colorful...I'm definitely going to add fannetastic to my list of must-read blogs.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 5:33PM:
      Welcome to the blog! How fun to hear you are a fellow UNC-er :)
      Reply
  • Ashley
    January 11, 2011 · 4:18PM:
    How long is your program? 5 classes is a lot but at least you will be busy! I've got 4 classes this semester which isn't bad.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 5:32PM:
      2.5 years, including internships!
      Reply
  • Katy (The Singing Runner)
    January 11, 2011 · 5:39PM:
    Looks amazing! :D
    Reply
  • Silvia
    January 11, 2011 · 6:03PM:
    Anne, love your recipes and picts! I nominated you for a Stylish Blog Award!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 6:05PM:
      Aw, thanks! :)
      Reply
  • Sana
    January 11, 2011 · 6:51PM:
    Kick biochem's ass. I did not :(
    Reply
  • Melissa @ Eat on the Run
    January 11, 2011 · 9:07PM:
    My friend and I were just looking for recipes with Barley. It's a grain both of us don't use. Thanks for the idea Also, I gave you "The Stylish Blogger Award". Your blog has always been a super inspiration to me! Thanks. Check it out on Eat on the Run :)
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 11:06PM:
      Thank you so much! :)
      Reply
  • DHP January 11, 2011 · 9:11PM:
    Looks scrumptuous! Good luck in the semester ahead!
    Reply
  • Nicole January 11, 2011 · 9:41PM:
    Mmmm looks delish!! What kind of veggie broth do you use??
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 11:04PM:
      Just whatever is in the store and lower sodium :)
      Reply
  • Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn
    January 11, 2011 · 10:11PM:
    Hey girl! I gave you the Stylish Blogger award on my blog! Check it out: http://chefkatelyn.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/the-stylish-last-supper/
    Reply
    • Anne P
      January 11, 2011 · 11:05PM:
      Thank you! :)
      Reply
  • Mushrooms Canada
    January 12, 2011 · 2:53PM:
    Oh goodness do I ever love a good bowl of chili! - Brittany
    Reply
  • J
    January 23, 2011 · 6:38PM:
    Great recipe! Hearty and healthy but most of all, tasty! I made a few tweaks (left out the beans, sauteed the mushrooms, added red pepper flakes). Thanks so much for this. I now have lunches for an entire week!
    Reply
  • Lori March 6, 2011 · 8:29AM:
    You just made my day!!! I've been loking for a similar recipe to your turkey chili. Your adaptations will solve all the problems I had with my previous recipe. Can't wait to try it!!!
    Reply
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anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
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anne mauney

I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

When I’m not writing or cooking for fannetastic food, you can find me running, coaching nutrition clients, or on an adventure with my family. Feel free to reach out - I'd love to hear from you!

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