Give this Copycat Panera Turkey Chili recipe a whirl for a delicious and easy dinner! Flavorful ground turkey, spices, and beans come together to form a savory dish, perfect for the winter woes. Top with crushed crackers, shredded cheese, or sour cream for a delightful finish.

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There’s nothing better than a nice, hot bowl of chili on a cold night. I have to be honest and say I enjoy chili year round as well. Especially if I have some crackers, Mexican Corn Bread, or even some Cornbread Muffins. It makes for a filling meal that’s super easy to toss together. Plus, it’s nice for feeding a crowd and a healthy recipe to boot!
If you’re on a roll for winter recipes, this Copycat Panera Turkey Chili is a winner. However, you can’t eat it every night for dinner. Well, I guess you could, but I don’t know anyone who likes to eat the same thing every night. So, make this chili, and then give this Chicken Stew, Poor Man’s Soup, or Slow Cooker Potato Soup a whirl for dinner as well. Make the best of your winter nights with a full and happy tummy!
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How to Make Copycat Panera Turkey Chili

- Melt half the butter in a dutch oven. Saute the celery and carrots. Add the rest of the butter, garlic, and onions. Sauté another couple minutes.
- Add the turkey to the dutch oven. Cook until no longer pink.
- Add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer for 35 minutes.
- Place in bowls, top with desired toppings, and enjoy!
Tips and Variations

- Storage – Store in the fridge, in a sealed container, for up to 4 days. Store in an airtight container, in the freezer, for up to 3 months.
- Reheating – Reheat using the microwave, stove, or even the slow cooker.
- Use other meat – If you don’t prefer ground turkey, you can deviate from the original recipe and use ground meat, pork, etc. This will slightly change the taste and nutrient info, so keep that in mind. If changing the meat, you may also have to cook the meat separately in order to drain the excess grease.
- Nix the beans – If you don’t like beans, you can get rid of them, reduce the broth, and add a bit more meat and tomato paste to thicken it up.
- Use other beans – Chili is pretty forgiving on the types of beans you use. Choose your favorite bean and toss it in there.
- Make it spicy – You can add some crushed red pepper or diced hot peppers such as jalapenos, habaneros, etc. for an added kick!
- Add more seasonings – If you like a richer chili, you can use fresh herbs in place of the dry options. You can also double or triple the chili powder. Always taste the chili before serving so you can adjust the spices to your preferences.
Copycat Panera Turkey Chili FAQs

Is Panera Bread Turkey Chili Good?
This is totally up to each person and their preferences. I think it’s absolutely delicious and many other people would agree. However, I have many friends who just can’t stand ground turkey or beans in their chili. This alone deters them from eating this Panera Bread chili. So far, these are the only two aspects that I’ve heard of deterring people from this turkey chili recipe. So, give it a try if you don’t mind beans and turkey—I have a feeling you’ll love it!
Is Panera Turkey Chili Healthy?
The chili you might buy from Panera isn’t as healthy as you would hope. This is because it’s so processed, the sodium and carb content gets hiked up to higher numbers. If you make this copycat chili recipe at home, it’s a very healthy option! Having more control over what goes into your food makes a huge difference when it comes to healthy eating. To nix more sodium, you can skip any canned items and make those ingredients from scratch before using them.
If you decided to give this Copycat Panera Turkey Chili Recipe a try, please let me know in the comments below or on social media!
Other Copycat Recipes You Might Like:
- Copycat Texas Roadhouse Fried Pickles Recipe
- Copycat Panera French Onion Soup
- Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Browns
- Copycat Popeyes Red Beans And Rice
- Red Lobster Copycat Cheddar Biscuits
Have you tried this recipe? Don’t forget to Rate This Recipe below. While you’re at it, share a picture on Instagram with #allshecooks so we can see how your recipe turned out!

Copycat Panera Turkey Chili
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Turkey
- 1 Medium White Onion diced
- 1 ½ Cups Chicken Broth
- 6 Ounces Tomato Paste
- ½ Cup Carrot diced
- ½ Cup Celery diced
- ¼ Cup Chili Powder
- 1 Can Navy Beans 15 Ounces
- 1 Can Kidney Beans 15 Ounces
- 1 Can Lima Beans or Soybeans edamame (15 Ounces)
- 1 Can Crushed Tomatoes 15 Ounces
- 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon Cumin
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven, place half of the butter, the diced carrots, and the diced celery. Saute for about 3–5 minutes or until slightly softened.
- Add the rest of the butter, along with the onions and garlic. Cook for about 2–3 minutes or until the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Add the ground turkey along with a dash of salt and pepper. Cook until the turkey is no longer pink.
- Add the rest of the ingredients (be sure to drain and rinse the cans of beans) and simmer for about 35 minutes, adding more broth as needed, based on the consistency you prefer.
- Taste and adjust seasonings. Enjoy!
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