Turkey chili mini taco bowls
on Dec 29, 2015, Updated Aug 19, 2022
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Anyone for a bit more turkey? Tee hee … This easy and healthy turkey chili recipe uses a smallish amount of lean ground turkey, then gets bulked up a bit with beans. It’s tasty enough to eat as it is with rice, but if you want to impress your party guests, pile it into homemade mini taco bowls and top with all sorts of deliciousness … mmmm!
Years ago, I went on a fabulous trip along the west coast of the USA. It was a mini-van bus tour and fun in so many ways. But even then, years before the existence of my blog, or any blog for that matter, many of the best moments involved food!
The tour began in LA, and the first meal I had there, in a random hotel, was a huge crispy tortilla salad bowl – with piles of chili and all the trimmings.
I’m sure this is no big deal if you happen to be from the USA, but for me, this was a treat indeed. I couldn’t believe how delicious all those flavours and textures melded together – the chili, the guacamole, the cheese, the salsa, the salad, and of course that crispy bowl that you could eat, all soaked in delicious juices from the food. Sad but true – even today, I still remember the taste of that meal that I didn’t want to end!
At that time, it was really hard to find decent Mexican food in the UK. Even guacamole wasn’t really ‘a thing’, so avocadoes were always rock hard when you bought them.
These days (I know, I’m making myself sound very old!) Mexican restaurants and takeaways seem to be springing up all over my town.
So Mexican food is finally catching on big time over here, and today I’m going to celebrate this by posting a Mexican recipe of my own.
It’s simple, really simple (I’m not going to pretend I’m anything but an amateur when it comes to Mexican!). But it’s got all the elements of that meal I had all those years ago. It also happens to be perfect for Holiday time entertaining. Well, mini anything is, isn’t it? (just ask Bridget Jones!) 😉
Hope you enjoy these turkey chili mini taco bowls – I know I wouldn’t mind being offered one at a party this year, Bridget.
Turkey chili mini taco bowls
Ingredients
for the turkey chili
- oil for cooking
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or crushed
- 1 carrot, peeled and fairly finely diced
- 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, chopped
- 14 ounces ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon heaped each of: hot chili powder, or a level tablespoon of mild, paprika, ground cumin
- 1 bunch fresh coriander, chopped
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 28 ounces chopped tomatoes, (two 14 oz. cans)
- 3 tablespoons tomato puree
- 14 ounce beans, (canned) butter beans, chickpeas or chili beans are all fine
for the tortilla bowls
- soft tortillas, 10”, cut into quarters
toppings
- grated cheese, guacamole, sour cream (or Greek yoghurt), chopped tomatoes or a simple tomato salsa, limes for squeezing
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F. Heat up a good drizzle or two of oil in a heavy based oven-proof casserole pan, then fry the onions for a few minutes until softened. Add the garlic, carrot and pepper and cook for about seven minutes, stirring regularly.
- Add the ground turkey and cook and stir until browned. Then add the chili powder, paprika, ground cumin and most of the coriander and cook for about another 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, tomato puree and beans, then put the casserole dish in the oven for about two hours. Add a splash or two of water after an hour if you think it needs it.
- Meanwhile, prepare the tortilla bowls. Press the tortilla quarters into a muffin tin, then bake until lightly browned and crispy (about ten minutes).
- When the chili is ready, spoon it into your homemade tortilla bowls and top generously with the toppings and reserved coriander. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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Happy New Year darling!! I hope you had a great break! I’m all for turkey because we didn’t have it this year. And bulking it up with beans is a great idea too! 😀
Thanks, Lorrraine! We did have a great break, thank you – not really looking forward to the return to work tomorrow, but all good things come to an end and all that. Hope you had a great time over the holiday, too, and are enjoying the Sydney sunshine. 🙂
You know this is totally my jam on so many levels! Mexican – tick! Tortillas made mini – double tick! Food IN food – TICK TICK TICK!!! I think this one’s going on my menu for tomorrow for my catch up with the girls!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR Helen!!! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and WILD NYE Celebrations!!
Enjoy your girlie catch-up, Nagi … these would go down a treat, I hope!
Hope you had lots of fun and deliciousness over the holidays, too. Looking forward to following along with you in 2016!
The first meal I had when I first moved to L.A was a salad and just about died at the size T.co salads are definitely impressive and one of my favorites.. These are delicious bites and I could probably eat more than I should. Lovely recipe.
Thank you, Janette! I was pretty bowled over by the size of the meals when I was there, too. Don’t mind at all when it’s something as delicious as a taco bowl. Happy New Year!
I love your bowl design, and the recipe. Great flavor combination, and texture.
Hello Amy … thank you so much for taking the time to pass by and comment! Happy New Year!
Ton blog est toujours source d’inspiration Helen! Je te souhaite une très belle année!! xo
Je suis ravie d’etre une source d’inspiration pour toi, Eva! Je te souhaite toi aussi une tres belle annee!
I am all about refurbishing those leftovers in the kitchen. Delicious little cups with great Mexican flavors. I bet those cups are so crunchy and delicious. Wishing you a super delicious 2016 Helen! Take care
Hello Bam! I’m so happy you like my ‘refurbishings’ … haha! Wishing you a super 2016, too. So looking forward to following along with your blog in the new year!
Always up for more chili!
🙂
Great idea, Helen. One question: are you using flour or corn tortillas? I am guessing flour, as corn tortillas are usually smaller. Thanks!
Hello Marlene! Really happy you’re going to have a go at these! I used flour tortillas. I’m no expert on taco bowls (!!) but I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to use corn tortillas if you preferred. Good luck!
It looks like we both have mini taco on the mind 😛 Helen, I couldn’t agree more – food is always the highlight of traveling! These little chili bowls looks seriously delicious – I’d pop these babies left and right!
Aw, I love that we both thought of making mini tacos at the same time! I’m such an amateur taco maker, though … I’m sure you are the pro around here! Must pop over to check yours out too! 🙂
These taco bowls look delicious, Helen! Such a brilliant idea to use up leftover turkey from Christmas. Love the Mexican flavours! 🙂
Hi Jess! Really happy you like these. Happy New Year! 🙂