This healthy three bean and ground lean meat Weight Watchers chili recipe is ZERO points on the Freestyle and My WW Blue program! It’s filling and delicious. Make in the pressure cooker, Instant Pot, or crockpot!
You can also scroll down to the bottom of the post to get the recipe card and a video of how this delicious WW turkey chili is made.
I’m so excited to share this Weight Watchers chili recipe. When I say that we eat this chili every single day, I’m not exaggerating. I like Weight Watchers dinner recipes not just because they are low calorie, but they make me feel full when I usually get hungry at night. This is one of those chilis that will leave you feeling satisfied!
We make this turkey chili in our pressure cooker and then eat out of the container for lunch or dinner – and then we repeat the process. It’s a great one for meal prep because it stores well and lasts all week. I will put this up against any classic chili recipe!
Why? Because it’s easy to make, quick (though you can make it in a slow cooker), and inexpensive. AND of course, because it has ZERO Weight Watchers Freestyle Points (get the full list of zero point foods here).
That means if I have this turkey chili for a meal with a steamed veggie or fruit side, I’ve got a zero point meal. Low calorie, low fat. Boom!
WW Chili Recipe
I joined Weight Watchers several months ago before switch to the Freestyle program. I had just gotten used to the SmartPoints and was hesitant about Freestyle at first, but now I’ve embraced it and I love that the points roll over and also that I get some “freebie” foods.
And that’s where this Weight Watchers chili recipe comes into play! I’ve been working on this recipe for a while, testing different ingredients until I found something I liked.
Note: the meat must be 99% fat free to be ZERO points. I rotate between chicken and turkey (depending on what I’m craving), but it’s always 99% fat free. If you decide to do a different meat, you’ll need to add that to your recipe and recalculate the points!
Points By Program
If you aren’t on the Freestyle program, here’s a quick guide to the WW points for this particular recipe. As I said, the program I am on is Freestyle, so that’s the point value I use.
- Freestyle – 0 points
- MyWW
- Blue Plan (same as Freestyle) – 0 points
- Green Plan – 7 points
- Old Points – 5 points
- SmartPoints – 7 points
Ingredients and Garnish
While this recipe is great as-is, I also like to add any veggies from the kitchen that I need to use up. I’ve added, at various times: sweet potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, corn, zucchini, and more. If the veggies have points, you’ll have to add those, but so many don’t.
Keep in mind that if you add anything to what is already here, you might need to add some chicken broth or beef broth to keep the consistency right. This is a great recipe for making “your own” – and it’s nearly impossible to mess up.
Once this turkey chili is made, don’t forget to add garnishments (which may add to the points value). Depending on the day, I might add tortilla chips, chives, reduced fat cheese, or light sour cream.
This WW chili recipe is easy and SO DELICIOUS even just as is, but you have a lot of options. You’re going to love this recipe and want to include it as part of your regular meal plan. Especially in fall and winter.
Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker
One other thing to note about this recipe – I made it in the slow cooker at first, but I much prefer it in the pressure cooker.
Funny side note: I got this Crock-Pot 6Qt pressure cooker but it took me awhile to get brave enough to use the pressure cooking functions. It slow cooks as well, so that’s what I did for weeks before I finally got the onions to push the Beans/Chili button.
I can tell a difference in slow cooking vs. pressure cooking with this recipe. Slow cooked chili tastes better to me the next day after the flavors have had a chance to meld.
In the pressure cooker, this Weight Watchers chili recipe tastes great immediately! Here’s how to make it.
Easy Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- Ground lean chicken or ground lean turkey – l lb (must be 99% free to be zero points!)
- 2 15 oz. cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 15 oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 15 oz. cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 10 oz. cans Rotel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies
- 15 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1/2 T cumin
- 1/2 T oregano
- 1 T chili powder
- Cayenne pepper (pinch, if you like hot)
- 2 – 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 lime, quartered
Directions
Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot Instructions
1. Place the ground lean meat in your pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Use the Sauté or Brown function on your device to cook the meat.
2. Pour all of the other ingredients into the pressure cooker except the lime. Quarter your lime and squeeze the juice into the pot. Throw the rind away.
3. Select the Beans/Chili button or Meat/Stew button. Start your machine. Make sure the pressure valve is closed. It will cook for 20 – 35 minutes depending on the machine you use (mine is 20!).
4. Release the pressure from your cooker and serve.
Slow Cooker Instructions
1. Cut up the onion.
2. Spray a cooking pan with fat free cooking spray, and sauté the onion on high heat for a few minutes.
3. Add the lean ground meat to the pan and cook until the meat is brown (stirring occasionally), about 5 – 7 minutes.
4. Pour the meat (with the juices) and the onions into the slow cooker.
5. Pour all of the other ingredients into the slow cooker except the lime. Quarter your lime and squeeze the juice into the pot. Throw the rind away.
6. Cook your chili on high for 3 1/2 – 4 hours.
7. Serve this homemade chili right away!
NOTE: If you’re on the SmartPoints or myWW Green program, this chili is 7 points per serving. Any additional garnishments will have to be calculated based on the WW program you’re in; this is a Freestyle recipe.
Weight Watchers Chili
Equipment
- 1 Pressure cooker or Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground lean chicken or ground lean turkey
- 30 oz kidney beans 2 cans, drained and rinsed
- 30 oz black beans 2 cans, drained and rinsed
- 30 oz pinto beans 2 cans, drained and rinsed
- 30 oz Rotel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies 3 cans
- 15 oz tomato sauce 1 can
- 1/2 T cumin
- 1/2 T oregano
- 1 T chili powder
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 onion diced
- 1 lime quartered
Instructions
If you are using a pressure cooker or Instant Pot:
- Place the ground lean meat in your pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Use the Sauté or Brown function on your device to cook the meat.
- Pour all of the other ingredients into the pressure cooker except the lime. Quarter your lime and squeeze the juice into the pot. Throw the rind away.
- Select the Beans/Chili button or Meat/Stew button. Start your machine. Make sure the pressure valve is closed. It will cook for 20 – 35 minutes depending on the machine you use (mine is 20!).
- Release the pressure from your cooker and serve.
If you are using a slow cooker:
- Cut up the onion.
- Spray a cooking pan with fat free cooking spray, and sauté the onion for a few minutes.
- Add the lean ground meat to the pan and cook until the meat is brown, about 5 – 7 minutes.
- Pour the meat (with the juices) and the onions into the slow cooker.
- Pour all of the other ingredients into the slow cooker except the lime. Quarter your lime and squeeze the juice into the pot. Throw the rind away.
- Cook your chili on high for 3 1/2 – 4 hours.
- Serve hot, adding any garnishments you like (they may count for points!).
Video
Nutrition
Are you ready to see a video of how this chili recipe was made? Just click “PLAY” on the video in this post!
For reference, here’s what my Crock-Pot looks like. I love this thing! It is both a slow cooker and an Instant Pot in one: Crock-Pot 6qt 8-in-1 Multi-Use Express Crock Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker
For more Weight Watchers recipes, meals, tips, and more, check out the following articles:
Harold
Monday 12th of June 2023
I only used one can of each of the beans and it came it fine. Plenty!
Maureen
Saturday 15th of April 2023
Haven't made chili yet. Can you substitute another kind of bean instead of black bean, don't care for black beans? This chili sounds wonderful. Love chili.
Amy
Sunday 16th of April 2023
Oh yes! Use any beans you like. You can add great northern, kidney, etc. Sometimes I leave out certain types or get others if they are on sale. I have made this chili without black beans before for sure! Good luck.
Deneen
Wednesday 8th of February 2023
I’m just wondering if anyone has made this on the stove? I’m entering a chili fundraiser cook off and using this recipe because it’s so good. Every episode is making it on the stove so I was hoping to do the same.
Rhonda
Monday 2nd of January 2023
What if u don’t have a stew or beans option to pressure cooker? How do I pressure cook this? Thanks!
Amy
Monday 2nd of January 2023
Hi Rhonda! You can just do pressure cook on high for about 25 min or so. Manual :)
Nancy
Saturday 1st of October 2022
Can you be a little more specific in the instructions? I am a newbie instant pot/ non cook.Not sure when pot is ready to cook turkey
Amy
Sunday 2nd of October 2022
Hi Nancy! When you press the Saute button, the bottom of the Instant Pot will start heating up like a regular pan. You can put the turkey in right away and you will hear it start to cook. You can start stirring it and breaking it apart as it cooks!