Leftover Turkey Chili: The One-Pot Wonder

Turkey Leftover Blues? Turn That Bird Into a Pot of Chili!

Well, howdy, partner! Thanksgiving was a real feast, the family left with full bellies, and now your fridge is packed tighter than a cattle drive. There's turkey in one container, mashed potatoes in another, and enough leftovers to make you wonder if you'll ever eat anything different again.

And let's be honest: after all that holiday cooking, the last thing anybody wants is to dirty every pot and pan in the kitchen just to get supper on the table.

Good news, partner! We've got a mighty fine way to give that leftover turkey a second life. Round up your Six Gun Chili Mixin's, grab a few pantry staples, and turn that leftover bird into a hearty pot of turkey chili the whole family can dig into. It's warm, filling, easy to make, and best of all? It all comes together in one pot. Less washing up, less food waste, and a whole new meal without starting from scratch.

Now that's what we call a win around the chuck wagon!

Leftover Turkey Chili: The One-Pot Wonder

This recipe puts your leftover Thanksgiving turkey to work with classic chili fixin's like beans and tomatoes, plus a pouch of Six Gun Original Chili Mixin's to bring all those flavors together. It's a little different from your usual beef chili, but every bit as hearty and satisfying.

The best part? You don't need to spend all evening in the kitchen. Just chop or shred that turkey, toss everything into one pot, and let the flavors get acquainted while you put your feet up for a spell.

What You'll Need

- 3 cups cooked leftover turkey, shredded or chopped
- 1 packet of Six Gun Original Chili Mixin's seasoning
- 1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz.) black or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil, if needed
- Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, or crushed tortilla chips

Howdy, cook! Got different beans in the pantry? Use what you've got. This is a leftover-friendly recipe, not a cattle roundup with a strict head count.

How to Make It

Step 1: Round Up That Leftover Turkey

Remove any bones, skin, and gristle from your cooked turkey. Using two forks, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, or grab a knife and chop it into small cubes. Both work just fine! Smaller pieces make it easier for everyone, especially the little buckaroos, to get a bit of turkey in every spoonful.

Step 2: Bring the Fixin's Together

Grab a large pot or Dutch oven and add your turkey, drained beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, and the seasoning pouch from your Six Gun Original Chili Mixin's. Give everything a good stir so that seasoning gets spread around and every ingredient is ready to pull its weight.

Step 3: Let That Chili Simmer

Bring the pot to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and let the chili simmer uncovered for about 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The flavors will mingle, the tomatoes will soften into the broth, and the whole pot will come together into a hearty supper.

Since your turkey is already cooked, you're simply warming it through and letting those chili flavors do their thing. Make sure the chili reaches 165°F before serving.

Step 4: Load Up Those Bowls

Ladle the chili into bowls and let everyone fix theirs up with their favorite toppings. A little shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, or a handful of crunchy tortilla chips can make this meal extra inviting for the kids.

Then gather around the table, enjoy a different kind of turkey supper, and leave those extra dishes for another day. Just kidding, partner — there's only one pot to wash!

Make It Your Own, Cowboy

One of the best things about chili is that it doesn't take much to make it your own. Here are a few easy ways to change things up without creating more work:

- Keep it kid-friendly: Start with Six Gun Original Chili Mixin's and leave out the optional spicy seasoning. Let the grown-ups add a little heat to their own bowls if they please.

- Use what you've got: Have leftover corn, extra diced onions, or bell peppers hanging around? Toss them in! Just remember to drain canned vegetables so you don't add too much liquid.

- Make it thicker: Let the chili simmer uncovered a little longer, stirring occasionally, until it reaches the consistency your family likes. If you have the optional corn flour thickener from your Six Gun Chili Mixin's pouch, follow the package directions to use it.

- Plan for tomorrow: Chili makes mighty fine leftovers of its own. Refrigerate within two hours in shallow containers, then reheat portions to 165°F when you're ready for round two.

Give That Turkey a Second Life

Thanksgiving leftovers don't have to mean another plate of the same old supper. With a little help from Six Gun Chili Mixin's, that leftover turkey becomes a whole new meal — one that's hearty enough for the grown-ups, easy enough for a busy weeknight, and mild enough for the young'uns.

So before you hang up your apron and declare yourself retired from the kitchen, partner, give that turkey one last job to do. Grab your favorite chili fixin's, fire up a single pot, and bring a little Texas tradition to the table.

Born in Texas. Raised on Tradition. Made for hungry families everywhere.

Saddle up and shop Six Gun Original Chili Mixin's to get your post-Thanksgiving chili cookin'!