Mexican Chili Verde Recipe
Warm up your autumn nights with this authentic Mexican chili verde recipe. Made with tomatillos, jalapeños, and lean ground turkey, this chili is nutritious, hearty, and full of flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Mexican Chili Verde
As the crisp autumn days approach, nothing feels better than a warm and comforting bowl of chili verde. This traditional Mexican dish is not only delicious and budget-friendly, but it’s also packed with fresh ingredients like tomatillos, cilantro, and peppers.
Unlike heavy chilis loaded with cheese and fat, this version is light yet satisfying thanks to lean ground turkey and beans. Plus, you can easily adjust the spice level—if you prefer it milder, simply swap the serrano for jalapeño, or leave out the chile de árbol.
Pair it with warm corn tortillas or crunchy tostadas for the perfect fall dinner.
Ingredients for Mexican Chili Verde
For the beans:
- 3 cups beans
- 7 cups water
- 1/4 onion
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp salt
For the chili verde:
- 10 tomatillos
- 1 serrano chili
- 1 jalapeño
- 1/2 onion, cubed
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 chile de árbol
How to Make Mexican Chili Verde
Step 1: Cook the Beans
- In a large pot, combine beans, water, onion, garlic, and salt.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let them simmer until soft.
Step 2: Prepare the Chili Verde Sauce
- Clean the tomatillos, serrano, and jalapeño.
- Place them in a pot with water and boil until the tomatillos turn a light olive-green color and are soft.
- Blend them with cilantro, garlic, salt, chile de árbol, and half an onion until smooth.
- Adjust the heat by adding more or fewer chilies depending on your taste.
Step 3: Cook the Turkey
- In a skillet, sauté 1/4 cup chopped onion until fragrant.
- Add the ground turkey and season with salt. Cook until browned.
Step 4: Combine Everything
- Pour the chili verde sauce into the turkey mixture.
- Simmer for 10–15 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Add the cooked beans and mix well.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your chili verde with:
- Warm corn tortillas
- Crunchy tostadas
- Fresh avocado slices
- A sprinkle of queso fresco
Tips for the Perfect Chili Verde
- Make it mild: Use only jalapeño instead of serrano or chile de árbol.
- Make it spicier: Add extra chiles de árbol for a fiery kick.
- Meal prep friendly: This dish tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for leftovers.
- Protein swap: You can also use chicken or pork instead of turkey.
Final Thoughts
This Mexican chili verde recipe is the ultimate fall comfort food—healthy, hearty, and bursting with authentic flavor. Whether you enjoy it with tostadas, tortillas, or a bowl of rice, this dish is sure to become a family favorite.
Give it a try and let the fresh flavors of Mexico warm up your autumn evenings. 🍂
Green Chili
Ingredients
For the beans:
- 3 cups beans
- 7 cups water
- 1/4 onion
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp salt
For the chili verde:
- 10 tomatillos
- 1 serrano chili
- 1 jalapeño
- 1/2 onion cubed
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 chile de arbol
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine beans, water, onion, garlic, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let them simmer until soft.
- Clean the tomatillos, serrano, and jalapeño.
- Place them in a pot with water and boil until the tomatillos turn a light olive-green color and are soft.
- Blend them with cilantro, garlic, salt, chile de árbol, and half an onion until smooth.
- Adjust the heat by adding more or fewer chilies depending on your taste.
- In a skillet, sauté 1/4 cup chopped onion until fragrant.
- Add the ground turkey and season with salt. Cook until browned.
- Pour the chili verde sauce into the turkey mixture.
- Simmer for 10–15 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Add the cooked beans and mix well.
