How To Add A Spicy Kick To Your Turkey Chili

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When a Foodie recipe developer concocted the perfect recipe for spicy, savory turkey chili, one of its big selling points as a dinner was that it was not only easy to pull together but also fairly mild in terms of heat — a coup for all those home cooks trying to plate a dinner that even picky eaters will enjoy. Our writer included one very pertinent note, however: those spice fiends who want to enjoy a steaming bowl of savory chili that also burns a little (in a good way) can max out their bowl's flavor potential by adding hot sauce and/or chopped chilis to your bowl after cooking and before serving.

Neither hot sauce nor chilies would rightfully land on the list of unique ingredients to add to chili, as there are many, many recipes that call for one or both. Yet it's still worth mentioning that, when your bowl of chili needs some pep in its step, these are the tools you want in your belt (pantry, that is). Think about Colorado-style chili, of which green chili peppers are the staple ingredient. While a quality hot sauce can add both flavor and spice to your bowl, judicious application of one or more well-matched chili peppers (there are so many options!) can heap on both body and savor. 

Turkey chili naturally needs a little more help in the flavor department, since the lean protein is a blank slate for building taste profiles. That's both a blessing and challenge. Your cumin, chili powder, tomatoes, and aromatics will build a strong base, but you need a potent source of heat if you want your individual bowl of chili to have that oh-so-coveted kick.

Keep in mind that, again, one of the biggest benefits of our bespoke Foodie turkey chili recipe is that it's simple enough for a speedy weeknight dinner. To that end, we believe strongly that adding spice to your bowl shouldn't become a chore. What you want when time is short and your energy is at an ebb are pantry ingredients that will maximize flavor and kick. To that end, there must be as many hot sauces online as there are stars in the sky; even a neighborhood grocery store will have enough of a selection to make your head spin. Where to start? 

A general workhorse like Tabasco is always a solid pinch-hitter, but consider hot sauces that pack additional elements. TRUFF Habanero Black Truffle Hot Sauce boasts many satisfied customer reviews as well as an interesting truffle note that will enhance your chili in more ways than one. Don't sleep, either, on your favorite sriracha with its garlic element, which is an excellent pairing for chili.

If you want to add a chili pepper kick to your bowl, grab a spoon and a jar of preserved peppers. In this format, they're ready to top your dinner; no chopping or sautéing required. Also available on Amazon are TUTTOCALABRIA Crushed Calabrian Chili Peppers, the average rating of which denotes near-universal acclaim. Best of all, you can add your hot sauce and peppers per serving, meaning that timid eaters can enjoy a mild bowl while the spice heads pile on the capsicum.