A very quick turkey chili with lots of protein and fiber
Lentils and kale add oomph to Genevieve Ko’s smart new recipe.
Five Weeknight Dishes
October 28, 2025

This quick chili feels like a kitchen trick (and a treat)

Halloween is coming, and with it the burning question of what to feed everyone to counter handfuls of miniature peanut butter cups (mmm) or multiple packets of Nerds Gummy Clusters (shudder).

Genevieve Ko and I are in complete agreement on the answer: chili. Saucy, sturdy and hearty — and inherently festive, too, since it’s a dish for gathering — chili absorbs the excitement and jittery exhaustion of the day better than any frozen nugget could. Make it ahead of time if you like, so you just have to heat and serve.

Try Genevieve’s new recipe, a fresh and very quick turkey chili, or one of the many great chili recipes here. (Cornbread is never a bad idea either!)

Now, some announcements:

Questions? Anything on your mind? Write to me at dearemily@nytimes.com. I love to hear from you.

A white bowl holds quick turkey chili with rice, garnished with cilantro and cheese. Lime wedges and additional cheese are nearby.
Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.

1. Quick Turkey Chili

Genevieve’s new 30-minute chili takes an unexpected turn, with its lentils and kale, but still wants to be topped with the craveable combination of sour cream, cilantro, cheese and lime. It’s packed with both fiber and protein.

View this recipe.

Two servings of cumin beef and green beans with rice are shown in shallow white bowls.
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

2. Cumin Beef and Green Bean Stir-Fry

There are raves from commenters on Zaynab Issa’s five-star recipe, a quick stir-fry flavored with cumin, sriracha, ginger, garlic and soy sauce. If you prep the ingredients ahead, it will be ready in minutes at dinnertime.

View this recipe.

Two servings of creamy tortellini soup are shown in beige ceramic bowls.
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

3. Creamy Tortellini Soup

I want to swim in this silky soup, a simple luxury from Dan Pelosi that you can have for dinner within 40 minutes. Garlic bread on the side wouldn’t be wrong.

View this recipe.

Crispy sour-cream-and-onion chicken cutlets are stacked on a plate with lemon wedges for squeezing. A second plate sits nearby.
Johnny Miller for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Rebecca Jurkevich.

4. Crispy Sour Cream and Onion Chicken

The sorcery that is sour cream and onion dip, but applied to golden, pan-fried chicken? Ali Slagle does not disappoint! Green beans or green salad would be nice with this.

View this recipe.

Sheet-pan shrimp tikka is shown with a spatula; two servings with flatbread are shown nearby.
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

5. Sheet-Pan Shrimp Tikka

This smart, richly spiced, sweet-pepper-packed dinner from Zainab Shah is exactly what I want to eat this week. Raita would be perfect alongside.

View this recipe.

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