Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili
- Michelle Finethy
- Sep 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 19
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Recipe Rundown
Base Flavor | Like any chili this pumpkin chili is hearty, savory and spicy but with a subtle hint of sweetness .. that's the pumpkin! |
Pumpkin's Role | Adding pumpkin to your chili will create a smooth, slightly sweet and earthy flavor note. You'll find it compliments the traditional chili spices nicely! |
Texture | Pumpkin Chili is thicker and silkier than regular chili. |
Balance | The sweetness of pumpkin takes the edge off the acidity of the tomatoes and heat of the chili peppers. |
Health Benefits of Pumpkin
Pumpkin chili is similar to regular chili with the famous edition of ... you guessed it, PUMPKIN! This inclusion doesn't exactly change the flavor of the chili so much as it does the overall thickness of the chili. But that's what makes it a great Addition to sneak in additional Health Benefits and Nutrition to this meal!
One of the greatest strengths of pumpkin is its high concentration of beta carotene as well as being rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids. All these vitamins and minerals make it excellent for boosting your immune system . Just in time for the cool fall weather and combating back to school sniffles!
Ingredients For Pumpkin Chili
Start by gathering all your ingredients and dicing in your vegetables. Chili is a perfectly versatile dish meaning just about any in just about any vegetable tastes good in this recipe. Below is a list of ingredients that I used
Beans - black and pinto for extra fiber and a pop of color
Vegetables - Green Bell Pepper and Onion are a classic pairing for Mexican inspired dishes
Spices - Traditional chili spices include chili powder, cumin, garlic and onion powders, smoked paprika, and salt
Protein - I used ground Turkey to keep the fat content low but I have also ground beef And ground pork before as delicious substitutes! Simply omit this if you are vegetarian there is plenty of proteins in the pumpkin and beans.
Pumpkin - You'll want to use pumpkin puree for this recipe, not pumpkin pie mix.
How to Make Pumpkin Chili
Start by gathering all your ingredients and dicing in your vegetables.
Add oil to a large pot on medium heat. Once heated, brown your ground turkey scraping the bottom of the pot as you go.
Once browned and fully cooked through, add your vegetables and spices to the pot. Combine and sauté in pot for 1-2 minutes until vegetables begin to sweat.
Add beans, pumpkin puree, and diced tomato to the pot. Mix thoroughly to combine all. At this time, add a splash of water or broth to thin out your chili. It will be very thick at this point It will further thin out in step 5 so don't add too much liquid!
Once boiling, reduce heat to low. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes. The water content from the pumpkin puree, vegetables and beans will release during this time. If you find your dish is too thin at the end of these 15 minutes, cook for a few minutes longer with the lid off to evaporate some liquid.
Your Pumpkin Chili is now ready to be served! Top with avocado, green onion, cilantro, cheese or sour cream. Enjoy!
How to Make Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili
Same amazing recipe but in a slow cooker to save you time and energy! Simply brown your ground turkey in a pan on the stove. Transfer the turkey and its juices to a slow cooker and add all remaining ingredients. Make this even easier by using frozen veggies and omitting the extra splash of liquid! Mix everything up well cook on high 2-3 hours or low 4-6 hours. You'll know its done when those veggies are soft and no longer crunchy.
Recommended Equipment
If your preparing this for a crowd on game day or simply need faster equipment to make preparing this as painless as possible.. I've got you covered!
Item | Why I Love It | |
Slow Cooker |  | This recipe is relatively painless to prepare but if your using the slow cooker that can only mean one thing.. You really don't have the time to be in the kitchen like that! This 8 Quart Slow Cooker is typically at a medium price point. It's capable of being programmed to a specific time as well as automatically shifting into the warming setting if you're away from the kitchen longer than expected. That's a no brainer for me when it comes to upgrading from the cheapo models like this 6 Quart Manual Slow Cooker |
Storing Left Overs |  | This recipe is perfect for left overs and meal preppers. As a huge soup fan myself, I cannot recommend these silicone molds enough! They are portioned in 2 Cup increments (smaller options are available) so popping your frozen chunk of chili out is easy! Did I mention they stack? Saves space in your freezer this way... perfect! |
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