Turkey Chili with Pumpkin

You will love the flavors of this Turkey Chili with Pumpkin. It has the perfect balance of spicy and sweet and loaded with lots of hearty and healthy ingredients. Top with all your favorite chili goodies for a comforting meal.
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This Turkey Chili with Pumpkin has been part of our fall/winter favorites for many years. It’s so easy to make and only takes about 45-minutes from start to finish. It has that classic chili flavor we all love, and a special touch of pumpkin for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
Anytime I make this chili for family and friends they can never guess the secret ingredient is pumpkin. It’s like a silent participant. Using pumpkin puree is great for soups, stews, and chilis because it blends right in with the sauce and naturally thickens it. The flavor is mild and the slight sweetness only helps to balance the flavors, not make it overly sweet.
This is a fun recipe to serve during the Autumn season for obvious reasons, but equally a cozy dish to serve during the cooler months. It will warm you up fast! Top with your favorite chili toppings or make a batch of corn bread. It’s comforting and so good.
Ingredients For Turkey Chili With Pumpkin:
- Lean ground turkey
- Onion
- Garlic
- Black beans
- Pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- Crushed fire roasted tomatoes
- Frozen roasted sweet corn with peppers
- Chicken stock- Better than bouillon is my favorite
- Seasonings- chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt and pepper
Chili Toppings:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Fresh avocado
- Fresh cilantro
- Tortilla chips
Substitutions:
This is another great recipe that can easily be modified with ingredients you have on hand. Use lean ground beef instead of turkey, or other beans like, pinto, red kidney, or white beans. Sub in a can of corn for the frozen. So many options.
How To Prepare Turkey Chili with Pumpkin:
Step 1. Heat a Dutch oven or 6 qt pot to medium heat. Add olive oil, onion, and ground turkey. Cook turkey breaking into crumbles until no longer pink.
Step 2. Add garlic and cook 1-minute then add in spices. Cook just until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. This will help release the flavor in the spices.
Step 3. Stir in black beans, pumpkin puree, fire roasted tomatoes, corn, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to medium low to cook for 10-minutes.
Step 4. Serve with your favorite chili toppings.
Storing and Freezing:
Turkey Chili with Pumpkin will last 3-5 days in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer.
Make Ahead:
This is a super fast chili recipe to make, but it’s a great meal to prep over the weekend for busy weeknights. Plus, chili is always better the next day!

Other Recipes You Might Like:
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Let’s eat!🤍

Turkey Chili with Pumpkin
Equipment
- 6 qt Dtuch oven or pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 3/4 cup yellow onion, chopped fine
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 15 oz can low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15 oz can pure pumpkin puree Not pumpkin pie filling
- 1 14.5 oz can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 9 oz pkg frozen honey roasted sweet corn and peppers I use green giant brand
- 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Additional toppings
- Avocados
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Cilantro
- Tortillas
Instructions
- Heat Dutch oven or large pot to medium heat and add olive oil, onion, and ground turkey. Cook turkey breaking into crumbles until no longer pink.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant, then add seasonings. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in black beans, pumpkin puree, fire roasted tomatoes, corn, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil then turn heat down to medium low and cook for 10 more minutes stirring occasionally.
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef instead of ground turkey
- Use other beans like pinto, red kidney, white beans, or a combination of your favorites.
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 5 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 315 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 7.3g | 9% |
Saturated Fat 2.2g | 11% |
Cholesterol 65mg | 22% |
Sodium 390mg | 17% |
Total Carbohydrate 34.9g | 13% |
Dietary Fiber 10.2g | 36% |
Total Sugars 9.5g | |
Protein 27.9g | |
Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
Calcium 51mg | 4% |
Iron 9mg | 52% |
Potassium 961mg | 20% |
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