Pumpkin Chili

On the stovetop or in the slow cooker, this Pumpkin Chili recipe is an easy and healthy dinner that's perfect for fall!

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

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Nothing says “fall” quite like a cozy bowl of Pumpkin Chili! This healthy and easy dinner recipe is the perfect dish to serve on Halloween, but it’s also a simple option for busy weeknights. Prep it on the stovetop or in the slow cooker!

This festive Pumpkin Chili is perfect for a Halloween party, since you can leave it simmering on the stovetop for your guests to serve themselves.

Similarly, you can get it going in your Crock Pot and come home to a warm supper after a long night of trick-or-treating! It’s a kid-friendly, hearty, and nutritious option to balance out all of the sweet holiday indulgences.

What does Pumpkin Chili taste like?

Pumpkin chili is SO GOOD! It tastes just like a traditional beef or turkey chili recipe, but the pumpkin adds a smooth, thick texture to the broth and gives the dish just a hint of sweetness. Your guests probably won’t be able to tell that there’s pumpkin in the mix, but they will definitely wonder which secret ingredient makes this particular chili so darn good!

How to make Pumpkin Chili:

You can put almost any of your favorite meat, beans and veggies in this pumpkin chili, but I keep the base recipe simple and full of classic chili flavor.

You will need the following ingredients:

• Ground beef (or substitute with ground turkey)
• Onion
• Pinto beans (or other beans of choice)
• Corn (canned or frozen will work)
• A can of pumpkin
• Fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• Tomato sauce
• Beef broth (or chicken broth)
• Chili powder, garlic, brown sugar, salt and pepper

First, cook the ground beef, onion and garlic in a large skillet or Dutch oven until no longer pink. Drain.

Add the rest of the ingredients, give it all a stir, and cover tightly with a lid.

Simmer on the stovetop over low heat for 1 – 1.5 hours, or in the slow cooker for 4-6 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH.

Ladle into individual bowls and garnish with all of your favorite toppings!

What to serve with Pumpkin Chili:

Cornbread, these fall-inspired corn muffins, pumpkin muffins, or corn chips (such as Fritos) all pair nicely with a bowl of this chili.

You’ll also want to set out some toppings so that your family members can customize their bowls. Try serving:

• Diced red onion, sliced green onion or fresh chopped chives
• Grated cheddar cheese
• Sour cream
• Diced avocado
• Fresh cilantro

Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations:

• Turkey pumpkin chili is a delicious and easy twist! Just substitute ground turkey for the beef, and use chicken broth instead of beef broth.
• Any of your favorite beans will work! I use pinto beans, but you can try a can of red kidney beans, garbanzo beans, pink beans, or black beans (for a Halloween-inspired black-and-orange bowl).
• To make last-minute dinner prep even faster, I like to brown the ground beef, onion and garlic in advance and then just keep the cooked meat in a container in my refrigerator until we’re ready to use it. This is a step that I can usually do on the weekend so that I only have to dump the ingredients into the pot on a busy weekday morning.
• To freeze leftover cooked chili: Allow the chili to cool to room temperature. Package in airtight containers and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• To reheat pumpkin chili: Thaw frozen chili in the refrigerator overnight. Place chili in a saucepan. Cover and warm over low heat, just until heated through. If it seems too thick, thin the chili with a splash of broth or water.

More easy chili recipes that you might enjoy:

• Chili Con Carne (Stovetop or Slow Cooker)
• The Best Slow Cooker White Chili
• Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
• Crock Pot Chili

Did you try this recipe? Don’t forget to rate it and leave me a comment below! You can follow me on Facebook, on Instagram, on Pinterest, and on Twitter!

4 from 1 vote

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Pumpkin Chili

On the stovetop or in the slow cooker, this Pumpkin Chili recipe is an easy and healthy dinner that's perfect for fall!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword chili on the stovetop, pumpkin chili, slow cooker chili

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes

Servings 10 cups

Calories 304.2 kcal

Author Blair

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef
• 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes (NOT drained)
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• ½ cup beef broth (plus extra to thin, if necessary)
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• Optional (for serving): cornbread; corn chips; cheese; sour cream; sliced green onions/chives; cilantro; avocado; diced red onion

Instructions

FOR THE STOVETOP:

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the onion and cook about 5 minutes or until it begins to caramelize around the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Add the beef and brown all over, breaking up the meat as you go, about 5-7 more minutes. Drain fat and return beef mixture to the pot.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, covered, on low heat for about 1-1 ½ hours.
3. Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with optional toppings.

FOR THE SLOW COOKER:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the onion and cook about 5 minutes or until it begins to caramelize around the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Add the beef and brown all over, breaking up the meat as you go, about 5-7 more minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Drain fat.
2. Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
3. Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with optional toppings.

Nutrition Facts

Pumpkin Chili

Amount Per Serving (1 cup)

Calories 304.2 Calories from Fat 132

% Daily Value*

Fat 14.7g23%

Saturated Fat 5.7g36%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.8g

Monounsaturated Fat 6.2g

Cholesterol 51mg17%

Sodium 1017.7mg44%

Potassium 707.6mg20%

Carbohydrates 28.2g9%

Fiber 8.8g37%

Sugar 6.6g7%

Protein 18.9g38%

Vitamin A 124.6IU2%

Vitamin C 23.2mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This post was originally published in October, 2015. It was updated in September, 2019.