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Slow Cooker Fall Chili with Pumpkin

This hearty chili combines ground meat, beans, and roasted pumpkin with warming spices, simmered slowly to develop deep flavors. The final dish has a thick, comforting texture with a vibrant orange color and fragrant aroma of fall spices and pumpkin.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 6 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground turkey or beef or your preferred ground meat
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup roasted pumpkin pureed or finely chopped
  • 1 can kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with juice
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for heat
  • 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • Chef's knife
  • Cutting board
  • Large Skillet
  • Wooden Spoon

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add diced onion. Sauté until translucent and fragrant, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    1 pound ground turkey or beef
  2. Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
    1 pound ground turkey or beef
  3. Turn up the heat slightly and add ground meat to the skillet, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes.
    1 pound ground turkey or beef
  4. Transfer the cooked meat mixture to the slow cooker, then add the roasted pumpkin, diced tomatoes with juice, drained beans, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
    1 pound ground turkey or beef
  5. Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth to help create a flavorful, simmering base, then stir everything together well.
    1 pound ground turkey or beef
  6. Set the slow cooker to low and cook uncovered for 6 hours, stirring occasionally. The chili will thicken and the flavors will meld beautifully.
  7. Once the cooking time completes, give the chili a good stir, check the seasoning, and adjust salt or spices if needed. It should be rich, thick, and fragrant, with a vibrant orange hue from the pumpkin.