Description
This hearty Pumpkin Chili is a cozy, savory fall dish made with lean ground turkey, chicken maple sausage, pumpkin purée, beans, and warming spices. It’s flavorful, protein-packed, and perfect for chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.3 lbs extra lean ground turkey
- 6 small links (9 oz) chicken maple sausage, sliced
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- 1 (15.5 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15.5 oz) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (29 oz) can pumpkin purée
- 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (12 fl oz) bottle pumpkin beer (or non-alcoholic alternative)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Optional Add-Ons:
- 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen)
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 diced jalapeño or other chili pepper (for extra heat)
Instructions
- Prep: Thinly slice chicken sausage (or remove casing). Set aside with ground turkey.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large pot, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic; cook for 4–5 minutes until soft and fragrant.
- Add Peppers: Add diced yellow and orange bell peppers. Cook for another 5 minutes. Remove all veggies from pot and set aside.
- Brown the Meat: In the same pot, heat remaining 2 tbsp olive oil. Add ground turkey and sausage. Brown for about 10 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Combine: Return veggies to the pot. Add diced tomatoes, pumpkin purée, cannellini and kidney beans, pumpkin beer, chicken broth, chili powder, oregano, cumin, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper (if using). Stir well.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve: Ladle chili into bowls. Top with shredded cheddar, green onions, or sour cream if desired.
Notes
- No sausage? Substitute with more ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Alcohol-free? Replace pumpkin beer with 1/2 cup more chicken broth.
- Make it vegetarian: Skip the meat and double the beans or add lentils.
- Thicker chili? Simmer uncovered longer or reduce the broth slightly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: pumpkin chili, turkey chili, fall chili recipe, gluten free chili, hearty pumpkin chili, pumpkin recipes savory