Cooked in the slow cooker all day, this Pumpkin Chili recipe brings the flavors of fall to your table by adding in pumpkin and a hint of cinnamon and spices. It is the perfect dinner for a busy night!
I love a good slow cooker chili! This pumpkin version is amazing, but if you want something more traditional, my Crock Pot Chili is always a hit!
I have never been one to only make sweet treats with pumpkin. I am a squash lover, and will be making recipes with squash all fall and winter long!
This Pumpkin Chili recipe never fails me. It’s easy, it’s comforting, and it’s the perfect way to change things up from your normal chili. The pumpkin gives it some depth, and the spices really bring it alive and make it feel like fall in a bowl!
How to Make Pumpkin Chili
It doesn’t get easier than this recipe! Just a few minutes of prep, and into the slow cooker it goes!
1 – Start by browning your ground beef, then adding in the onion and pepper to soften as well. If you have any fat, you can drain that off after they have cooked.
2 – Stir the ground beef mixture along with all of your other ingredients into a large slow cooker. I have a 6 quart cooker similar to this slow cooker (aff link) and it has plenty of room.
3 – Cook this mixture on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 7-8 hours.
4 – Serve the pumpkin chili topped with all of your favorite chili toppings!
Tips and Tricks
- This is a pretty low calorie chili, but feel free to sub in ground turkey to save a few extra calories.
- If you like a thinner chili, you can add in some beef broth or extra tomato sauce. I like it thick, though, and this chili stays pretty thick.
- The cinnamon brings in a warm, fall vibe. It’s not for everyone, though. If you are worried about the flavor being overpowering, start with only 1/4 teaspoon instead of 1/2.
- You can also add in more chili powder to up the heat. I like it spicy, so I will often add more chili powder and more hot sauce.
- This chili, like other chilis, gets better as it cooks, so I will often serve this on a night when people are in and out all night so that they can grab some when they are home.
- Some of my favorite toppings are cheese, sour cream, avocados and tortilla strips. But you can really top this with anything you would top your regular chili with!
- Leftovers are amazing, and it freezes very well, as well.
More Chili Recipes
Butternut Squash Chili with Beef
White Bean Chicken Chili
Flatlander Chili
White Turkey Chili
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Pumpkin Chili
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 15.25 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup pumpkin puree homemade or canned
- 1 teaspoon chili powder – or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Few drops of hot sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saute pan, brown the ground beef. Add the onions and bell pepper and cook until the onions are translucent.
- Pour the ground beef mixture into a slow cooker. Add the beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, pumpkin puree, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, hot sauce and salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings, such as cheese, sour cream, or tortilla strips.
Joanna says
Would I be able to fully cook this and then freeze smaller portions? I’m just cooking for me and my husband and he isn’t a fan of leftovers.
Deborah says
I haven’t tried – but I’ve had great success freezing other chili recipes, so I’m guessing that it would work great frozen!
Shannon says
Excellent Chili! Mine cooked in under 4 hours. Slight variations I did include: added 1 can black-eyed peas, 1 can pinto beans, no diced tomatoes, extra can of tomato sauce, no hot sauce since making it for family with young children. Adults added more spice afterwards. Will be making it again! Thank you.
Deborah says
I’m so glad you liked it, and your additions sound wonderful!
Doree says
Made this for dinner tonight, it was delicious!!
Sally Sands says
This recipe is a winner! I made it on top of the stove since it was too late in the day to fire up the crock pot. Also works very well as a vegetarian or vegan chili with no meat and the addition of extra black beans, chopped celery, kale and corn. Great flavor! Thank you.
Deborah says
I’m so glad it was a hit!
Lindsey says
I had leftover pumpkin puree from pumpkin spice syrup and pumpkin cinnamon rolls, so I thought I’d give this a try. It was pretty good! I was afraid the pumpkin would get lost in the tomatoes and tomato sauce, but the chili maintained a distinct pumpkin-cinnamon taste, which was not at all over-powering. I did add some diced jalapeños and juice and some coffee (we always put coffee in our chili) to spice it up a little. I topped it with shredded cheddar and sour cream. Thanks for sharing!
Deborah says
@Lindsey, so glad you liked it!!
Russell at Chasing Delicious says
What a scrumptious take on chili! I just had some for dinner but now I’m wishing I tried this recipe!
grace says
as long as the pumpkin didn’t permeate things too deeply, i think this is a great way to sneak some nutrition into a bowl of chili!
Dara says
Love it! I am always looking for new and interesting ways to enjoy chili!!!
Becky at Vintage Mixer says
love this idea. I have yet to make Chili this year but when I do I’m coming back to this recipe!
Katrina says
Mmm I would have never thought to add pumpkin to my chili!! Love it!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
Chili is the perfect thing for Halloween night! Wish I would have thought of it earlier 🙂 I am still not sure what I am going to make tonight. Love the pumpkin in this!
Joanne says
I have a feeling we just had pizza on Halloween after all that trick or treating, but I would have much rather come home to this chili! Yum!
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray says
This looks like some seriously amazing chili!
Kristy says
Fabulous idea! I’m going to print this out and try it for one of our hectic weekends coming up in the holiday season. Then I’m going to mark it for next Halloween. I totally needed a recipe like this…crazy day that this is! Happy Halloween. 🙂
Bev Weidner says
This is happening in my life this weekend. SO I SAYETH.
mrsblocko says
This looks tasty. I’m gonna have to give this a try.