Crock-Pot Pumpkin Chili (Easy & Delicious Fall Dinner Idea!)
Pumpkin chili in the Crock-Pot? YES!
During the fall, easy Crock-Pot slow cooker meals are my preferred method for simple hands-off cooking. If you’re looking for a unique and delicious way to incorporate pumpkin into your meals, try this easy to make pumpkin and ground turkey slow cooker chili recipe. This hearty and comforting meal is perfect for cooler weather.
It’s important to note, this chili is SAVORY and won’t taste like your sweet pumpkin spice latte– promise!
Why use pumpkin puree in chili?
It actually gives this chili such a unique, rich flavor! And when combined with the tomato juice, it yields a creamy smooth and thicker texture. Pumpkin also has some awesome health benefits including loads of antioxidants, and it’s high in Vitamins A, C, and fiber. 🙂
Having issues finding canned pumpkin puree? It’s actually pretty easy to grab a small pumpkin and make homemade pumpkin puree using the Instant Pot!
Tips for making yummy pumpkin chili:
- Don’t have a Crock-Pot slow cooker? Make this a quick one-pot meal on the stove by simply browning meat, adding ingredients, stirring, and letting simmer for about an hour.
- Make this as a make-ahead freezer meal by cooking meat, cooling, and then placing all ingredients in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or two. Store in the freezer – and then when you’re ready to cook, just defrost and place on the stove or in a slow cooker.
- This is the perfect meatless Monday meal. Just remove the ground turkey and sub in extra beans and veggies!
Crockpot Pumpkin & Ground Turkey Chili Recipe
yield: 6 SERVINGS
prep time: 15 MINUTES
cook time: 4 HOURS
total time: 4 HOURS 15 MINUTES
Creamy pumpkin chili with a savory broth will warm you up on a cold fall evening!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped (one red, one green)
- 2 – 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 1 – 15.25 oz can black beans, drained
- 1 – 15 oz can red kidney beans, drained
- 1/2 of a 15 oz can pumpkin puree
- 32 oz 100% tomato juice
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt & pepper to taste
Directions
1
Brown onion and turkey on the stove. Drain if necessary, and season with salt & pepper.
2
Place the cooked ground turkey and onions in the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients.
3
Stir, cover, and cook until the chili thickens and the flavors combine – about 6-8 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Makes about 8 servings.
This simple chili recipe is SO good!
I know you’re going to love it, and the leftovers are just as good the next day, that is if you still have some leftover! It’s a great meal to pack along in your lunch on a chilly morning. Enjoy!
Thanks so much Lina, you’re a lifesaver making this for dinner tonight!!!!!
Yay! I’m so glad! You’re welcome 🙂
Lina, is this the recipe you posted a year or so ago? If it is, I can confirm that it is delicious because I made a couple times. My family loved it! The pumpkin gives it a thick, richness. It also freezes just fine.
Oh, and I have family members that “do not like pumpkin” that never knew it was in there.
Looks tasty, thanks!
This looks amazing!!!
Awesome recipe! I’m going to pick up a few of the ingredients I don’t have tomorrow and give it a whirl! Thanks so much!
Wow this looks fantastic! Have all the ingredients on hand, too. We will have chili for dinner tmrw….THANK YOU! 🙂
How funny. I have chili planned for tomorrow night w/ cheddar & green chili cornbread muffins! Chili recipe is similar except no pumpkin. Think I’ll pick up a can tonight and make this one instead.
Great recipe! I just made a batch of beans, preparing to make chili. Now I’ll use your recipe. Maybe add some canned chipotle for an extra smoky kick. Thanks!
Oh wow – Im trying this recipe soon !!
So weird that I just purchased ground turkey and chili powder and then saw this. Get out of my head Lina! It’s a scary place, lol.
Your comment made me lol 🙂
Yum! It’s supposed to be quite chilly here this weekend…perfect for making chili! Making this for Sunday 🙂
My husband doesn’t like chili or cumin. So i’m going to make this with Italian seasonings and see what happens…:)
I’m thinking chunks of sweet potatoes would work in place of the pumpkin puree since I would prefer chunks. Must be chili week because I made chocolate chili yesterday.
Chocolate chili?
Not sure if this is what she is referring to but I have a chocolate chili recipe that has a handful of Hershey’s kisses or 1/2 a chocolate bar in it. In my recipe, I couldn’t taste the chocolate in it at all.
Thank you Lina!
Made it today and even my almost-three-year old loved it!
That’s great news!
You said that it serves 8. About how much per person?
I’m making this now for my work chili cookoff contest tomorrow. I got northern white beans in place of the black beans, and added a can of diced tomatoes with green chili’s. Can’t wait!
Oh yum! Enjoy
interesting recipe with pumpkin, want to try
Yes this was yummy!
This sounds good to me! I’m not sure my kids & husband will eat it but I think I’ll make it anyway & see.
It’s very good! You may be surprised ❤️ thanks for stopping by!
I can say this is essentially the recipe I use when it doesn’t include pumpkin (except that I also add a small can of green chiles) and that version is very yummy. I’m assuming if you keep it to a small amount of pumpkin it is going to give it a rich, savory taste. You just can’t add too much. I have other recipes I’ve added squash or sweet potatoes to (like spaghetti sauce) and you just have to keep the amount small.
A very nice recipe. Will be adding it to my rotatation.
That’s so nice! Thanks Janet!
I make something like this and it’s so good!! I add a little cacao too 😍
oh interesting! Thanks for sharing!
It sounds delicious. I wish I could justify making a pot for myself. I would be the only one eating it so it would last forever. Nobody likes chili in my house. It has tomatoes in it. LOL
oh darn- maybe make a small batch! ha
I freeze individual portions just for myself as an easy thaw & heat lunch – just an idea 😉
I don’t like beans in my chili. What can I put in instead?
You can just use more meat and omit the beans.
Yep! This is a tried & true recipe…been making it since I first discovered it here on H2S almost 4 years ago. I too thought it odd at first however I make it frequently & have entered into chili cook-offs at work & won 😁 🏆
Wha???? That’s so awesome! hooray 😃 Thanks for sharing ❤️
Did anyone think this needed more seasoning? Salt? More pumpkin pie spice?
I made this a few days ago and it was just like meh. I didn’t add the kidney beans as our family doesn’t like them and added a can of corn instead. It really had no flavor at all. I was pretty disappointed so I’m not sure what I did differently. I was really excited but everybody in my family said it was ok but asked me not to make it again as it was tasteless. I’m not sure how and it smelled SO GOOD, our house smelled amazing but it wasn’t for us. I’ve made at least 10 recipes from this site and this was the first one that was meh, the rest are all great!