Description
This easy pumpkin chili recipe combines savory ground beef, hearty beans, and smooth pumpkin purée to create a flavorful, comforting meal perfect for cooler days. Rich with chili spices and smoky paprika, it simmers to a thick, delicious chili that can be topped with your favorite garnishes for added texture and taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Chili
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 yellow onion
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 15oz. can kidney beans, drained
- 1 15oz. can black beans, drained
- 1 15oz. can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 15oz. can pumpkin purée
- 5 Tbsp (1/2 6oz. can) tomato paste
- 2 cups water
Chili Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Prepare Aromatics: Mince the garlic and dice the onion. Add the garlic, onion, and olive oil to a large pot. Sauté the onion and garlic over medium heat until the onions are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Brown the Beef: Add the ground beef to the pot and cook until browned and cooked through, stirring to break up the meat evenly.
- Add Ingredients: Stir in the drained kidney beans, drained black beans, diced tomatoes with their juices, pumpkin purée, tomato paste, and water.
- Season the Chili: Add chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, freshly cracked black pepper, and salt to the pot. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer the Chili: Cover the pot with a lid and bring the chili up to a simmer. Maintain a gentle simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Final Taste and Serve: After simmering, taste the chili and adjust salt if necessary. Serve hot with optional toppings like sour cream, shredded cheese, sliced green onions, or corn chips.
Notes
- You can substitute the chili seasoning with your preferred store-bought chili seasoning blend or customize spices to taste.
- For a milder chili, reduce chili powder and smoked paprika quantities.
- If you prefer vegetarian, substitute ground beef with plant-based protein or additional beans.
- Leftover chili can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Use fresh pumpkin purée for an even more vibrant pumpkin flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.25 cups
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
