• In the Kitchen
  • Recipe Index
  • Bento Lunches
  • Life As I Know It
  • Life in Texas
  • Faith Walk Farms

Following In My Shoes

tales of food and family

  • home
  • about
  • press
  • contact me

Slow Cooker Spicy Pumpkin Chili

September 27, 2011

Share
Pin5
Tweet
+1
5 Shares

crockpot pumpkin chili

I have been craving chili in the WORST way the past couple of weeks.

Nevermind that we’re still hovering around 159 degrees here in Houston — I need chili in my life.

Since I’m in a serious relationship with my crock-pot, I decided to tweak my normal pumpkin chili recipe and make a new slow-cooker version.

Pumpkin puree — NOT the pie filling — acts as a thickener, much like tomato paste would in a normal chili recipe.

The result was a perfectly spicy chili, full of protein and fiber (gotta stay healthy!), that my husband and kidlets lapped up.   This recipe makes enough for a crowd or for a couple of “freezer meals” for busy school nights when cooking is the LAST thing you want to do.

And — no — you can NOT tell there is pumpkin in it.  It just tastes like the yummiest chili ever.  With an earthy, spicy kick.

I promise. . . I didn’t tell Hubby I had substituted pumpkin puree for tomato paste until after dinner.  His response?

“I would have never known — it tasted just like ‘real’ chili.”

Mommy wins.

Slow Cooker Spicy Pumpkin Chili
 
Print
Author: Rachel Lacy
Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground Turkey (or chicken/beef)
  • 1 TB Olive Oil
  • 1 large Onion, diced
  • 1 large Red Bell Pepper, diced
  • 2 Jalapenos, seeded and finely diced
  • 1 "15 oz" cans of Pumpkin Puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
  • 2 cups of Beef Broth
  • 2 "14.5 oz" cans Diced Tomatoes, do not drain
  • 4 Cups (or 2 cans) cooked Black Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 4 Cups (or 2 cans) cooked Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 TB Cumin
  • 1 TB Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Oregano
  • 1 TB Balsamic Vinegar (to be added in the last hour of cooking)
  • ½ Tsp Cayenne Pepper Powder* (to be added in the last hour of cooking)
  • Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
  1. In a frying pan, over med-hi heat, brown the ground meat. Drain and put the meat in a 6-quart low cooker.
  2. In the same pan, add the olive oil and the onion, bell pepper and jalapenos, sauteing over medium heat until the onions are translucent. Add these to the slow cooker.
  3. Pour the beef broth and diced tomatoes (with their juice) into the slow cooker and then add all spices except the cayenne pepper. Next add the pumpkin puree and stir to combine.
  4. Add the beans, cover the crock pot and turn it on low and cook it for 6-8 hours … or on high for 4-5 hours.
  5. In the last hour of cooking, add the Balsamic Vinegar and the Cayenne Pepper, stirring well to incorporate both ingredients into the chili. Place the lid back on and allow the chili to continue cooking.
  6. You may also add salt (if desired) at this point; I stole a bite from the crock-pot and ended up adding about 2 teaspoons of salt, as well as about a teaspoon of fresh cracked pepper. (More wouldn’t hurt since this is a big batch of chili, but I’m trying to watch our sodium.)
  7. Serve with cheese and sour cream … or your favorite chili toppings!
Notes
This recipe makes about 6 quarts of awesome chili…. perfect for when you have guests over OR for freezing.


I divided our remaining chili into two freezer bags, chilled it in the fridge and then placed the bags in my deep freeze. Thaw it in the fridge and then reheat on the stove whenever you need an easy dinner!


*The amount of cayenne pepper I added gave a great spicy kick without making the dish too spicy for my children. More can be added if desired.
3.2.2807

 

 

 

Family Fresh Meals Recipe of the Week

Share
Pin5
Tweet
+1
5 Shares

Get Posts Delivered To Your Inbox

Privacy Policy

About Rachel Lacy

Rachel Lacy is the author of Following In My Shoes, where she blogs about Mommyhood, Family-Friendly Recipes and Bento Lunches, and Life in Texas. She is a lover of all things Coffee and Nutella.
You can also connect with Rachel Lacy on Google+.

« Saving Money In the Kitchen
Trying To Beat The Post-Pregnancy Body Blues »

Trackbacks

  1. 25 Pumpkin Recipes (That Don’t Involve Pie!) says:
    November 4, 2013 at 5:07 am

    […] 14. Slow Cooker Spicy Pumpkin Chili – Following in My Shoes […]

  2. 25 Pumpkin Recipes (That Don't Involve Pie!) says:
    October 9, 2012 at 8:38 am

    […] 14. Slow Cooker Spicy Pumpkin Chili – Following in My Shoes […]

Welcome

Who is Rachel LacyMy name is Rachel -- I share tales about food and family. I'm a home-cook who focuses on fresh meals to both fuel us and to help us celebrate our family-life. My day starts with coffee. Lots of coffee.
Read More About Me.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Stay Connected

Recent Recipes

Egg-Nog Caramels

Egg-Nog Caramels

Simple Orange Cream Frosting for an Easy Peasy Christmas Cookie Party

Simple Orange Cream Frosting for an Easy Peasy Christmas Cookie Party

Flourless Cocoa-Monkey Muffins

Flourless Cocoa-Monkey Muffins

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

Recent Bentos

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

I Heart Lunch: Pizza Muffins (grainfree and nutfree)

I Heart Lunch: Pizza Muffins (grainfree and nutfree)

50 Grain-free After School Snacks

50 Grain-free After School Snacks

Favorite Posts

The Things I’ve Learned About Boys

The Things I’ve Learned About Boys

The Things I Hope We Both Remember When I Am 93

The Things I Hope We Both Remember When I Am 93

The Moment Your Four Year Old Announces She Is In Love

The Moment Your Four Year Old Announces She Is In Love

The Clock is Ticking

The Clock is Ticking

Featured

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

Wearing My Game-Day Boots and Making Game-Day Food: Slow-Cooker Asian Barbecue Sausage Bites

Wearing My Game-Day Boots and Making Game-Day Food: Slow-Cooker Asian Barbecue Sausage Bites

Slow-Cooker Paleo Italian Stuffed Peppers

Slow-Cooker Paleo Italian Stuffed Peppers

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs

Shop Bento

Check out my favorite bento and lunch-packing resources!

Copyright © 2021 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

Home | About | Contact | Press | Archives | Disclosure | Privacy Policy ·

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. I won't take it personally!!AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy