Smoky Pumpkin Turkey Chili

This Smoky Pumpkin Turkey Chili is total fall comfort food. With the sweet mellow flavor of pumpkin and a bunch of warm flavorful spices plus a smoky kick of chipotle pepper, it’s guaranteed to warm you right up on a cool fall evening. In fact, I think this would be a great dish for a fall tailgating party or other fall gatherings. And if you love cozy soups and chilis like I do, make sure to check out my recipe for Kielbasa and 15 Bean Soup, too!

I love that this recipe for Smoky Pumpkin Turkey Chili works for either a weeknight dinner or a leisurely weekend meal. The prep time for this chili is less than 30 minutes, but then I like to simmer it on the stove for about an hour to really allow the flavors to come together (if it’s a weeknight, I just get the chili simmering and then go and do other chores/activities for an hour.) And this chili freezes well, too, so sometimes I make a batch just to throw in the freezer and reheat for dinner on a busy day.

So let’s just talk about a few of the ingredients:

Pumpkin – Pumpkin is one of the first foods that come to mind when I think of fall. A type of squash, pumpkin is a favorite in everything from lattes to pies. But pumpkin is actually very healthy, too, since it’s packed with vitamins and antioxidants including beta carotene (which your body converts to vitamin A), potassium, and fiber. And pumpkin doesn’t need to be fresh to be healthy either – unlike some other vegetables, canned pumpkin actually retains many of its nutrients during the canning process. Also, don’t forget about the seeds which contain magnesium, zinc, and iron, and make a great topping for this chili.

Chipotle in Adobo – Chipotle in adobo sauce comes in a can and contains chipotle peppers and a flavorful red sauce. (And in case you are wondering, a chipotle pepper is a ripe jalapeno that has been dried and smoked). First, a bit of warning. If you have never tried chipotle in adobo sauce before, it is SPICY. A little bit goes a very long way. Start with adding 1 teaspoon of the sauce from the can to your chili and then if you want more heat, add a bit more. You can chop up a small piece of one of the peppers from the can to add to your chili, but please use gloves for this. And since I never use an entire can at once, I just pop the rest in the freezer to use later. An alternative for chipotle in adobo would be to use a few shakes of a chipotle hot sauce or ¼ cup or so of chipotle salsa.

Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes – I like the flavor of fire-roasted diced tomatoes in this chili, but plain diced tomatoes will work just fine. And for even more flavor, substitute a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, or an equal amount of your favorite salsa.

Cook’s Tips for Making Smoky Pumpkin Turkey Chili:

• Although I prefer 85% or leaner ground turkey for this chili, you can certainly use whatever type of ground meat you prefer. If you are using fattier meat, be sure and drain off any grease after browning it.
• You can use a slow cooker to cook the chili. However, for the best result, brown the ground turkey before adding it to the slow cooker, and reduce the chicken broth to 1 cup. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
•  Be sure to use pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. And if using fresh pumpkin instead of a can, use about 2 cups of fresh pumpkin puree (see instructions here ).
• I like the combination of white beans and kidney beans in this chili, but you can substitute whatever beans you prefer.
• If you don’t have maple syrup on hand, substitute brown sugar or honey.
• If spiciness isn’t your thing but you still want a smoky flavor, omit the chipotle and add a little extra smoked paprika, or a little bit of liquid smoke.
• If you want to use home-canned beans or tomatoes, substitute a pint jar for each can called for in the recipe.
• I like to serve the chili with cornbread and a choice of toppings like shredded cheese, sliced avocado, toasted pumpkin seeds and sour cream.

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I hope you try this recipe, and if you do, I hope you love it. Please let me know in the comments below.

Enjoy!

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