Happy National Pumpkin day divas (Oct. 26th). Here’s a great FALL recipe, SPICY PUMPKIN CHILI to try this weekend! Seeeee, Starbucks is not the only one’s who know how to work that pumpkin spice!
Fall is all about apples and oh yeah pumpkins! So, it’s a shame if you don’t have at least one delicious recipe with this heavenly vegetable. However, another thing considered a must in fall is chili! A little bit of spiciness during the chilly months (no pun intended!) is everything you need to feel cozy in the warmth of your home. That is why, in this blog, I’m going to be teaching you how to whip up a delicious pumpkin chili!
Even cold winters are better when you have spicy pumpkin chili served with some cornbread. The combinations you can make are amazing, and you will enjoy every bite you take. This pumpkin chili recipe is undoubtedly one of my favorites, so not sharing it with you would be selfish! In fact, everyone deserves a chance to taste the glorious flavors of this dish. And if your favorite restaurant doesn’t serve it, nothing’s stopping you from making it yourself! After all, nothing is better than a hot meal in front of the TV with your favorite show!
Why Spicy Pumpkin Chili Is a Recipe You Must Try
As I mentioned, it is one of my favorite dishes of all time, and there isn’t solely one reason behind that. Namely, spicy pumpkin chili is one of the most consumed recipes worldwide! You don’t get that kind of fame for nothing!
First, pumpkin chili with chicken is prepared in less than a half hour, which is ideal for those who aren’t crazy about cooking. Even those who avoid the kitchen as much as possible want to eat well. So, this is the perfect example of a meal you can prepare easily and quickly and show yourself you can handle the kitchen.
Another thing is that spicy pumpkin chili is a really nutritious dish. The combination of ingredients makes it an ideal source of nutrients in times when we need them the most. We all know how difficult it is to stay healthy during the colder months. So, this pumpkin chili recipe can change that! You can enjoy something genuinely delicious while keeping your immune system strong. And that’s the whole point with food, right?
Pumpkin Instead of Tomatoes – A Blissful Substitute
While most people like to enjoy chili with tomatoes, I want my recipes to be special. So, using pumpkins instead of tomatoes is my secret. And I can tell you, the result is miraculous!
Why put pumpkin in chili, you ask? Several things make spicy pumpkin chili stand out, so you won’t regret trying it. First, tomatoes are not as flavorful as pumpkin, meaning if you want to intensify the taste, this is the ingredient you need. Second, you will obtain the luxurious, thick texture everyone desires in chili. It’s not always an easy thing to achieve, but pumpkin makes it work wonderfully! Moreover, the vegetable makes the perfect ingredient for an amazing blend of spices. There aren’t many foods you can perfectly combine with spices, but this is one that works ideally. Lastly, you can combine spicy pumpkin chili with different types of meat, such as chicken or pork. This means you don’t have to limit yourself to beef, especially if you aren’t a fan of it.
How Eating Spicy Pumpkin Chili Can Be Good for Your Health
Besides tasting delicious, spicy pumpkin chili is a dish that can be really beneficial for your health. As I said earlier, it’s a true delight for the chilly fall and winter days. Since the pumpkin is the main ingredient that makes this recipe special, it’s no wonder it has amazing nutritional benefits.
If you don’t like eating solely pumpkin, combining it with different ingredients is an ideal way to enjoy its health advantages.
- Immunity booster: Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A, which is great for fighting infections. Moreover, there is also a significant presence of vitamin C – a great source of strength for the immune cells.
- Skin health: If you have always wanted glowing skin, pumpkin can help you achieve it. The amazing combination of vitamin A and vitamin E protects your skin from the sun and prevents the occurrence of spots that everyone hates.
- Improved eyesight: When taking care of yourself, don’t forget about your eyes. Pumpkin is rich in beta carotene, which plays a crucial role in the health of your eyes.
- Metabolic health: Pumpkin is an excellent source of fiber, and we all know how fiber is essential for our metabolic health. Since it is important in managing blood sugar, you can rely on it to improve your metabolic system.
Even though pumpkin is a real star in this recipe, that doesn’t mean that the other ingredients are less valuable. On the contrary, the whole combination included in spicy pumpkin chili creates a fantastic dish full of nutrients that your body needs, especially in the colder months.
The components that make this delightful meal are considered essential for our overall health. Spicy pumpkin chili isn’t only yummy but also full of iron, protein, fiber, and potassium. Plus, it’s an exceptional antioxidant, which is precisely what your body needs.
How To Make Pumpkin Chili
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey meat
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil, or olive oil
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 3 fresh garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced (or my favs shallots diva)
- 2 green bell peppers, diced
- 15 ounces cooked red, chili, OR black beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounces cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes, with juice, jar or fresh
- 1/2 cup low sodium broth, or stock (vegetable, chicken, or beef)
- 15 ounces pure pumpkin puree
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste
Optional Toppings
- diced avocado,
- fresh chopped parsley/cilantro,
- sliced red chili,
- cheese,
- Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in turkey meat and cook, stirring occasionally, until crumbly and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the red pepper flakes, diced bell pepper, garlic, and onion; continue cooking until the meat has browned and the onion has softened.
- Add in beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, broth, pumpkin puree, and spices.
- Cover with a lid and cook on low for an additional 20 minutes.
- Garnish with your favorite toppings diva!
If you have never tried spicy pumpkin chili, now is your time to experience something extraordinary. Allow your palate to enjoy the majestic combination of flavors you can’t find in another dish. Regular chili is not so interesting anymore, so try to upgrade your game with a mix of tastes. Believe me, you will never be able to find a more intriguing blend of ingredients in one meal. So, don’t miss the chance to have a new signature delicacy for this fall!
Oh, PS diva, it’s not required to serve this chili in an actual pumpkin! 😛
- 1 pound lean ground turkey meat
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil, or olive oil
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 3 fresh garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced (or my favs shallots diva)
- 2 green bell peppers, diced
- 15 ounces cooked red, chili, OR black beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounces cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes, with juice, jar or fresh
- 1/2 cup low sodium broth, or stock (vegetable, chicken, or beef)
- 15 ounces pure pumpkin puree
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste
- diced avocado,
- fresh chopped parsley/cilantro,
- sliced red chili,
- cheese,
- greek yogurt
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat; Add in turkey meat and cook, stirring occasionally until crumbly and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the red pepper flakes, diced bell pepper, garlic, and onion; continue cooking until the meat has browned and the onion has softened.
- Add in beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, broth, pumpkin puree and spices.
- Cover with a lid and cook on low for an additional 20 minutes.
- Garnish with your favorite toppings diva!
I’m Nicole Twyman, a native New Orleanian, who has lived all across the US! Although, my small family of 4 currently calls Los Angeles, CA home. I am a proud 40+ year old mom of a wonderfully energetic and theatrical daughter, and a handsome, scholarly athlete!
While I have worked in corporate America as a certified senior project / program / portfolio manager for Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Procter & Gamble & IBM, my passion is service. It has always been my desire to live a life of service to others; which I took every opportunity to explore as an active member of many of my church’s ministries and of my public service sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
Well, now I am over the top excited to have the opportunity to serve divas through my very own ministry, Fit, Fyne & Fabulous.
