Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili (Ground Beef)
Hearty slow cooker pumpkin chili with ground beef, pumpkin puree, kidney beans, and warm spices. A cozy fall dinner for game day or easy weeknights.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 (15-oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15-oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilis, such as Rotel
- 1 (15-oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon mild chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 (15-oz) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
To Add at the End
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring to combine. Cook until just starting to soften, about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the ground beef, sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and stir to break apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and just cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cooked beef mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beans, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, cinnamon, sugar, pumpkin, and 1 teaspoon salt, stirring until well combined.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or low for 5-6, or until the meat is very tender.
- Uncover, and add the lime juice, stirring to combine. Taste and add more salt or lime juice if desired and serve with any desired toppings.
Notes
- Beans: I originally created this recipe without beans, but since have tested it with beans and prefer the additional texture and body the beans add. However, if you want to make this pumpkin chili without beans, just leave them out. It's still great without.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 (of 6) | Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 687mg | Potassium: 618mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 867IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 4mg
