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Turkey pumpkin chili with a thick tomato and pumpkin base
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Turkey Pumpkin Chili Recipe

A savory one-pot chili with ground turkey, plain pumpkin, kidney beans and tomatoes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 268

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil 13.5 g
  • 1 medium yellow onion 150 g; diced
  • 1 large red bell pepper 150 g after trimming; diced
  • 3 cloves garlic 9 g; minced
  • 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey 454 g
  • 1 tablespoon mild chili powder 8 g; American-style spice blend, not pure hot chile
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin 4 g
  • 1 teaspoon ground dried oregano
  • 0.75 teaspoon fine salt 4.5 g
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper 0.6 g
  • 2 14.5-ounce cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes 822 g including juice
  • 1 15-ounce can plain pumpkin puree 425 g; not pie filling
  • 1 15-ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed, about 255 g
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 480 ml

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven 5–6 quart
  • 1 Wooden spoon For breaking up turkey
  • 1 Knife and cutting board For vegetables
  • 1 Food thermometer Verify 165°F

Method
 

  1. Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 6–8 minutes, stirring, until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  2. Add ground turkey. Break it into small crumbles and cook about 6–8 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper for 30 seconds, lowering the heat if the spices begin to scorch.
  3. Stir in tomatoes with their juice, plain pumpkin, drained kidney beans and broth. Scrape the bottom to loosen browned bits. Bring to a bubbling simmer, then reduce the heat.
  4. Simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes, stirring periodically so the pumpkin does not stick. The chili should be thick but spoonable. Check that the ground turkey and hot mixture have reached at least 165°F. Add water a few tablespoons at a time only if needed.
  5. Taste and divide into six servings. Refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers, within 2 hours or within 1 hour above 90°F. Store at 40°F or below for up to 3–4 days. Reheat leftovers throughout to 165°F, stirring to eliminate cold spots.

Video

Notes

Use plain pumpkin puree, not sweetened pumpkin pie filling. Nutrition is estimated per one-sixth of the pot, before optional toppings or sides. Ingredient brands and portions change the values.
Video credit: Clean & Delicious, MY NEW FAVORITE CHILI RECIPE. The demonstration uses black beans, carrots and cinnamon. This version uses kidney beans, more tomato and oregano, without carrots or cinnamon.