Name: Easy Turkey Pumpkin Chili
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 6 to 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound ground turkey (or other ground meat); 1 large onion, diced; 4-6 cloves garlic, minced; 1 can diced tomatoes (15 ounce); 3 cups tomato juice; 2 cups chicken stock; 4 cups cooked beans, such as pinto; 2 cups pumpkin puree; 2 tablespoons chili powder; 2 teaspoons salt; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 2 teaspoons cumin; additional salt and pepper to taste; additional toppings such as sour cream, minced fresh cilantro, grated cheese, hot sauce, optional

Quick, easy, and healthy turkey pumpkin chili recipe made with ground turkey, canned tomatoes, pumpkin puree, beans, and lots of hearty spices.

Adding pumpkin to chili is one of my favorite secrets to make thick, rich, healthy chili. The pumpkin adds a great texture, a nice sweetness to complement the acidic tomatoes, and a beautiful color to chili. The best part is your family will never know that you snuck a nutrient-packed vegetable into their favorite chili. Pumpkin is my secret ingredient to our favorite Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili as well as this one.

This easy Turkey Pumpkin Chili is on repeat all year long in our house because it’s so filling, healthy, and flavorful. Plus, you can’t beat that it only takes about 30 minutes to throw together and freezes well. I’ll often freeze half of the batch before the pan hits the dinner table so that I know I have a second meal in the freezer. I’ll fill out the meal with our favorite Cornbread Recipe or Mom’s Four Loaf Wheat Bread Recipe, some fruit, our Veggie Box, and some hummus too. It’s a simple, healthy, family-favorite meal that comes together easily. BONUS: you can make this in the slow cooker, too! See the notes under the recipes for instructions and cooking times.

This pumpkin recipe is part of pumpkin week! A week that I dedicate on the blog to all things pumpkin – sweet and savory alike. I’ve done this every year for a few years now, and I enjoy it so much. I hope it inspires you to get in the kitchen and gives you a few more ideas on how to use pumpkin besides the classic pumpkin cookies.

Tips and Tricks to Make Easy Turkey Pumpkin Chili

This recipe works great in the slow cooker! Just cook the meat, onion, and garlic as directed and then add it to your slow cooker. Stir everything else in and let it cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
You can let this simmer for longer than 15 minutes if you have the time – just add a lid so that all of the moisture doesn’t escape. If it does get too thick, you can also add a little more chicken stock to reach your desired thickness.
You can use ground turkey, chicken, beef, or even elk or venison in this recipe. Use what you like or have on hand.
I used pinto beans – use what you like. You can also use a mix of beans. I like to cook dried beans in my Instant Pot and keep them in 2-cup portions in my freezer.
This turkey pumpkin chili freezes really well. Just store it in an air-tight container and freeze for up to a month.

Craving more? Subscribe to Bless this Mess to get new recipes, meal plans, and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! Leave a comment, pin it, and don’t forget to tag a picture #blessthismesseats on Instagram. I love to see your kitchen skills in action!