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Butternut Squash Chili

This Butternut Squash Chili is made for all those chilly evenings. Gather the family around the table and warm up with a delicious bowl of this hearty and healthy dinner.

butternut squash chili, chili recipe, healthy chili
Big, bold flavors await you in this butternut squash chili – it’s the best cozy chili all season long.

Butternut Squash Chili

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! It always comes and goes way too quickly.

Despite knowing better, I always let the boys stay up way too late during the holiday breaks (movies, popcorn, or games, anyone?!)

We totally pay for it Monday morning. That’s where this Butternut Squash Chili swoops in to save the day…or maybe the week.

butternut squash chili, chili recipe, healthy chili
Butternut Squash Chili is a one-pot, deliciously healthy meal.

Perfect chili for chilly days

Speaking of Mondays, Miss Snowstorm has decided to waltz in on the first day back to business. Snow blowers are out there in full force. Snow plows are doing their darndest to keep up.

I did my annual mad scramble for all the kids’ snow gear that has been long forgotten in The Closet Abyss. I literally looked crazy, knee deep all the outgrown boots and beanie hats with their puff balls falling off.

But here’s my happy in the blizzard: Butternut Squash Chili. It’s so chili time.

Why this is the best chili ever

This is not just any chili. This fall inspired chili is hearty, healthy, and teeming with turkey and squash. Delicious (and easy) satisfaction in a bowl.

The use of fall squash rewards us with such vibrant colors, texture, and flavor. Not to mention it’s loaded with nutrients our bodies crave.

There’s something kind of magical about the seasons in the Midwest.  Here’s to snow boots that fit and beanie hats with puff balls sewn back on.

And to sitting down to steaming hot bowl of chili with your favorite people.

chili with butternut squash
Make the most of butternut squash season with this comforting, healthy chili.

watch This butternut squash chili in Action


chili with butternut squash

Butternut Squash Chili

4.41 from 70 ratings
This Butternut Squash Chili is made for all those chilly evenings. Gather the family around the table and warm up with a delicious bowl of this hearty and healthy dinner.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 10
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

Instructions

  • In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil until hot. Add onion and garlic, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add sugar, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, oregano, and coriander. Stir to combine, 10 seconds.
  • Add ground turkey to pot and sprinkle 1 tsp salt over it; cook/stir to break up into small pieces. When turkey is cooked through, add tomato paste and stir 30 seconds.
  • Add bell peppers, fire-roasted tomatoes with juices, and broth. Scrape bottom of pan while stirring. Bring chili to a simmer; simmer covered for 20 minutes.
  • Add beans and squash. Bring chili back to a simmer and simmer covered another 20 minutes or just until squash is tender but not mushy. Remove from heat. Add additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve warm, with shredded cheddar if desired.

Notes

Chili keeps well; simply cover and chill in fridge. Reheat by bringing back to simmer on stovetop.
Make it meatless by using veggie broth and omitting turkey.
This butternut chili goes beautifully with Honey Cornbread Muffins (No Refined Sugar)
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ♡

Nutrition

Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 38.9g | Protein: 22.3g | Fat: 11.8g | Saturated Fat: 4.1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 44.4mg | Sodium: 622.8mg | Fiber: 11.5g | Sugar: 13.4g
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie
Method: Slow Cooker, Stovetop

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @chewoutloud on Instagram

For the love of chili:

  1. Lentil Black Bean Chili. Super hearty and delicious, with or without the meat.
Lentil black bean chili 3
  1. Slow Cooker Chili with Black Beans and Corn. Slow cookers are boss at making chili.
Slow Cooker Chili Black Beans and Corn

3. Turkey or Beef Chili with Sriracha. This chili recipe uses the ease of a slow cooker and the kick of Sriracha.

Hearty Chili with Sriracha
  1. White Chicken Chili. Throw it all in the slow cooker, without pre-cooking the chicken. This is the easiest and tastiest white chicken chili we’ve ever tasted (and we’ve tasted a whole lotta chili.)
White Chicken Chili 3

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Recipe Rating




90 comments

    • Meredith Godfrey
    • 5 stars

    Family favorite

    • Kristine Levenson
    • 5 stars

    Followed the recipe. I got chopped squash from Trader Joe’s. I topped it with a little shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of Greek yogurt, some green onions, cilantro and diced jalapeños. So yummy.

      • Amy Dong

      So glad you all loved it!

    • Jill Cooke
    • 5 stars

    Today will be my third time making this chili. I have never had a chili taste this wonderful, just the perfect blend of spices. I was thinking 7 garlic cloves! but no, you don’t even know they are in there, they just add to this wonderful concoction!!!!!! Only change i made, was i used pinto beans, cause they are my favorite….Perfect, thank you!

      • Amy Dong

      So glad you guys love this as much as we do! 🙂

    • Judy
    • 5 stars

    I have made this chili at least 10 times now. Everyone LOVES it. I have given the recipe to many. The spices are perfect and the squash adds such a nice flavor. Just for kicks, when I made it again yesterday, I roasted the squash in the oven before adding it to the chili, it was great! It’s my go to chili recipe. Ps, I was told that Costco has cut up organic butternut squash seasonally. I’ll have to check next time I go.

      • Amy Dong

      Aww, that makes me super happy to hear, Judy! 🙂

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