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Pumpkin Chili with Ground Turkey and Italian Sausage Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 146 reviews

This hearty Pumpkin Chili with Ground Turkey and Italian Sausage combines savory meats with the subtle sweetness of pumpkin, packed with a blend of spices and black beans. A comforting, protein-rich dish perfect for cozy dinners, topped with fresh avocado, cheese, and crunchy tortilla chips for added texture and flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Meats and Proteins

  • 2 slices thick cut bacon (halved lengthwise, then cut into ¼ inch slices widthwise)
  • 8 ounces mild or sweet Italian sausage (bulk or about 3 medium-size sausages)
  • 1 ½ pounds ground turkey (preferably dark ground turkey)

Vegetables and Legumes

  • 1 large sweet onion (diced small)
  • 1 large red bell pepper (diced small)
  • 2 medium celery stalks (diced small)
  • 1 medium jalapeno (seeds and ribs removed, finely diced)
  • 6 medium garlic cloves (finely minced)
  • 3 15-ounce cans black beans (rinsed and drained)

Pantry and Spices

  • 1 ½ tablespoons dry oregano
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon coriander
  • 1–2 teaspoons mild-medium chili powder (Mexene recommended)
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 28 ounces fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
  • 3 cups low sodium chicken broth (plus extra as needed)
  • 15 ounces can pumpkin puree (Libby’s preferred)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt (Morton’s preferred, more to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Extra virgin olive oil (to bring bacon fat up to 2 tablespoons total)

Toppings

  • Avocado
  • Cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Tortilla chips
  • Red onion
  • Cilantro

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients. Cut the bacon slices in half lengthwise, then cut into ¼-inch pieces widthwise. Dice the onion, red bell pepper, celery, and jalapeno finely. Mince the garlic cloves.
  2. Cook Bacon. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced bacon and cook for 8-10 minutes until crisp and golden. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl to drain.
  3. Sauté Vegetables. Add extra virgin olive oil to the bacon fat in the pot to make a total of 2 tablespoons of fat. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, celery, and jalapeno, stirring to combine. Cook for 4-5 minutes until softened.
  4. Bloom Spices. Add minced garlic, oregano, cumin, coriander, and chili powder. Stir constantly for 1 minute to release the flavors of the spices.
  5. Brown Italian Sausage. Push the veggies to the sides of the pot, add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until browned, stirring occasionally.
  6. Cook Ground Turkey. Stir the veggies and sausage together. Add the ground turkey and break it up into bite-sized pieces. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the turkey loses its pink color but does not brown.
  7. Add Tomato Paste. Stir in the tomato paste and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to integrate the paste well.
  8. Combine Remaining Ingredients. Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, drained black beans, pumpkin puree, 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well and bring to a boil.
  9. Simmer. Reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer and cook for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally and add a little more chicken broth if the chili becomes too thick. Adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed.
  10. Serve. Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with preferred toppings such as sour cream, diced avocado, sliced scallions, pickled red onions, cilantro, and crispy tortilla strips.

Notes

  • Use dark ground turkey for more flavor and moisture.
  • If you can’t find fire-roasted tomatoes, regular crushed tomatoes work fine but the smokiness will be milder.
  • Adjust chili powder to your preferred heat level; Mexene chili powder provides flavor without too much spice.
  • Adding pumpkin puree adds creaminess and subtle sweetness without altering the chili’s hearty character.
  • Simmering allows the flavors to meld and the chili to thicken naturally.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
  • Use low sodium chicken broth to control salt levels and adjust seasoning at the end.

Keywords: pumpkin chili, ground turkey chili, Italian sausage chili, healthy chili recipe, fall recipes, easy chili

Find it online: https://trendytasterecipes.com/pumpkin-chili-with-ground-turkey-and-italian-sausage-recipe/