Turkey Pumpkin Chili – Platings + Pairings

This easy Turkey Pumpkin Chili is deliciously rich & creamy. Made with ground turkey, pumpkin puree, pinto & kidney beans and your favorite chili spices. It will be on your table in 30-minutes! With options to make it on the stove top, in the slow cooker or in the Instant Pot.

When fall rolls around, I’m all about my favorite chili recipes – White Chicken Chili, Buffalo Chicken Chili, Spicy Beef & Beer Chili and Vegetarian Chili are always on repeat at our house. 

And today I’m here with a new chili recipe for you that just brings out the fall feels in every way – Turkey Pumpkin Chili. 

Pumpkin chili is very similar to traditional chili recipes, but a can of pumpkin puree is added. The pumpkin flavor won’t be super noticeable but it adds a silky texture, beautiful color and a boost of Vitamins A & C, potassium and fiber. This version adds in ground turkey, but it can also be made vegetarian. 

This recipe can be made on the stovetop, or in a crockpot or Instant Pot. On the stove, it will take under 30-minutes to make! 

Ingredients needed

• Ground Turkey – Or, swap in ground chicken, ground sausage or ground beef.
• Pumpkin Puree – This is 100% pumpkin that you’ll find in cans, not pumpkin pie filling.
• Pinto Beans & Black Beans
• Canned Tomatoes
• Onion
• Olive Oil
• Bell Pepper
• Spices – Chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne, salt and pepper.
• Chicken Broth – Or, swap in this slow cooker bone broth.

How to make it

• Saute the onion and bell pepper. 
• Add turkey and brown. 
• Stir in seasonings, broth, pumpkin, beans and tomatoes. 
• Bring to boil. 
• Simmer for 15 minutes. 
• Enjoy!

How to make it in the Instant Pot

• Turn instant pot to SAUTE. Once hot, cook onion and bell pepper. 
• Add turkey and brown. 
• Hit CANCEL and add the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
• Cook on MANUAL high pressure for 20 minutes. 
• Quick release the pressure and remove the lid.
• Serve. 

How to make it in the Slow Cooker 

• Saute onion and bell pepper in a large skillet. 
• Add turkey and brown. 
• Transfer to crockpot and stir in seasonings, broth, pumpkin, beans and tomatoes. 
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
• Serve. 

Recipe variations

Paleo Pumpkin Chili

• You can easily make this pumpkin chili recipe paleo by leaving out the beans and adding in an extra pound of ground turkey. 

Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili 

• If you’re vegan or vegetarian, you can make this pumpkin chili recipe vegetarian by leaving out the turkey, using vegetable broth, and adding in an extra can of your favorite beans. Or you can use vegetarian crumbles or add in extra veggies like sweet potato, spinach, corn, etc.  

More variations 

• Beans – Use any of your favorites. Black beans, pinto beans, cannelini beans, kidney beans are all delicious in this recipe. 
• Veggies – Want to add in more veggies? Corn, spinach, butternut squash, sweet potatoes are great options. (To cook the squash or potatoes in the soup, cube them and increase the simmer time to 30 minutes. Frozen corn or spinach can be stirred in at the last minute.)
• Beer – Instead of using chicken broth you can add in a light beer or even try pumpkin beer. 
• Spices – Have fun with your favorites. Try adding cocoa powder and cinnamon for a hint of sweetness. Add some smokiness with smoked paprika. For extra heat, add in more cayenne. 
• Protein – Feel free to swap out the ground turkey for ground beef or ground pork. Or, for a vegetarian version, leave out the meat and add in an extra can of beans or use “impossible” meat.

How to make ahead & store

• Refrigerator: This chili will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and its flavors will continue to develop over time, making it great for leftovers. Reheat it over low heat on the stove or in the microwave. 
• Freezer: If you have leftovers, this chili freezes perfectly.  I like to portion it into freezer bags in individual serving sizes and place them on a cookie sheet to freeze.  Once frozen, I stack them in the freezer making for an easy individual lunch!

Topping ideas

There are so many delicious ways to top your bowl! Here are some of my favorites:

• Shredded Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Fresh Cilantro
• Avocado
• Green Onions
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Radishes
• Onions
• Jalapenos
• Hot Sauce

What to serve with pumpkin chili

Wine pairings

• Zinfandel makes a perfect match with chili with its dark fruit aromas, hints of smokiness and just the right amount of tannins.

More pumpkin recipes

More chili recipes

More ground turkey recipes

Did you try this pumpkin chili recipe?

If you loved this turkey pumpkin chili I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a ⭐️star review⭐️! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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This post was originally published in 2020. It was updated in 2024 to add new photos and an instructional video. The pumpkin chili recipe remains the same. enjoy!