Pumpkin Chicken Chili
This hearty pumpkin chicken chili can be made with ground chicken or leftover shredded chicken in your slow cooker. It’s the most delicious savory dish made with Pumpkin Puree you’ll ever eat!
I love everything about Fall, the cooling temperatures, changing leaves, and especially the flavors of Fall. Chili has become a go to easy meal in our house after a long day at work. It’s also a great recipe and so easy to throw together before the game.
I love adding purees into my dishes to up the nutrition, and in this Crockpot Pumpkin Chicken Chili, I used some pumpkin puree which gives the chili a fantastic texture. But my secret ingredient for this chili is an amber lager. It’s totally optional, but it really helps develop the flavor.
If you love all things pumpkin, be sure to check out this collection of Delicious Pumpkin Recipes!
🧂 Ingredients
- olive oil
- Sweet onion
- Green bell pepper
- Jalapeno peppers
- Minced garlic
- Ground chicken (or shredded chicken)
- Amber lager beer (optional)
- Red kidney beans or white kidney beans
- Crushed tomatoes
- Tomato puree
- Store-bought can of pumpkin puree or Homemade Pumpkin Puree
- chicken or vegetable stock
- Coriander
- Cumin
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Chili powder
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Honey
This is meant to be a brief overview of the pumpkin chicken chili recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
🔪Instructions
Prepare this chili in the morning and let it simmer in the slow cooker all day for the best flavor.
- Heat the olive oil over low heat in a very large skillet and add the onion. Cook until they are clear and soft.
- Increase to medium heat and add in the green and jalapeño peppers and cooking a few minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook a minute more.
- Turn the heat up to high and add the ground chicken.
- Add seasonings and cook until the chicken is browned. (If you are using shredded chicken, skip this step and put the chicken right into the slow cooker.)
- Now pour in your amber lager. Turn the heat down a touch and let simmer for a few minutes, then stir in the honey. Cook 1 minute more.
- Meanwhile, add all your canned ingredients into your slow cooker and mix to combine.
- Then, stir in the chicken and amber lager mixture slowly.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours stirring about once an hour if possible.
Equipment
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- Measuring Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Dry Measuring Cups
- Santoku Knife
- Cutting Board
- Crockpot or Slow Cooker
- Skillet
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🍴 Serving Suggestions
There are so many yummy toppings that can be added to this slow cooker chili recipe! Here are some of my favorite chili toppings:
- finely diced red onion
- jalapeno slices
- shredded cheese
- sour cream
- corn chips or tortilla chips
- diced green onion
- Bacon Puff Pastry Twists – might sound crazy but try dipping one of these into your chili – YUM!
And serve my Cheesy Cornbread as a side – my favorite recipe for cornbread. You won’t regret it! Have extra time on your hands? Try these delicious bacon and cheddar scones.
⏲️ Storage
This pumpkin chicken chili will last about 4 days in the refrigerator if you keep it in an airtight container. You can reheat this on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Now you know I love my make-ahead freezer meals, so you can brown the chicken and throw everything together in a giant freezer bag – it will keep in the freezer for 4-6 months easily. When you want to serve it, just dump the whole frozen block into the crockpot and cook on low all day.
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions (and answers!) readers often ask about our pumpkin chili recipe.
To make this great recipe, you’ll need chicken, pumpkin puree, crushed tomato, beans, spices, and herbs as well as onion, garlic, and peppers. This recipe also uses beer, but it can be substituted for chicken or vegetable stock.
No, because pumpkin pie filling is seasoned with spices like cinnamon and allspice. It’s best to use pumpkin puree which is just pure pumpkin.
Since I know someone is going to ask, yes, you can substitute the pumpkin – but then it would be pumpkin chicken chili. 😂 However, if you insist, can use a variety of savory purees instead of pumpkin such as butternut squash, carrot, or even sweet potato.
This delicious chili will last around 4 days in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.
Usually, chili is thicker than a soup. This chili is nice and thick!
Honey complements spices well giving this chili (and many chili recipes!) a sweet and spicy flavor.
📖 Variations
One of the things I love about chili is how easy it is to throw together to suit your taste.
- Swap out the ground chicken for leftover shredded chicken. It also works great with ground beef or ground turkey.
- If you prefer not to use the amber lager, just use additional chicken stock instead.
- Black beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans, or white beans can be used instead of red kidney beans.
- If you don’t have pumpkin puree on hand, you can substitute with sweet potatoes, but then it wouldn’t be pumpkin chili, of course!
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or an extra teaspoon of chili powder for a spicier chili.
- The beer can be replaced with chicken or vegetable broth.
- To make creamy pumpkin chicken chili, stir in 1 cup of cream cheese just before serving.
Using Leftovers
If you want to mix it up, try turning your leftover pumpkin chicken chili into a new dish! Chili Stuffed Peppers with rice makes a great weeknight meal.
Corn Muffin Chili Cups and Chili Potato Skins are both fabulous appetizers or game-day snacks! You’ll also love our Chili Pot Pie Recipe.
Related: Recipes Using Chili
😋 Similar Recipes
We really like chili around here (can you tell??) and have a bunch of other recipes you should check out. Next time, try one of these delicious recipes:
- Leftover Turkey Chili Recipe – a delicious way to use up your Thanksgiving turkey.
- Use leftover chili to make these Chili Stuffed Peppers or Chili Potato Skins.
- Sweet and Spicy Chili Recipe with beef, beans, and lots of seasonings, this is one of my favorite easy weeknight dinners.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili is another family-friendly recipe that’s easy to make.
Next time, try one of these other slow cooker recipes:
📋 Pumpkin Chicken Chili Recipe
Not ready to make this hearty chili yet? Don’t forget to pin the recipe for later! When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures! And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Pumpkin Chicken Chili
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Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 large sweet onion
- 1 large green pepper
- 1-2 jalapeno peppers
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 lb ground chicken or 3 cups shredded chicken
- 12 oz amber lager beer optional
- 1 40 oz can of red kidney beans
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 28 oz can tomato puree
- ½ cup store-bought or Homemade Pumpkin Puree
- 16 oz chicken or vegetable stock
- ½ teaspoons coriander
- 1 teaspoons cumin
- ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoons black pepper
- 1-½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoons honey
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over low heat in a very large skillet and add the onion. Cook until they are clear and soft.2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 large sweet onion
- Increase to medium heat and add in the green and jalapeño peppers and cooking a few minutes.1 large green pepper, 1-2 jalapeno peppers
- Add the garlic and cook a minute more.1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Turn the heat up to high and add the chicken.1 lb ground chicken
- Add seasonings and cook until the chicken is browned. (If you are using shredded chicken, skip this step and put the chicken right into the slow cooker.)½ teaspoons coriander, 1 teaspoons cumin, ½ teaspoons salt, ½ teaspoons black pepper, 1-½ teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- Now pour in your amber lager. Turn the heat down a touch and let simmer for a few minutes, then stir in the honey. Cook 1 minute more.12 oz amber lager beer
- Meanwhile, add all your canned ingredients, stock, and honey into your slow cooker and mix to combine.1 40 oz can of red kidney beans, 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, 1 28 oz can tomato puree, ½ cup store-bought or Homemade Pumpkin Puree, 16 oz chicken or vegetable stock, 2 teaspoons honey
- Then, stir in the chicken and amber lager mixture slowly.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours stirring about once an hour if possible.
Equipment
Notes
- Prepare this chili in the morning and let it simmer in the slow cooker all day for the best flavor.
- Swap out the ground chicken for leftover shredded chicken. It also works great with ground beef or ground turkey.
- If you prefer not to use the amber lager, just use additional chicken stock instead.
- Black beans, pinto beans or can be used instead of red kidney beans.
- This pumpkin chicken chili will last about 4 days in the refrigerator if you keep it in an airtight container. You can reheat this on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- You can brown the chicken and throw everything together in a giant freezer bag – it will keep in the freezer for 4-6 months easily. When you want to serve it, just dump the whole frozen block into the crockpot and cook on low all day.
Nutrition
Meal Planning
Want to add this delicious recipe to your meal plan? Download our free printable meal plan here.
This recipe is included in Meal Plan 33 along with:
- broiled tilapia
- Salisbury steaks
- mini apple pie tarts
- sweet potato spinach quiche
- tarragon pesto flatbread
- chicken sausage soup
- tater tot breakfast casserole
… and more!
Be sure to check out all our meal plan ideas here.
Pumpkin in my chili – who knew?? I make my own puree so this is right up my alley of something new to try. ~ Chrystal
This sounds amazing! For meal planning purposes, how many servings should this yield?
Made your chili for a party I had last night. It was a huge hit! Many requests for recipe.
This look delicious! Have you ever tried it with ground turkey?
Yes, you can easily substitute ground turkey, beef or chicken. 🙂
Hi Laura! I have not tried it with ground turkey but you could absolutely substitute that.
Thanks for stopping by!
how much honey?
Hi!
Use 2 teaspoons of honey, but you may want to check the flavor. If the chili is too acidic, you can add another teaspoon or two to your preference.
Have you ever substituted the meat with a German sausage or bratwurst?
Hi Julie! I have not tried using those types of sausage before. If you try it, I’d like to know what you think. 🙂