Last Updated on April 15, 2022 by Karen

This hearty Pumpkin Turkey Chili made in the slow cooker packs amazing flavors and is perfect for weeknight meals!

Fall is upon us with cooler weather, apple picking, Halloween, sweaters and boots, and of course hearty dishes that warm you from inside out. If you haven’t already, now is a good time to dust off the slow cooker and put it to good use, because…who doesn’t love a good one pot meal?

You don’t have to dirty up a bunch of dishes, your dinner comes together with minimal effort, and the best part is that you can just set it and forget it!

This pumpkin chili is comfort food at its best. It’s got a blend of warm spices along with pumpkin puree to give it subtle sweetness and creamy texture. There is also a touch of heat and smokiness from the chipotle chili powder which adds a whole new dimension of flavor.

The slow cooker really makes cooking during the week easy.

I like to prep the ingredients in the morning before I go to work, then turn it on and let it simmer all day slow and low – that way I’ll have a delicious meal ready for me when I get home in the evening.

This chili is hearty, satisfying, and something I can feel good eating thanks to the lighter turkey used in this recipe. If you prefer, you can also use ground beef or chicken.

I cook the ground turkey before adding it to the slow cooker to bring out the best flavors. If you’re short on time, feel free to skip this step and add everything right into the vessel.

Now that the weather is cooling down, I’m looking forward to whipping this up on the regular for weeknight dinners. It would be perfect to bring to a football party or potluck too.

Since it freezes well, you may want to double the recipe and save some for lunch the next day!

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Turkey Chili

This hearty Pumpkin Turkey Chili made in the slow cooker packs amazing flavors and is perfect for weeknight meals!

Servings 6 -8

Author Karen @ The Tasty Bite

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb lean ground turkey
1 medium onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
2 15 oz cans black beans rinsed and drained
1 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
2 cups chicken stock or water
1 cup frozen corn
2 tbsps chipotle chil powder
1/2 tbsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional toppings: sour cream shredded cheddar cheese, avocado, cilantro, green onions

Instructions

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up into small pieces until well done, about 12 minutes.
Transfer meat to a slow cooker and add the rest of the ingredients except for toppings. Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with desired toppings.