Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili is the perfect gluten free fall recipe combining tons of spices and flavor for a delicious dinner, requiring only 15 minutes of prep!

Yellow bowl filled with Pumpkin Chili garnished with melted cheese and cilantro.

When the weather begins to change, it can only mean one thing… cozy recipes filled with classic fall flavors! Chili is an excellent, easy meal to make in the slow cooker. It’s healthy, filling, and absolutely delicious!

It’s also easy to customize to create a variety of flavors. This recipe for Pumpkin Chili captures the feel of fall just perfectly! Prepare it in the morning for an easy weeknight meal, include it in your game day spread, or get festive and serve at a pumpkin carving party!

Pumpkin Chili Ingredients on a wooden cutting board.

Ingredients you’ll need

  • Ground beef – ground turkey or chicken can also be used, if you prefer!
  • Red onion
  • Green bell pepper
  • Garlic
  • Canned kidney beans
  • Canned diced tomatoes
  • Tomato sauce
  • Canned diced green chilies – easily found in the Hispanic section of most American grocery stores.
  • Pumpkin puree – make sure you pick up a can that says 100% pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling, or your chili will be very sweet!
  • Jalapeños
  • Chili powder
  • Crushed red pepper
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Allspice
  • Ginger
  • Cumin
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Olive Oil

Step by step instructions

Sauté the veggies. Pour the olive oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and green bell pepper, sauté for 4-5 minutes, then add the garlic and sauté for an additional minute.

onions and peppers cooking in a skillet.

Cook the meat. Add the ground beef and cook through.

ground beef cooking in a skillet

Load the slow cooker. While the meat is cooking, add the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, green chilies, pumpkin puree & jalapeños to a slow cooker.

slow cooker filled with tomatoes, pumpkin purée, jalapeños, chilies, and kidney beans.

Add the cooked ground beef.

Slow cooker loaded with tomatoes, beans, pumpkin purée, and cooked ground beef.

Add the seasonings. Toss in the chili powder, crushed red pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cumin, salt & sugar.

Seasonings atop chili in a slow cooker.

Combine well. Stir until everything is incorporated.

Pumpkin Chili in a slow cooker.

Cook. Set the slow cooker to high for 3-4 hours, or low for 6-8 hours.

Two yellow bowls filled with Pumpkin Chili garnished with melted cheese and cilantro on a wooden surface surrounded by jalapeños, cilantro, and pumpkins.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the best secret ingredient for chili? Cinnamon is a popular secret ingredient for chili. Other secret ingredients include buffalo sauce, beer or wine, liquid smoke, vinegar, coffee, chocolate, and Worcestershire sauce. The secret to this chili is obviously the creamy addition of pumpkin!
  • How do you make chili flavorful? Use a blend of spices instead of simply adding chili powder. Also, get creative and include multiple veggies in addition to the tomatoes and beans.
  • Is chili better the longer it cooks? Yes, the flavors only get better with time! Slow cookers are a great way to allow the flavors to meld without overcooking the meat.
Yellow bowl filled with Pumpkin Chili garnished with melted cheese, avocado, and cilantro.

What to serve with it

Load this chili up with your choice of toppings. I highly recommend any of the following:

  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Cilantro
  • Avocado
  • Diced green onions
  • Sliced jalapeños
  • Sour cream

Serve along with any of these tasty recipes:

Yellow bowl filled with Pumpkin Chili garnished with melted cheese and cilantro.

More chili recipes to try

Cozy up with a different chili each week! Make sure to check out each of these recipes.

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili is the perfect gluten free fall recipe combining tons of spices and flavor for a delicious dinner, great for the autumn months.
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Pumpkin Chili

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili is the perfect gluten free fall recipe combining tons of spices and flavor for a delicious dinner, great for the autumn months.

Ingredients

Optional Toppings

Instructions

  • Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the onion and green bell pepper, saute 4-5 minutes, then add the garlic and saute for an additional minute.
  • Add the ground beef and cook through.
  • While the meat is cooking, add the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, green chilies, pumpkin puree & jalapeños to a slow cooker.
  • Add the ground beef.
  • Add the chili powder, crushed red pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cumin, salt & sugar.
  • Combine well.
  • Cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low 6-8 hours.
  • Serve with your choice of toppings.

Notes

Vegetarian Option: Substitute ground beef with meatless crumbles or soy chorizo.
Nutritional information provided does not include optional toppings.

Nutrition Facts

Serving 4gCalories 407kcal (20%)Carbohydrates 40g (13%)Protein 23g (46%)Fat 18g (28%)Saturated Fat 6g (30%)Cholesterol 53mg (18%)Sodium 1190mg (50%)Potassium 1371mg (39%)Fiber 11g (44%)Sugar 14g (16%)Vitamin A 12185mg (244%)Vitamin C 49.3mg (60%)Calcium 115mg (12%)Iron 7.3mg (41%)
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