Ground Beef Pumpkin Chili
This Ground Beef Pumpkin Chili is a cozy pumpkin stew recipe made with ground beef, pumpkin purée, tomatoes, and simple chili spices, and it comes together in one pot without any fuss—so yes, it’s one of those easy weeknight meals you can make in no time.
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It’s an easy fall stew perfect for busy weeknights, family dinners, and game days. And I love serving this with warm cornbread or pairing it with tortilla chips (and it also goes really well with baked potato recipes or simple side salads if you want to make it a bigger spread).
If you want a lighter recipe than this, go with this pumpkin soup.
How to Make Pumpkin Chili
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe
Step-by-Step Guide
1. In a large pot over medium heat, brown ground beef with onion and garlic until beef is fully cooked. Drain excess grease if needed.
2. Stir in pumpkin purée, tomato sauce, and chili seasoning.
3. Bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Cover and cook for 30–35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Serve & Enjoy!
Important Recipe Notes
- Pumpkin flavor is very mild – it mainly adds richness, body, and a slight natural sweetness that balances the chili spices.
- For best texture, make sure to simmer the chili long enough so it thickens properly and the flavors blend well.
- If the chili gets too thick while cooking or reheating, just add a small splash of water or broth to loosen it up.
- You can easily adjust the spice level—add cayenne pepper, chili flakes, or jalapeños if you want more heat.
- This recipe tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop, so it’s great for meal prep.
- If using very lean ground beef, you may need a little oil when browning to prevent sticking and dryness.
- Don’t skip draining excess grease after browning the beef—it helps keep the chili from feeling heavy.
Ground Beef Pumpkin Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb 450 g ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup 240 g pumpkin purée
- 1 can 15 oz / 425 g tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp chili seasoning
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, brown ground beef with onion and garlic until beef is fully cooked. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in pumpkin purée, tomato sauce, and chili seasoning.
- Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cover and cook for 30–35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
