Pumpkin Chili | Soup Recipe & Video

Yes, really. Pumpkin is the taste-centerpiece for this terrific recipe, and when you taste it, you'll wonder why you thought this favorite of the fall season has usually been relegated to the pie plate. This recipe is versatile, filling, and can be made with canned or fresh pumpkin.

All the flavors of regular chili (with a few extras to give it a distinct stamp of its own) combine here to create a savory, yet spicy dish that is slightly laced with a bit of the flavors usually found in pumpkin pie. But have no fear - this is not your mama's pie simply poured into a bowl!

We see pumpkins in the fall, and immediately think of Halloween or Thanksgiving. These are more than just ornamental decorations for the table or front porch, though. After you've carved a Jack-o-Lantern, and made a few pies, what else can you do with that harvest of pumpkins you keep seeing at the grocery store?

Cold weather lasts from Fall through, well, forever it seems at times. If you're bundled up and avoiding ice and snow, think comfort food. Think chili! Think soup! Think stew!

This dish stands alone and can be the foundation of a filling and nutritious meal; just add some warm cornbread and maybe a tossed salad, and you're there.

Or, you can use it as the soup course for an elegant holiday dinner. Either way, you will love it, and you'll go back for seconds. Or thirds!

Here's what you'll need in your shopping cart:

• 1 Pound Ground Beef or Turkey
• 1/2 Large Onion (chopped)
• 1/2 Teaspoon Dried Red Pepper Flakes (or to taste)
• 1 Teaspoon Garlic (finely minced)
• 1 Green Pepper (chopped)
• 1 Red Bell Pepper (chopped)
• 1 Can Black Beans (15 oz) (optional)
• 1 Can Great Northern Beans (15 oz) (optional)
• I Can Kidney Beans (15 oz) (optional)
• 2 Cans Petite Diced Tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 1 Can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 1 Can Tomato Sauce (8 oz)
• 1 Can Tomato Sauce with Garlic & Onions (smallest size)
• 1 Can Pumpkin Puree (15 oz) (or use 1-1/2 cups pureed cooked pumpkin)
• 2 Teaspoons Chili Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 2 Teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1 Teaspoon Salt (to taste)

This dish is tasty, low-fat and full of nutrition! The recipe (with beans) makes about 10 servings at 233 calories per serving.

• Protein: 15.4g
• Carbohydrates: 29g
• Fat: 6.2g
• Cholesterol: 28.4mg (may vary with type of meat used)
• Dietary Fiber: 8.3g
• Sodium: 877mg

If you're using beans in the recipe, drain and rinse all three cans of beans and set aside (you can leave them in the cans after rinsing). If you eliminate the beans, it will be more 'meaty.' The recipe will serve fewer people without the beans, or you can add additional tomato or other veggies if you wish..

In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook and stir the beef or ground turkey until it crumbles and is brown (the pink is gone). Add the chopped onion, minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until the onion is translucent, then add the chopped green pepper and red bell pepper. Continue cooking for about five more minutes.

In a crock pot, combine the three cans of drained beans, and all other ingredients. Add salt to suit your tastes. Stir, and then add the cooked ground beef or turkey mixture.

Cook on low until chili is hot all the way through - about 1-2 hours.

Your house will smell delicious, and your dinner will taste even more delicious!

Cornbread is always a hit with any chili dish, and adding a green salad will round out the menu and make a complete meal of this hearty, one-pot dish.

Other bread accompaniments could include warm dinner rolls or pumpkin muffins (the chili is savory, so the muffins will complement the taste but add a sweet touch).

Serve with a side of fresh veggies such as baby carrot, celery sticks, strips of fresh peppers, green onion stalks or other seasonal selections that will add crunch to the meal and won't require additional cooking time.

Fresh fruit is also a great choice with this meal, since the chili is very filling. Or, you might want to make one of those pies we mentioned earlier after all!

When I first heard of this dish, I wasn't sure how it would taste or whether I would care for it. Now, after experiencing it, it's become one of those dining memories I savor and want to enjoy again and again!