Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili

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When it comes to comforting, nutritious, and downright delicious chili, my Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili recipe hits all the right notes. Packed with wholesome ingredients and bursting with flavor, it's the perfect dish to warm your soul on a cold night.

Overhead photo of Butternut Squash & Turkey Chili in a white bowl.

There’s something so comforting about curling up with a piping hot bowl of chili on a cold day. Whether you’re making dinner for your family or feeding a crowd on game night, a hearty bowl of chili is always sure to be a hit!

My butternut squash and turkey chili with black beans takes the traditional flavors of chili but kicks it up a notch in terms of color, flavor, and nutrition!

I love eating butternut squash in dishes like soup, salad or pasta. I also love roasting it in my air fryer- it's so easy. The sweetness of butternut squash also works perfectly to balance out the smoky and spicy flavors in this delicious and hearty ground turkey and black bean chili!

With its vibrant colors and heartwarming flavors, this butternut squash and turkey chili is a delightful twist on traditional chili recipes. It's not only packed with flavor, it's also a nutritional powerhouse, loaded with vitamins and fiber.

So, whip up a batch, grab your favorite toppings, and savor every spoonful of this delicious and healthy chili.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Dish!
Doctor's Tips:
Ingredients
How To Make Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili With Black Beans
Chef's Tips
How To Serve This Dish
Recipe FAQs
More Comfort Food
Recipe
Reviews

Why You'll Love This Dish!

So tasty- a steaming bowl of chili is the ultimate cold-weather comfort food!
It's easy- this butternut squash and turkey chili is a one-pot dish that's a breeze to prepare
Healthy- packed with lean ground turkey, black beans, and veggies like butternut squash and bell peppers, it's a hearty and nutritious choice
Feeds a crowd- a fun dish to serve at a party with a variety of toppings
Versatile- adjust the ingredients and spice level to suit your taste
Stores well- make a large batch of this turkey and butternut squash chili and store it in the fridge or freezer. Leftovers are even better the next day!

Doctor's Tips:

The combination of lean protein, fiber-rich beans, and nutrient-packed vegetables makes this butternut squash and turkey chili and well-rounded and satisfying meal.
Butternut squash is packed with nutrients! It's a rich source of fiber and several vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, and vitamin C as well as potassium and magnesium.
Its rich orange color means it is packed in beta carotene, which gets converted to Vitamin A in the body. One cup of cubed squash has 457% of the recommended daily allowance!
Vitamin A is important for vision, immune health, growth and reproduction. Read my post about the nutritional benefits of butternut squash.
One serving of this chili has 12 grams of fiber. Fiber is a crucial component of a balanced diet as it promotes digestive health, helps control blood sugar levels, and supports weight management.
Most of us fall short of meeting our daily fiber requirements. Dishes like this turkey and butternut squash chili can help you meet those goals in a delicious way. Serve it on a bed of brown rice to add even more fiber.
Use "reduced sodium," "low sodium" or "no salt added" black beans and chicken broth to control the sodium in this butternut squash and black bean chili. Be sure to drain the beans and rinse them under running water. This can reduce the amount of sodium by more than 40%!

Ingredients

Ingredient notes and substitutions (see recipe card at the end of the post for full ingredient amounts):

Bell pepper- I like to use red bell pepper but you can use different color peppers like yellow or green bell pepper
Chipotles in adobo- these are canned, smoked jalapeño peppers and they add a delicious smoky heat to dishes. Adjust the amount depending your desired spice level. I would recommend buying a can for this recipe but if you don’t have them, you can substitute 2-3 teaspoons of chili powder.
Dried spices- I use a combination of cumin, oregano, and allspice (allspice is optional but adds a nice flavor)
Ground turkey- I use 93% lean ground turkey; you can substitute other ground meat like lean ground beef or chicken
Butternut squash- you can cut up your own or buy pre-cut squash from the grocery store to save time
Black beans- I use reduced sodium black beans but you can use other types of beans like pinto beans or kidney beans
Canned diced tomatoes- I like to use fire roasted tomatoes for extra smokey flavor
Chicken broth- I use reduced sodium chicken broth so that I can control the amount of salt in the dish
Toppings- I like to put out a selection of toppings like Greek yogurt or sour cream, scallions, cilantro, shredded cheese, diced avocado, and diced tomato

How To Make Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili With Black Beans

Steps for making Butternut Squash & Turkey Chili

See recipe card at end of post for full recipe details and instructions.

Step 1- Sauté onion, bell peppers, and garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook until browned.
Step 2- Stir in the chipotles, dried spices, butternut squash, beans, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
Step 3- Cover the pot and simmer the chili for 15 minutes. Then, uncover the pot and simmer another 15 minutes until it thickens and the squash is cooked through. Stir in the cilantro.
Step 4- Serve butternut squash and ground turkey chili in bowls. Top with desired toppings.

Step 5 for making Butternut Squash & Turkey Chili

Chef's Tips

You can buy pre-cut butternut squash from the grocery store to save time rather than peeling and cutting up a whole squash.
Use "reduced sodium," "low sodium" or "no salt added" black beans and chicken broth to control the sodium in this butternut squash and black bean chili. Be sure to drain the beans and rinse them under running water to reduce the sodium even more.
Use canned fire roasted tomatoes to add extra smokiness to the chili.
I love the smoky flavor of chipotles in adobo, however if you don't have them, you can substitute dried chili powder.
You can easily make this a vegetarian chili by leaving out the ground turkey and substituting vegetable broth for chicken broth. You can add other ingredients to the chili like leafy greens, chickpeas or lentils.

How To Serve This Dish

If you’re serving this butternut squash turkey and black bean chili for a crowd, I would suggest setting out a toppings bar with lot of yummy toppings

Set out bowls of Greek yogurt or sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, avocado slices, diced tomatoes, cilantro leaves, sliced scallions, and hot sauce. Then everyone can top their chili with their own favorite ingredients!

You can also serve tortilla chips on the side for scooping up the chili. Serve some of my game day guacamole or chipotle corn salsa with it.

You can also serve this butternut squash and ground turkey chili with a salad or some crusty bread on the side. If you're watching your carb intake, try my low carb keto cauliflower cheesy bread, which is always a crowd pleaser.

This hearty chili is also delicious on top of a bed of brown rice or even pasta.

Looking for more Game Day recipes? Check out my Super Bowl Recipe Round Up.

Butternut Squash & Turkey Chili in a white bowl with cheese and scallions in the background

Recipe FAQs

How do you store butternut squash chili with ground turkey?

You can store this chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can be frozen in a freezer-safe air-tight container or zip-top bag for up to 3 months. You can reheat it in a pot on the stove on medium-low heat until heated through.

Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can make this chili in a slow cooker. Follow the same steps up until you brown the turkey. Then, add all the remaining ingredients and cook on low for about 6 hours until the squash is cooked through.

Can you make this butternut squash and black bean chili vegetarian?

Yes, you can make this dish vegetarian by simply leaving out the ground turkey. You can make the dish even heartier by adding other ingredients like leafy greens, chickpeas or lentils.