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Butternut Squash Turkey Chili

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This hearty butternut squash turkey chili has a short ingredient list and is great healthy comfort food on a cold day!Pot of butternut squash turkey chili

One of my favorite meals to make is a big pot of homemade soup or chili. It’s so easy and cozy. I always find myself craving homemade soup or chili on cold, windy days like today. 

So, for lunch, I had a bowl of this butternut squash turkey chili with one of these flourless pumpkin muffins. Chili + a pumpkin muffin turned out to be like an even better version of chili with cornbread!

A bowl of Butternut Squash Turkey Chili Ingredients for this Butternut Squash Turkey Chili

Just broth, cooking oil (I usually use avocado oil), fire roasted tomatoes, black beans, chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, an onion, bell pepper, ground turkey, and butternut squash!Butternut Squash Turkey Chili Ingredients

When I’m looking for time-saving shortcuts, I buy pre-chopped butternut squash ($4 for 2 pounds at Harris Teeter if you have one of those grocery stores near you!), and this butternut squash chili becomes even quicker to make.

I also used my favorite chili ingredient, which is canned fire-roasted crushed tomatoes. They add a ton of flavor and spice all on their own, and I always keep some in my pantry to use in chili, soup, or pasta sauce.

Step-by-Step

I adapted one of my other favorite recipes, this black bean, lentil, & sweet potato vegetarian chili, to make this butternut squash turkey chili, and it’s pretty simple.

Just sauté the ground turkey, veggies, and spices…

How to make butternut squash turkey chili

Add the fire-roasted tomatoes, chopped butternut squash, and broth and bring to a boil…

Making Butternut Squash Turkey Chili

And simmer until the butternut squash is soft, about 20 minutes.

I often end up increasing the amount of veggies or decreasing the amount of broth called for in other chili or soup recipes. So, I made sure that this butternut squash chili is super thick and hearty, which I love.

A pot of Butternut Squash Turkey Chili with cilantroMake-Ahead Tip

Since I’m usually cooking for one, I often freeze leftover soup or chili in individual portions in mason jars. They freeze really well and are still delicious after being defrosted and reheated. Both pint mason jars and pint-and-a-half mason jars are good sizes for individual servings.

I usually just move a jar from the freezer to the fridge a day or two in advance to defrost. Then, I’ll pack the mason jar itself in my lunchbox for a super easy meal that requires no prep work.

Having “homemade frozen meals” on hand for especially busy school weeks is a lifesaver for helping me eat healthy without actually having to cook anything!

Mason jar of butternut squash chili

I topped my butternut squash turkey chili with just fresh cilantro, but it’d also be great with shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, or avocado slices. Hope you enjoy!

A bowl of Butternut Squash Turkey Chili with cilantro

If you try out this butternut squash turkey chili, let me know in a comment (with a star rating!) or take a picture and tag me @livbane on Instagram! I’d love to see! 

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4.84 from 25 votes

Butternut Squash Turkey Chili

This hearty butternut squash turkey chili has a short ingredient list and is great healthy comfort food on a cold day!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 287kcal
Author: Liv

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp. cooking oil
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 sweet bell pepper, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 28 oz. can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes*
  • 2 1/2 cups veggie broth, chicken broth, or water
  • 2 pounds chopped butternut squash (weighed after peeling- approx. one unpeeled 2.5 lb butternut squash)**
  • 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • Optional toppings: fresh cilantro, sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, sliced avocado

Instructions

  • Heat oil on medium-low heat. Add ground turkey, chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic and sauté for 7-10 minutes, until ground turkey is cooked through.
  • Add spices (chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt), fire roasted tomatoes, broth/water, and chopped butternut squash. Turn heat up to high until broth comes to a boil. Once liquid has reached a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes, until butternut squash is soft. Add black beans.
  • Use an immersion blender to lightly puree some of the chili (or run a potato masher through the chili and roughly mash about half of the chili) to thicken it up. Top with fresh cilantro, sour cream or Greek yogurt, cheese, avocado, and any of your other favorite chili toppings.

Notes

*If you don't have fire-roasted tomatoes, you can substitute a can of regular crushed tomatoes and add an additional 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper.
**To substitute chopped sweet potato for the butternut squash, add 10-15 minutes to the total stovetop simmer time.
Turn this into a slow-cooker recipe at Step 2 by cooking for 3-4 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 6g | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 10g

A Healthy Liv original recipe

 Originally published February 2017; photos & recipe updated January 2020.

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Comments

  6. Byron Eiseman says

    Nothing better than a hardy soup on a cold day, especially a soup that is so good for you. This recipe allows you to use left-over turkey from Christmas, which is an added bonus.

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  46. Mark Smith says

    This butternut squash turkey chili recipe sounds like a perfect mix of comfort, nutrition, and convenience, especially for cold days when a hearty homemade meal feels most satisfying. The use of simple ingredients, fire-roasted tomatoes, and pre-chopped squash makes it both flavorful and time-efficient, while the make-ahead freezing tip is great for busy schedules. Content like this highlights how practical lifestyle choices—whether cooking or managing studies—can save time and reduce stress. Similarly, students handling demanding coursework often explore law assignment help to stay organized and maintain quality academic performance alongside their daily responsibilities.

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