Crock Pot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili

I wanted to put my recently-acquired crock pot to good use (a crock pot that is older than I am!) but was a little tired of eating my standard chili recipe. I consulted one of my favorite go-to recipe blogs, Skinny Taste, after having much success with another one of their crock pot soup recipes for chicken enchilada soup. I ended up deciding on another lean recipe, except this one was for Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili. I was excited about using pumpkin in this chili since it had been awhile since I had cooked with pumpkin. The result was a hearty soup with a mix of interesting nutty flavors. You probably won't even be able to tell there is pumpkin!

I made this on a Sunday for dinners throughout the week and then froze half of the portions to enjoy later on! It's the perfect recipe for preparing before the workday for a delicious meal after work! Enjoy!

All of your turkey chili ingredients

Start out by spraying a skillet and cooking about two pounds of turkey until it turns white in color. Then, add it to your crock pot.

Cook turkey in skillet until white

Next, chop up one small onion and three garlic cloves.

Chop one onion and three garlic cloves

Add 1/2 tsp of olive oil to the pan and saute the onions and garlic about 3-4 minutes.

Saute onions and garlic in olive oil

Add 1 tsp of cumin and saute another minute.

Add cumin and saute an additional minute.

To your crock pot, add the remaining ingredients, starting with two cans of rinsed and drained white beans.

Add your white beans

Then, one can of pumpkin puree (do not use pumpkin pie filling).

Add one can of pumpkin puree

Next, add your sauteed onion and garlic mixture.

Add garlic and onion mixture

Now, add one can of chopped green chilies (feel free to get spicy chilies if you want a little extra kick).

Add one can of chopped green chilies

The next ingredient is to add two cups of low sodium, fat free chicken broth.

Add 2 cups

Now, it's time to add your spices. To the crock pot add 1 tsp of chili powder, 1 tsp oregano and two bay leaves.

Add oregano, chili powder

Add two bay leaves

Cover your crock pot and allow to cook for 4 hours on high heat, or 8 hours on low heat.

When your chili is done cooking, add salt and pepper to taste. I felt mine needed a lot of seasoning so I think next time I will use more chili powder and perhaps some adobo sauce. Feel free to top your chili with chopped cilantro, cheddar cheese or sour cream if you so wish!

Crock Pot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili
Recipe via Skinny Taste

 Ingredients:

    cooking spray

    2 lb 99% lean ground turkey

    1/2 tsp olive oil

    1 small onion, chopped

    3 garlic cloves, minced

    1 tsp chili powder

    2 bay leaves

    2 tsp cumin

    1 tsp oregano

    2 (15 oz cans) of white beans, rinsed and drained

    15 oz can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

    4.5 oz canned chopped green chili

    2 cups low sodium, fat free chicken broth

    fat free sour cream for topping (optional)

    chopped cilantro for topping (optional)

    salt and pepper to taste