Butternut Squash Chili Recipe (2024)

Butternut Squash Chili recipe made with ground beef or turkey, butternut squash, vegetables, and spices makes a hearty and delicious chili recipe! Recipe includes changes for Paleo, Whole 30 and Vegetarian needs. Also includes make ahead and freezer instructions!

Butternut Squash Chili Recipe (1)

This is without a doubt my absolute favorite time of the year. I spend as much time outside as I possibly can since we’re pastthe hot and humid stage and right smack dab in the middle of mild temperatures and gorgeous days. It is the perfect time of year!

It is also the perfect time of the year for making chilis, soups, stews and comforting dishes and this hearty Butternut Squash Chili recipe definitely doesn’t disappoint.

Butternut Squash Chili Recipe

Butternut Squash Chili Recipe (2)

It is loaded with layered flavors that mingle together to make a chili recipe that is comforting and satisfying without having to simmer all day. By sautéing the spices along with onion and garlic, they release even more flavor into this chili recipe. The addition of butternut squash then makes this chili recipe even more filling and adds a hint of sweetness that is perfectly balanced in this spicy chili. I also love that it adds so much Vitamin A, C and fiber to this dish!

If you have special dietary concerns, you can easily modify this chili recipe to fit your needs. If you are following a paleo, Whole 30, or similar lifestyle, you would simply omit the beans included in this chili. If you are vegetarian, simply omit the ground beef or turkey and swap the chicken stock for vegetable broth instead.

Butternut Squash Chili Recipe (3)

Here’s my Butternut Squash Chili Recipe. Yay for fall!

Butternut Squash Chili Recipe (4)

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Butternut Squash Chili Recipe

Butternut Squash Chili Recipe – Butternut Squash Chili recipe made with ground beef or turkey, butternut squash, vegetables, and spices makes a hearty and delicious chili recipe!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 2 1/2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock or broth
  • 2 cups cooked pinto beans , or 2 (14.5 ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed into ½ inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional toppings: diced avocado, sour cream, or red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Drizzle olive oil into a Dutch oven set over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano and saute the onions until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the ground beef or turkey and cook until browned. Drain away any excess drippings and stir in tomato paste, bell pepper, tomato sauce, chicken stock, pinto beans, butternut squash, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until the chili is thickened and the butternut squash is tender, but not falling apart, about 20 minutes.

Notes

Special Dietary Changes:
If you have special dietary concerns, you can easily modify this chili recipe to fit your needs. If you are following a paleo,Whole 30, or similar lifestyle, you would simply omit the beans included in this chili and not include the optional sour cream topping. If you are vegetarian, simply omit the ground beef or turkey and swap the chicken stock for vegetable broth instead and omit the optional sour cream topping.
Make-Ahead:
This chili recipe is a great make-ahead dish! Reduce the cooking time and stop cooking before the butternut squash reaches tenderness. Allow to cool and store in the refrigerator. To serve, reheat over medium heat, cooking until the butternut squash is tender. This prevents the butternut squash from overcooking or becoming mushy.
Freezer Friendly:
Prepare the chili as directed, stopping the cooking time before the butternut squash becomes tender. Allow to cool completely and store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat over medium heat in a Dutch oven or large saucepan until heated throughout and the butternut squash is tender.

Nutrition

Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 1255mg | Potassium: 1406mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 14421IU | Vitamin C: 69mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Butternut Squash Chili Recipe (5)

Categorized as:All Recipes, Beef Recipes, By Cooking Style, By Special Diets, Cooking, Dinner Recipes, Egg-Free Recipes, Freezer Friendly Recipes, Game Day Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, Grain-Free Recipes, Ground Beef Recipes, Halloween Recipes, Make-ahead Recipes, One Dish Meal Recipes, Recipes, , Soup and Stew Recipes, Sugar-Free Recipes

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Butternut Squash Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does butternut squash do for the gut? ›

Butternut squash contains considerable amounts of fiber, which can help you keep a healthy weight and regulate bowel movements. It's known to help prevent colorectal cancer while the beta-carotene in butternut squash can also improve eye health.

Is butternut squash healthy for weight loss? ›

One cup of cooked butternut squash has only 83 calories and provides 7 grams of filling fiber — making it an excellent choice to lose excess weight and body fat. It contains both insoluble and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber has been associated with fat loss and decreased appetite.

Is butternut squash good for diabetics? ›

Butternut squash contains a type of fiber that's not digestible. If you have diabetes, it can help keep your blood sugar from rising after eating. Butternut squash also has a low glycemic index, which means that its carbs are digested more slowly. This also helps keep blood sugar from rising.

Can I eat butternut squash every day? ›

Butternut squash is a healthful option, but its high potassium content may mean that some people should consume it in moderation. Beta-blockers are a type of medication commonly prescribed for people with heart disease. These can cause potassium levels to increase in the blood.

Is butternut squash inflammatory? ›

Nutritional Benefits of Butternut Squash

It contains zeaxanthin and lutein, two powerful antioxidants that support vision. Butternut Squash's high antioxidant content may have anti-inflammatory benefits, helping to reduce your risk of inflammation-related disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.

Is butternut squash a carb or protein? ›

Summary. Butternut squash is a low-fat, lower-calorie source of carbohydrates with plenty of filling fiber. Butternut squash is an excellent source of vitamin A and C and contains thiamin, niacin, and folate.

What is the number one vegetable to lower blood sugar? ›

Broccoli contains fiber and a nutrient called sulforaphane, which may help keep your blood sugar levels stable. Novella Lui, RD, M.H.Sc. Novella Lui, RD, M.H.Sc.

Is butternut squash healthier than sweet potatoes? ›

To begin with, the butternut squash beats the sweet potato with fewer calories, carbs and sugar per serving. Moreover, it is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins B6 and E. On the other hand, the sweet potato, however, provides more fiber and protein.

What is the healthiest squash to eat? ›

1. Butternut Squash. One of the most popular varieties of squash, it can be use in so many ways. It's one of the most rich in Vitamin A, boasting about 100% of the recommended daily value per cup, in the antioxidant form of beta-carotene.

When should you not eat butternut squash? ›

Select butternut squash with a firm, hard rind and a smooth, buttery or beige color. Avoid squash with soft spots, pits, blemishes or mold, or squash with soft rinds, which aren't ripe.

Is butternut squash better than potato? ›

Exhibit B: While both are high in B vitamins, the squash is higher in folate, a must in the diets future and soon-to-be mamas, as well as mega-antioxidant vitamin E, and bone-building calcium. However, the squash must concede when it comes to fiber content, with the sweet potato taking first place (4 grams vs.

Is butternut squash OK for kidneys? ›

Squash can be a good choice for many peritoneal and home hemodialysis patients when you may need to eat more potassium rich foods. Eating squash will not have an effect on forming kidney stones. The National Kidney Foundation wishes to thank its Council on Renal Nutrition (CRN) for the development of this fact sheet.

Is butternut squash a natural laxative? ›

Butternut is a type of laxative that might also decrease potassium in the body. Taking butternut along with some medications for inflammation might decrease potassium in the body too much.

What does squash do to your stomach? ›

Squash is also high in fiber, which aids in digestion. Additionally, squash is a good source of: Magnesium.

Is butternut squash a prebiotic? ›

Winter squash is an excellent food source for what is called a prebiotic. Prebiotics are generally foods that feed our gut bacteria and keep them happy and in balance. Prebiotics are beneficial foods high in fiber like squash, that our gut bacteria like to feed on.

Is butternut squash good for IBS? ›

In conclusion, butternut squash is not only a tasty and versatile vegetable, but it is also an excellent choice for individuals with IBS. Its ease of digestibility, nutritional value, and potential to manage IBS symptoms make it a fantastic addition to any IBS-friendly diet.

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