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Posted: 10/05/2023

Butternut Squash Chili with Beef

Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes 0 Reviews Jump to Recipe

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Butternut squash, black beans, and ground beef star in this flavor packed Butternut Squash Chili with Beef. This isn’t your typical chili!

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Give me butternut squash all fall and winter long! Want some more butternut squash recipes? Try this Butternut Squash Pasta or this Stuffed Butternut Squash.

Bowl of butternut squash chili with beef on a red cloth.

There is something about the changing of the seasons that makes me want to make chili weekly.

It may be the cooling weather. It may be the talk of football games.

And it may be because I eagerly await fall every year so that I can make this Butternut Squash Chili!

As much as I love a traditional bowl of chili, there is just something about this version with butternut squash that always gets me. It’s a little bit different, but still super comforting.

Serve it up with some homemade cornbread and you have the perfect chili to serve all fall and winter!

Bowl of chili made with butternut squash, beans, and ground beef.

Ingredients

Spices: I use a combination of chili powder, cumin, and oregano. It’s also really good with a little bit of cinnamon, if you are into that!
Oil: I like to use olive oil, but you could use a neutral cooking oil, as well.
Onion: The onion gives lots of flavor. Go for a white or a yellow onion.
Pepper: I usually add a green bell pepper, but you can use any color. You can even leave it out, but I love the flavor and texture it brings.
Ground Beef: I like to opt for a leaner ground beef so that I don’t have to worry about draining the fat.
Tomato Paste: This will give the chili some deep flavor.
Hot Sauce: Any hot sauce that you like will work here. If you want the chili on the mild end, you can add less, or add more for more spice.
Broth: I always use beef broth, but did say that it was also delicious with chicken broth.
Beans: My preference is black beans, but you can change this up and use pinto or another bean of your choice.
Tomatoes: You need one can of diced tomatoes. No need to drain them!
Cornmeal: The cornmeal is the secret ingredient to thicken up the chili. It doesn’t add a lot of flavor, but it does contribute to the texture.
Butternut Squash: The star of the show! You need one medium sized squash. Peel it and cube it into bite sized pieces.

How to Make Butternut Squash Chili

Combine the spices, then add half of them to hot oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot. Cook for for 30 seconds to toast the spices, then add the onion and pepper and cook until soft.
Add in the ground beef and the remainder of the spices. Cook until the beef is cooked through.
Add in the tomato paste and cook it until it is fragrant. (This keeps it from tasting raw.) Add in the hot sauce, 2 cups of broth, the beans, the tomatoes, and the cornmeal. Add in the butternut squash, then if needed, more. of the broth.
Cover the pot and cook for 45 minutes. Remove the lid and let the chili cook for another 15 minutes. Check the squash, and continue to cook if it is not soft yet. Taste and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Tips and Tricks

I know that butternut squash is kind of a pain to cut up. I like to use a sharp knife, and if the skin is thin enough, a vegetable peeler. If the skin is thick, though, you’ll need to use a knife.

You can often find pre-cut butternut squash at the grocery store. It will be more expensive, and you’ll want to make sure it’s not dried out, but it’s a time saver if you don’t want to cut the squash yourself.

This chili is great as leftovers. Store in the refrigerator in a covered container. Reheat on the stove top. You can add in more broth to thin it out, if needed.

This chili will also freeze well.

Bowl of butternut squash chili with ground beef topped with sour cream.

More Chili Recipes

Crock Pot Chili
Flatlander Chili
White Chicken Chili
Pumpkin Chili
Ground Turkey Chili

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