Pumpkin & Hard Apple Cider Chili

Chili is one of the most comforting meals a family can eat during those cold Fall and Winter months. It warms you up and is very easy to make. This chili is spicy but sweet and has seasonal flavors, like pumpkin & apple cider to make it interesting. This is a great dish to make on a weekend and enjoy throughout the week.

Pumpkin and apple cider are two of the quintessential Fall flavors that everyone loves. This chili is quick to throw together and perfect for cold nights when all you want is a blanket, a movie, and a bowl of something to warm you up. I included directions for how to make this in a slow cooker too for those of you who want to make this on game day or a work day.

The alcohol cooks out after simmering, though if you want, you can substitute sparkling apple cider for the hard apple cider with great results. 

Pumpkin & Hard Apple Cider Chili
Serves 4-6

• 1 lb ground turkey, chicken, or lean beef
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-10 oz can ro*tel tomatoes
• 1-15 oz can tomato sauce
• 1-15 oz can chili tomatoes
• 1 cup corn
• 1-15 oz can pumpkin puree
• 1-12 oz bottle hard apple cider or beer
• about 3 tablespoons chili seasoning, or to taste (I used this recipe, please make sure not to add this entire seasoning recipe)
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup ketchup, optional (for sweetness)
• salt & pepper, to taste
• hot sauce, to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• toppings (plain greek yogurt, shredded cheddar cheese, raw onion...)

In a pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add meat and brown until cooked. Drain all but about 1/2 tablespoon fat (basically just a coating) and move meat onto a plate and set aside.

In the same pot, add onion, garlic, chili seasoning, cinnamon, and salt & pepper, to taste. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. 

Add ro*tel, tomato sauce, chili tomatoes, pumpkin, apple cider, and corn to the onion mixture. Stir to combine. Add drained meat and ketchup, if using. Stir to combine. Allow to simmer for a hour on low heat.

After simmered, add salt & pepper to taste.

Serve and top with desired toppings.

Slow Cooker Method

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Brown meat then drain any fat. Add to slow cooker

Stir in onion, garlic, tomato sauce, ro*tel, chili tomatoes, spices, pumpkin, apple cider, and corn to meat in slow cooker.

Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Stir in salt & pepper, to taste and ketchup, if using.

Serve with desired toppings