Description
Here’s a structured recipe for Butternut Squash Chili based on your provided ingredients and instructions. The steps are numbered for ease of following.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ cup chopped green peppers
- ½ cup chopped red peppers
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 30 oz canned chili beans (drained, 2 cans of 15 oz each)
- 15 oz canned corn (or fresh/frozen corn)
- 15 oz canned diced tomatoes and chilis (drained)
- ½ cup broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
- 4 cups butternut squash (peeled, seeded, and chopped into ½ to 1-inch cubes)
- 6 oz canned tomato paste
Homemade Chili Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon red cayenne pepper (optional for extra heat)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1️⃣ Sauté the vegetables:
Heat a Dutch oven or large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, chopped onions, green peppers, and red peppers. Sauté for a few minutes until the vegetables soften.
2️⃣ Add garlic and beef:
Stir in the minced garlic, and then add the ground beef. Use a meat chopper or spatula to break up the beef as it cooks. Season the beef with the homemade chili seasoning and cook for 5-6 minutes until fully browned. If needed, drain excess fat.
3️⃣ Add remaining ingredients:
Pour in the broth, beans, corn, diced tomatoes with chilis, tomato paste, and cubed butternut squash. Stir everything together to combine.
4️⃣ Simmer:
Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot. Let the chili simmer for 35-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the butternut squash becomes tender.
Note: If you are using pre-cooked roasted squash, reduce the simmer time to 15-20 minutes.
5️⃣ Cool and serve:
Once the chili has finished cooking, allow it to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, don’t skip the cayenne pepper or consider adding extra chili powder.
- This chili can easily be made vegetarian by swapping the ground beef for plant-based crumbles or leaving it out altogether.