With a perfect flavor balance between the sweetness of the squash and the heat of the chili, this one-pot meal will please adults and children alike. To peel the butternut squash quickly and easily, use a sharp paring knife or a vegetable peeler.
To make this even healthier you can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey, ground chicken. Also avoid butter or sour cream as toppings for this recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground sirloin
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 14 ½ -ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 small butternut squash chopped into ½ -inch dice (about 3 ½ cups)
- 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ jalapeno, seeded and minced, optional
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus 6 sprigs for serving
- 3 scallions, white parts and 3 inches of the green, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup light sour cream
- ½ cup shredded low-fat Cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Sauté the beef, onion, bell pepper, and tomatoes in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring to break up the meat.
2. Drain the meat and vegetables in a colander and return to the pot.
3. Add the squash, 2 cups of water, tomato paste, oregano, cumin, chili powder, beans, and garlic. Bring to a simmer.
4. Continue to cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender. Add the jalapeno, if using, and the cilantro; simmer for 10 minutes. Add more water if needed.
5. Ladle the chili into soup bowls. Garnish each bowl with a cilantro sprig. Pass the scallions, sour cream, and cheese.
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Learn MoreNutritional Analysis:
(per serving)
Calories: 300 (18% calories from fat)
Total Fat: 6 g
Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
Protein: 26 g
Carbohydrates: 44 g
Dietary Fiber: 14 g
Cholesterol: 46 mg
Sodium: 518 mg
Potassium: 996 mg
Dieticians Note:
The chili is equally good made with white meat turkey, chicken or buffalo.
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Comments
2 Replies to “Beef Chili with Butternut Squash”
I love chili as much as the next guy,but a “bowel of chili” just does not sound like something too appetizing
Thank you for the correction. Late night.