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Slow Cooker Spiced Pumpkin Beef Chili with Black Beans and Cornbread
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Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • Skillet
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Dish

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions
 

  • Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat with the diced onion and minced garlic until the meat is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
  • Transfer the beef mixture to the slow cooker. Add the pumpkin puree, black beans, diced tomatoes, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  • About 30 minutes before serving, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and sugar. Whisk in the milk, egg, and melted butter until just combined.
  • Pour the cornbread batter into a greased 8-inch baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes until the top is golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Ladle the chili into bowls and serve with slices of warm cornbread on the side.

Notes

The pumpkin thickens the chili naturally, so skip extra thickeners. If the chili tastes too mild after cooking, stir in an extra half teaspoon of smoked paprika before serving. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for three days and reheat smoothly on the stove with a splash of broth to loosen the texture. The cornbread is best fresh but can be wrapped and warmed in the oven the next day.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Equipment: Slow Cooker, Skillet, Mixing Bowl, Baking Dish