Paleo Pumpkin Chili (AIP, Whole30)
This paleo pumpkin chili is the perfect warm and cozy dish for fall! It’s whole30 compliant and is easy to make AIP and nightshade free.
Paleo Pumpkin Chili
When I first discovered my nightshade intolerance, I wondered how in the world I would ever have chili again. Chili is such a hearty and flavorful comfort food and one that I didn’t want to accept never eating again. But, how do you have chili without tomatoes, red spices, cheese, and beans? Aren’t those the main ingredients? This paleo pumpkin chili is AIP, whole30, and has all of the cozy fall flavors you love without the nightshades, dairy, or legumes!
I didn’t believe it until I tried it myself, but pumpkin is amazing in chili. We’ve turned pumpkin recipes into an ultra sweet and sugary treats, but really pumpkin is still a vegetable and tastes great in savory recipes. What’s great about pumpkin chili is that it’s not expected to be super spicy and full of tomatoes, which makes it a natural choice for nightshade free, AIP chili. But even if you have non-AIP or paleo family in your house, I promise that they’ll still love this chili! My husband is a spice and cheese enthusiast and he still loved how cozy, seasonal and hearty this chili was. And of course, you can always layer on ingredients for those who tolerate them.
The Ingredients for Paleo Pumpkin Chili
- Ground beef: I’m a big fan of cooking with ground beef because it’s so cost-effective and easy to use. However, you can also use ground turkey if you prefer.
- Yellow onion, Cilantro, Garlic cloves, Carrot, Sweet potato: These help to flavor the chili and add some more substance. The carrots and sweet potato add more nutrients and flavor to the chili, and make it so you don’t even miss the beans!
- Pumpkin puree: I used canned pumpkin puree, but you can also use fresh pumpkin.
- Diced tomatoes/Nomato sauce for AIP: You can use a can of diced tomatoes if you tolerate them, but I used my nightshade free “tomato” sauce to make it nightshade free and AIP.
- Beef broth
- Oregano & Sea salt
- Black pepper & Chili powder: Omit for AIP!
- Fresh Cilantro, Avocado, Dairy-free sour cream: In my opinion, no chili is complete without avocado. I also used coconut cream and apple cider vinegar to make a sour cream, but you can honestly do without if you prefer to keep it simple.
How to Make Paleo Pumpkin Chili
- Cook ground beef: Using a large stock pot or dutch oven, saute the ground beef on medium heat until browned. Remove from the pot and set aside. Reserve about half of the fat in the pot for cooking.
- Cook vegetables: Saute the onions and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and saute for another few minutes. Add in the carrots and sweet potato and cook and stir for 5-8 minutes or until slightly softened.
- Combine & cook: Pour the broth, tomato/nomato sauce, pumpkin puree, and ground beef and stir well. Add the seasonings (reserving half of the cilantro for garnish) and stir well. Bring the chili to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste to ensure the veggies are cooked to liking and season further to taste.
- Garnish & serve: Serve the chili topped with avocado, dairy-free sour cream, and cilantro.
Can you use fresh pumpkin instead of canned?
Yes! I used canned pumpkin puree, but you can also use fresh pumpkin.
Can you meal prep this recipe ahead of time? How should you store it?
Yes! You can make it ahead of time and easily store it in the fridge in glass Tupperware. Just make sure to keep the garnishes separate and add them when ready to eat.
What can you serve with this pumpkin chili?
The possibilities for side dishes on chili night are endless! Here are a few ideas…
- Grain Free Paleo Cornbread
- AIP Garlic & Herb Bread Rolls
- Sweet Potato Sliders
- Baked Onion Rings
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Baked Avocado Fries
You’ll also love…
Paleo Pumpkin Chili (AIP, Whole30)
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Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, sub turkey
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups carrot, chopped
- 1 cup sweet potato, chopped
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup diced tomatoes/nomato sauce for AIP
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1-2 tbsp fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper, omit for AIP
- 1 tsp sea salt
- optional- 2 tsp chili powder, omit for AIP
- 1 avocado, diced
- Dairy-free sour cream
Instructions
- Using a large stock pot or dutch oven, saute the ground beef on medium heat until browned. Remove from the pot and set aside. Reserve about half of the fat in the pot for cooking.
- Saute the onions and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and saute for another few minutes.
- Add in the carrots and sweet potato and cook and stir for 5-8 minutes or until slightly softened.
- Pour the broth, tomato/nomato sauce, pumpkin puree, and ground beef and stir well. Add the seasonings (reserving half of the cilantro for garnish) and stir well.
- Bring the chili to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste to ensure the veggies are cooked to liking and season further to taste.
- Serve the chili topped with avocado, dairy-free sour cream, and cilantro.
Notes
Recipe by Michelle, Unbound Wellness. Photos by Eat Love Eats
This post originally appeared on Unbound Wellness in 2018 and was republished with new photos in 2020.
Made this recipe with turkey and no chicken chicken broth and followed directions. In the end it need additional flavor. I added a tablespoon of cumin and a tablespoon of smoked paprika. More to my liking. Thanks for posting!
It is absolutelly perfect!
Have you ever tried this with actual pumpkin instead of sweet potato?
This recipe is so good, I made it a few times last winter and the season is starting again! I’m grateful to be able to have a great warm bowl of chili that I can eat. I have substituted turnips for the carrots when I’ve had them, and it works great. Thank you!
I’m making this recipe for the first time. It looks so good – I love the idea of adding pumpkin!
Michelle, I’m wondering why you say to omit peppercorns if AIP. I have been on an AIP diet for quite a while, and I was never told to forgo peppercorns. All peppers – bell, jalapeño, etc – but not peppercorns. What do you know that I don’t?
Hi, Maggie! Black pepper is not a nightshade, but it’s a seed spice and all seeds are omitted on the AIP diet for the elimination phase 🙂 Enjoy the chili!
Oh, thanks, Michelle. So good to know!
The best paleo chili ever! Thank you Michelle!
Made this for dinner tonight. It was a big hit! Will definitely be making it again.
Thank you so much, Dawn!!
Love this recipe! I have made this, at LEAST 10 times in the last 3 months.
And correct, this is very easily adaptable for an AIP diet.
I like to add a can of coconut milk, and shredded coconut to my chili.
Thank you, Michelle
Delicious. My husband loved it. I did cook it in different order because the ground beef I used isn’t very fatty. I also added 2 tablespoons chili powder and 1 tablespoon cumin. I like a lot of flavor! I’ll be making this on repeat a lot this winter.
Yay! Sounds amazing! Thank you so much!
DELICIOUS!!!
I used to make a traditional chili every week before starting AIP, and have been missing a hearty bowl of delicious. I was skeptical, but tried this recipe out–as well as the nomato sauce–and I am thoroughly impressed.
Thank you. I will definitely make this again.
Thank you SO much, Michael! I’m so happy you like it!
Made this & even my kids loved it!!
Yay! Thank you so much Katie!!! So happy to hear it!
Would this work in the slow cooker you think?
I think it would! As long as you brown the beef before, it should work just fine.
Love this recipe! I made a couple of changes. I used ground organic turkey and low sodium chicken broth instead of beef. I used the whole can of diced tomatoes and pumpkin rather than try to save it or throw it out. Used plain yogurt instead of sour cream.
Freezes well and makes great leftovers when you do not have time to cook!
Can this be made vegan too. No meat or beef broth. ?
This is delicious…just made it and eating it as I type. I’m so happy to add this to my list of comfort foods. THANK YOU!!
Thank you SO MUCH Heather!! So happy you liked it <3