Cincinnati Chili with Turkey & Pumpkin
Cincinnati chili is a bit thinner and sweeter than southwestern-style chili, and is traditionally served over spaghetti. Here, we've cut back the fat without compromising its trademark meaty flavor by using tender lean ground turkey.
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Nutritional Bonus: While pumpkin is not a traditional ingredient in Cincinnati chili, it makes for a creamier, heartier meal and contributes 25% of your daily intake of iron per serving. Along with assisting the transportation of oxygen in the blood, iron aids in muscle contraction and helps improve muscle endurance during exercise.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 lb extra-lean ground turkey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp chile powder
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1 tbsp natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups jarred low-sodium tomato sauce
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 cup canned organic solid pumpkin or cooked and puréed Cinderella, Baby Bear or Sugar Pie pumpkin
- 1 15-oz BPA-free can or 1 3/4 cups cooked kidney beans (TRY:Eden Organic Kidney Beans)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- 14 oz whole-wheat spaghetti
- 4 oz shredded low-fat cheddar
Preparation
- Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium. Add onion and cook until just softened, about 3 minutes. Add turkey and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, chile powder, oregano, cinnamon and allspice and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a 4- to 6-qt slow cooker.
- To slow cooker, add cocoa powder, tomato sauce, broth, pumpkin, beans, vinegar and honey. Stir well and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
- To serve, cook spaghetti according to package directions; divide among serving dishes. Top with chili and cheese, dividing evenly.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size 1 cup pasta-chili mixture and 1/2 oz cheese
- Calories 372
- Carbohydrate Content 59 g
- Cholesterol Content 25 mg
- Fat Content 4 g
- Fiber Content 12 g
- Protein Content 30 g
- Saturated Fat Content 1 g
- Sodium Content 187 mg
- Sugar Content 9 g
- Monounsaturated Fat Content 1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat Content 1 g