Best 6 Hearty Pumpkin Chili With Polenta Recipes

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From its comforting aroma to its bursting flavors, nothing quite matches the allure of a hearty pumpkin chili, especially when it's paired with creamy polenta. This vibrant dish, infused with autumn's essence, is a symphony of flavors waiting to be savored. With its medley of spices and the perfect balance of sweet and savory, this pumpkin chili is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, whether you're hosting a cozy dinner at home or gathering around a campfire under a starlit sky.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

HEARTY PUMPKIN CHILI WITH POLENTA



Hearty Pumpkin Chili with Polenta image

Feel free to make this healthy chili a day ahead. It reheats nicely, and the polenta stays good for a few days in an airtight container in the fridge.-Wendy Rusch, Trego, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 pound ground beef
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 small sweet red pepper, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (29 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons sugar, divided
1 tablespoon chili powder
1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon plus 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 cups 2% milk
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup butter, cubed
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained

Steps:

  • In a Dutch oven, cook the first five ingredients over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink and vegetables are tender, breaking up beef into crumbles; drain., Stir in tomato sauce, tomatoes, pumpkin, 1 tablespoon sugar, chili powder, pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, in a large heavy saucepan, bring milk, cream, butter, and remaining sugar and salt to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon 2-3 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from sides of pan (mixture will be very thick)., Pour into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Let stand until firm, about 30 minutes., Stir beans into chili; heat through. Cut polenta into six pieces. Serve with chili.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 547 calories, Fat 27g fat (14g saturated fat), Cholesterol 99mg cholesterol, Sodium 1581mg sodium, Carbohydrate 55g carbohydrate (17g sugars, Fiber 11g fiber), Protein 26g protein.

ITALIAN PORK CHILI WITH POLENTA



Italian Pork Chili with Polenta image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 40m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 large red bell pepper
2 tablespoons EVOO
8 ounces bulk hot Italian sausage or 5 ounces coarsely grated Calabrese salami
4 ounces pancetta, finely diced
1 pound ground pork
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 mild or 2 hot fresh red chile peppers, seeded and very finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 sprig fresh oregano, finely chopped
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup dry red wine
4 to 5 cups chicken stock
1 cup whole milk
1 cup quick-cooking polenta
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup grated pecorino, plus more for serving
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Steps:

  • Roast the bell pepper over a gas flame, turning with tongs, or broil until the skin is blackened. Transfer to a bowl, cover and let cool. Peel, seed and chop the pepper. Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and pancetta and cook until well browned. Add the ground pork, thyme, fennel seeds, garlic, chile peppers, onions, oregano and roasted red peppers and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Deglaze with the wine, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add 2 to 3 cups chicken stock and simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to combine. Bring 2 cups chicken stock and the milk to a low boil in a saucepan. Whisk in the polenta and cook, whisking, until thick but pourable, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the butter and then the cheese, stirring until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle the polenta into shallow bowls and hollow out the center. Fill with the chili and top with more cheese. Garnish with parsley. Cook's Note: The chili can be covered and refrigerated for a make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat, and prepare the polenta before serving.

PORK-AND-PUMPKIN CHILI



Pork-and-Pumpkin Chili image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h40m

Yield 6-8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 12-ounce bottle Mexican lager
Kosher salt
2 to 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
3 teaspoons dried oregano, preferably Mexican
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin (about 1 3/4 cups)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
2 medium white onions, diced
1/4 cup chili powder, plus more for sprinkling
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 bunch mustard greens, stems removed, leaves roughly chopped
Lime wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • Combine the pork, beer, 3 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt in a large pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat, skimming the foam off the surface. Add the chipotles and 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano, cover and cook about 30 minutes.
  • Mix 3 tablespoons pumpkin, the sour cream and salt to taste in a bowl; cover and chill.
  • Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the tomatoes, poblano, onions and 2 teaspoons salt; cook until soft, 15 minutes. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano, the chili powder and garlic; cook 5 minutes. Add the remaining pumpkin and cook 5 minutes.
  • Add the tomato mixture to the pork and simmer until the meat is tender, about 30 minutes. Add the greens and cook 10 more minutes. Season with salt. Ladle the chili into bowls; top with the pumpkin cream and more chili powder. Serve with lime wedges.

CHILI WITH POLENTA AND VEGETABLES



Chili with Polenta and Vegetables image

Creamy polenta serves as an excellent canvas for hearty beef chili and garlicky sauteed spinach and mushrooms. If you make the chili in advance, the rest of the dish comes together quickly enough for a weeknight.

Provided by Riley Wofford

Categories     Food & Cooking     Healthy Recipes     Gluten-Free Recipes

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 1/2 cups whole milk
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup quick-cooking polenta
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, smashed and peeled
1 pound cremini mushrooms, quartered or halved
10 cups chopped fresh spinach (from 2 bunches, tough stems removed)
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
2 cups Easy Beef Chili

Steps:

  • In a pot, bring milk and 2 1/2 cups water to a simmer; season lightly with salt. Whisking constantly, add polenta in a thin stream. Reduce heat to low; cook, whisking occasionally, until polenta is tender and creamy, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter. Season with salt and pepper; cover to keep warm.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high, heat oil and garlic until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and discard garlic; add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Add spinach; season with salt and pepper, and cook until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add vinegar; cook 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Reheat chili. Serve with vegetables over polenta.

CREAMY OVEN-BAKED POLENTA WITH PUMPKIN



Creamy Oven-Baked Polenta with Pumpkin image

Easiest polenta ever! Bakes up creamy and delicious. You (ok, I) will never make polenta on the stovetop again.

Provided by Nancy

Categories     Side Dish     Grain Side Dish Recipes     Polenta Recipes

Time 1h15m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

cooking spray
2 cups water
2 cups milk
1 cup stone-ground cornmeal
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 (14 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 cup shredded Jarlsberg cheese
½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided
¼ cup sour cream
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
salt to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Combine water, milk, cornmeal, and salt in the prepared baking dish; mix well. It's normal for the mixture to separate a bit.
  • Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and stir in pumpkin, Jarlsberg, 1/2 of the Parmigiano-Reggiano, sour cream, nutmeg, pepper, and salt. Return to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and top with remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano. Turn on the broiler.
  • Broil until top is brown and bubbly, about 3 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 267.1 calories, Carbohydrate 29.2 g, Cholesterol 33.2 mg, Fat 11.2 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 12.8 g, SaturatedFat 6.8 g, Sodium 919.7 mg, Sugar 6.8 g

CREAMY PUMPKIN POLENTA



Creamy Pumpkin Polenta image

This rich polenta makes a unique side dish. Use it instead of the typical potatoes or rice at holiday meals. Can be made vegetarian by using vegetable stock!

Provided by Cynna

Categories     Christmas

Time 35m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

5 cups chicken stock (have an additional couple of cups of boiling liquid handy) or 5 cups vegetable stock (have an additional couple of cups of boiling liquid handy)
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups cornmeal
3/4 cup cooked pumpkin (or canned)
1/2 cup neufchatel cheese (cut into small pieces)
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Steps:

  • Bring water or stock and salt to boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.
  • Stir in pumpkin.
  • SLOWLY pour in corn meal while continuously stirring.
  • An easy way of doing this is to pick up handfuls of cornmeal and let it run through your fingers in a very SLOW stream. NEVER STOP STIRRING.
  • If mixture gets too thick and impossible to stir, add more boiling liquid.
  • Once cornmeal has been added, stir in the small pieces of cream cheese (a little at a time) until cheese is completely melted and incorporated into the mixture.
  • Continue cooking and stirring for about twenty minutes.
  • If you don't cook the polenta long enough, you won't achieve the proper creamy consistency.
  • Continue to add additional liquid as necessary.
  • The proper consistency should be that of a thick Cream Of Wheat Cereal.
  • Your spoon should be able to stand straight up when stuck in the middle and the mixture should pull away from the sides of the pot.
  • Serve with pat of butter and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 177.3, Fat 3.5, SaturatedFat 0.8, Cholesterol 6, Sodium 683.4, Carbohydrate 29.5, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 3.7, Protein 7.5

Tips:

  • Use fresh pumpkin: Fresh pumpkin puree provides the best flavor and texture for this chili. If you don't have fresh pumpkin, you can use canned pumpkin puree, but make sure to choose a brand that doesn't have any added sugar or spices.
  • Roast the pumpkin: Roasting the pumpkin before adding it to the chili intensifies its flavor and gives it a slightly smoky taste. You can roast the pumpkin in the oven or on a grill.
  • Use a variety of beans: This recipe calls for three different types of beans: black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans. This gives the chili a complex flavor and texture. You can use any type of beans you like, but make sure to cook them until they are tender.
  • Add some spice: This chili has a medium spice level, but you can adjust the amount of spice to your liking. Add more chili powder or cayenne pepper for a spicier chili, or omit them altogether for a milder chili.
  • Serve with your favorite toppings: This chili is delicious on its own, but it's even better when topped with your favorite fixings. Some popular toppings include shredded cheese, sour cream, diced avocado, and chopped cilantro.

Conclusion:

This hearty pumpkin chili is a delicious and satisfying meal that's perfect for a cold fall or winter day. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. So next time you're looking for a warm and comforting meal, give this pumpkin chili a try. You won't be disappointed!

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