When the air turns crisp, my kitchen instinctively shifts into chili mode. In other words, when I’m chilly on the outside… I’m making chili on the inside!  And this one? It’s a cozy, nutrient-packed bowl that offers tender chicken, sweet butternut squash, simmered beans, and gentle spice for that slow-cooked, comforting vibe we all crave.

As a dietitian, I appreciate that this recipe gives you hearty nourishment, generous fiber, and steady energy while staying beautifully simple. And if you love a soul-warming pot like this, you’ll definitely want to try my Pumpkin Turkey Chili, Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Chili, and Smoky Winter-White Bean Chili—they all deliver serious comfort with BIG nutrition.

To me, chili is the ultimate comfort food, and this hearty bowl of goodness brings the magic. You butternut pass on this recipe—it’s so GOOD!!  Plus, it’s a one-pot wonder and serves a crowd (it yields about 14 cups), making it a perfect game-day meal, family feast gathering, or scrumptious solo supper with lots of leftovers. Oh, the leftovers freeze wonderfully.

Step 1: Heat oil in a large pot. Add onions and peppers, and cook about 8 minutes until softened.
Step 4: Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cinnamon, and tomato paste, and cook 1 minute.
Step 3: Add squash, tomatoes, beans, and 2 cups broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer about 35 minutes until squash is tender. Stir in chicken and salt.
Step 4: Add more broth if you want a thinner chili. Simmer 5–10 minutes, adjust seasoning, and serve with your favorite toppings.

Why this pot deserves a weekly spot

  • Deep, cozy comfort: A warming combination of chicken, squash, and beans creates soothing nourishment in every spoonful.
  • Serious staying power: Fiber from the squash and beans keeps you steady and satisfied.
  • Meal-prep friendly: Makes about 14 cups—perfect for feeding a crowd or stocking your fridge for the week.
  • Endlessly adaptable: Spoon over rice, tuck into baked potatoes, or top with avocado, scallions, or tortilla chips.

True story: Years ago, during a busy football Sunday gathering, I made a huge batch of this chili and left it on the stove to stay warm. Friends drifted in and out all afternoon, and every single person who took a ladleful paused mid-bite and said some version of, “Whoa—this tastes AH-MAZING.” By the time the game ended, the pot was scraped clean!

This recipe is also featured on TODAY.com!

Enjoy it with my Butternut Cornbread!

(5 stars) 4 ratings

Butternut Squash Chicken Chili

This butternut Squash Chicken Chili is a one-pot-wonder and serves a crowd making it a perfect game day meal.
Yield: 14 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 onion, diced (~1.5 cups)
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced (`1 cup)
  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon smoky paprika
  • 2 cans, 14.5 ounces fire-roasted tomatoes, with liquid
  • 2 to 3 cups chicken broth
  • 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 to 3 cups cubed butternut squash, cut into small ½-inch pieces
  • 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
  • Optional garnish: Greek yogurt, lite sour cream, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, chopped avocado, fresh herbs.
  • *If starting with a whole butternut squash, it should weigh ~2 to 3 pounds uncut, with skin and seeds.

Instructions
 

  • Liberally mist a large pot or Dutch oven with olive oil spray and heat over medium-high heat. Alternatively, you can pour some olive oil from the bottle, about 1 Tablespoon. Add onions and peppers and sauté for about 8 minutes until soft and slightly browned. (If the veggies become dry at any point, spritz with more oil spray).
  • Add the seasonings (chili powder, cumin, smoky paprika, and cinnamon) and stir for about one minute to lightly toast them. Mix in the tomato paste.
  • Add the cubed squash, two cans of tomatoes with liquid, two cans drained beans, and 2 cups broth. Bring to a boil, lower heat and let simmer until the squash becomes fork tender, about 35 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and salt, and mix everything together.
  • Add the 3rd cup of broth if you’d like a thinner consistency with more liquid. Let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes to warm the chicken and allow all of the flavors to mingle. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper, and any preferred seasonings.
  • Ladle into bowls and serve with preferred toppings, such as shredded cheddar cheese, sliced avocado, chopped herbs, and Greek yogurt.

Notes

• If you prep everything before you start cooking, it comes together super-fast: shred the chicken, purchase already cubed butternut squash at the store or peel and slice it beforehand, measure spices and tomato paste, drain your beans, open your tomato cans and broth.
• Store-bought rotisserie chicken is a time-saving game-changer and could not be more convenient—simply remove skin and shred chicken breasts into small pieces using your fingers. Leftover turkey meat works great as a chicken swap—and hey, of it’s already in your fridge, it’s a perfect way to use it up! Just shred it with your fingers and add it to the pot.
• You can swap in ground sirloin or poultry for the shredded, cooked chicken as well. If you do, here’s what I recommend: Use 1lb ground meat and add it in right after the veggies are fully sauteed. Cook it over med-high heat until it’s cooked through, while breaking it up into crumbles and mixing it with the cooked veggies. Then, blend in all the spices and tomato paste and follow the rest of the recipe (skipping the addition of shredded chicken at end).
• Start with 2 cups broth and add a 3rd towards the end if you prefer a thinner consistency with more liquid.
• You can dial up the seasonings and give it a smokier flavor by adding more smoky paprika, cumin, and chili powder.
• Will stay in the fridge for up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
• Leftovers freeze well, so this is a great make-ahead for when family and friends pop over. or you can freeze in individual containers if you live alone. Then, you’re set for many cozy future meals. You can freeze in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
Author: Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition Information per serving

Serving Size: 1 cupCalories: 130Carbohydrates: 20gProtein: 11gTotal Fat: 2g— Unsaturated Fat: 2g— Saturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 170mgPotassium: 395mgFiber: 5gTotal Sugar: 3g— Natural Sugar: 3g— Added Sugar: 0gVitamin A: 2623IUVitamin C: 16mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.
I’m hoping you loved this recipe! If you made it and want to share feedback, I’d be so grateful to hear from you. Please leave a review below or tag @joybauer on Instagram!