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Pumpkin Chili with Cheddar Béchamel and Spiced Popcorn

Pumpkin Chili


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  • Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

This epic Pumpkin Chili with cheddar béchamel and spiced popcorn is everything you didn’t know you wanted from a chili. This hearty, meaty chili is loaded with veggies and beans and is flavored with pumpkin lager and pumpkin purée. Topped with a creamy cheddar sauce and spiced popcorn, this chili is sure to surprise your taste buds!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 bell peppers, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, chopped fine – remove the seeds if you don’t want any added heat
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 (15oz) cans pumpkin purée
  • 2 (15oz) cans diced tomatoes with juices
  • 1 (15oz) can black beans with juices
  • 24 fl oz (2 bottles) pumpkin beer or amber ale
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • salt and pepper to taste

Cheddar Bechamel

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 6 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • pinch of nutmeg

Spiced Popcorn

  • 3 tbsp olive oil, plus more for topping
  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
  • 1/2 tbsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp dried oregano

Instructions

  1. In a large pot (that holds at least 7 quarts) over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and cook until just browned, about 5 minutes. Season beef with salt and pepper. To the same pot, add the onions and both peppers and cook, stirring often for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 5 minutes.
  2. Season everything with salt and pepper, chili powder, oregano and cumin then stir well.
  3. Add the pumpkin, diced tomatoes and beans to the pot and stir well. Pour the pumpkin beer, chicken broth and maple syrup into the pot and bring to a boil, stirring everything together.
  4. Once the chili has reached a boil, reduce the heat to low and let simmer, partially covered, for about 1 hour. Season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

Cheddar Bechamel

  1. While the chili is simmering, prepare the béchamel sauce: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until a paste forms. Let cook for about 3 minutes or when the paste browns slightly and develops a nutty aroma.
  2. Pour the milk into the saucepan and whisk until there are no clumps. Increase the heat to medium-high and whisk constantly until boiling, about 5 minutes.
  3. Reduce heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg then add the cheese. Whisk until well combined and cheese has completely melted. Taste and add more seasoning if desired. Serve warm over the chili.

Spiced Popcorn

  1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pot. Add a few test kernels to the pot once the oil is hot, then cover with a lid. When the test kernels have popped, add the remaining kernels to the pot and cover with a lid. Give it a good shake to make sure all kernels are covered in oil.
  2. Allow the kernels to pop, shaking the pot occasionally. Remove from the heat then drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the spices over the popcorn then cover with a lid and shake until combined. Add a handful of popcorn to the chili for some extra crunch.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 80 minutes
  • Category: Mains
  • Method: Stovetop

Nutrition

  • Calories: 715
  • Sugar: 14g
  • Sodium: 1528mg
  • Fat: 42g
  • Saturated Fat: 17g
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 46g
  • Fiber: 13g
  • Protein: 35g
  • Cholesterol: 116mg