Easy Crockpot Pumpkin Turkey Chili

One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving is the leftovers.  We got a HUGE turkey (24 glorious pounds!) so we would have plenty to eat, share and have leftovers.  Even with sending turkey home with friends, I have enough leftover turkey for three meals plus the carcass for homemade broth.  Earlier this fall I pinned a recipe for Pumpkin Turkey Chili because I thought it sounded good.  Recently I took a good look at the recipe and realized it was missing a few critical ingredients (like beans!) for chili.  So I decided to wing it and make my own.  This is the first time I made this recipe.  I’m sharing it with you anyway, mostly because I  won’t make it again till next year and I want to remember it.  

Ingredients:

1-2 cups turkey, cut into bite size pieces

1 cup corn

1/2 cup mashed potatoes (I was trying to use up leftovers. You couldn’t tell they were in there. Next time I want to add a cup.)

1 can Rotel tomatoes

2 cups (or cans) diced tomatoes (I had a quart of frozen diced tomatoes so I used those.

3 cups (or two cans) of beans.  I used black and kidney but use whatever you have on hand.

1 green pepper, diced

1 medium onion, diced

2-3 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 cups pumpkin (or however much you have leftover)

1/4 tsp cinnamon (I used a 1/2 tsp and The Man said it was too much, so use less!)

2 tsp cumin (We like cumin, I should have used more)

1 tsp chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

To Make:

1.  Toss everything in your crockpot.  Let it cook on low for 6-7 hours or until your house smells yummy and everything is hot and the flavors have mingled.

2.  Top with shredded cheese, avocado and/or sour cream if you like that stuff.  Enjoy!

I think some fresh cilantro would be good to add but I didn’t have any on hand.  If you make it, please let me know how it turns out.  If you tweak it, I’d love to know what you did so I can make this recipe even yummier.  On the up side, Munchkin ate all hers and enjoyed the leftovers of the chili too.  That alone makes it a win in my book!