Hi there! I’m Jasmine Roth, creator of this Blog, founder of Built Custom Homes, curator of my online retail store The Shop by Jasmine Roth and host of HGTV’s hit show Hidden Potential. I was also on HGTV’s Rock the Block, but I won’t spoil the winner for you 😉 Building custom homes in Huntington Beach, CA is my bread and butter. I love all aspects of the home building process and finding ways to make homes as personal, functional and beautiful as possible. Join me as we explore my projects, DIY’s, behind-the-scenes peeks, and tips on how you can design beautiful, functional spaces in your own home. Let’s build something together!
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Since I couldn’t have my annual chili cook-off this year due to COVID, I was having major chili withdrawals! Hosting the cook-off is something I look forward to every year, so I still wanted to whip up a big batch of my own chili this year – cook-off or no cook-off. I never enter my own chili recipe in the cook-off competition (because, hello, I’m the host – wouldn’t that be weird if I did and won?! Ha.)
But people always ask me for my own personal recipe because I have a random secret ingredient. Okay, I shouldn’t say “random,” but possibly unusual for normal chili. Anyways, this feels like the perfect year to unveil my secret-ingredient chili recipe, since I can’t hold the cook-off! What do you guys put in your chili?!
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Preheat oven to 350.
Line a cookie sheet with foil (for easy cleanup). Toss pre-cut butternut squash in 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Pro tip: I just pour the olive oil right into the bag to mix with the squash. Saves you from cleaning a bowl!
Bake for 35 minutes, flipping at the halfway point.
Heat 2 more tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat in a Dutch oven or large saucepan. Chop onion or used pre-diced onions like I do! Once onion is translucent and soft (about 6 minutes, you don’t want to caramelize them!), add ground turkey and brown over medium high heat, about 15 minutes.
Open the cans of beans and drain – also, this is a great time to make your cornbread!
Once turkey is brown, add salt and pepper to taste. Add 1.5 Tablespoons of chili powder and all beans. Stir and reduce heat to medium low.
Add tomatoes and green chiles. Stir together and get ready to season. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, 2 Tablespoons of honey, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. That’s right folks, that’s the secret ingredient!!! Cinnamon!
Now you’re ready to add your roasted butternut squash, stir in and turn off heat. It’s time to eat!
If you make this, let me know how you like it!
My son is a chef and a secret ingredient he adds is a bottle of beer.
Squash in Chili? BRILLIANT!! Trying this recipe this week.
Ur recipe looks delicious. I will try. Slight variations between urs & mine. You use squash, I use peppers. Besides cinnamon, I also use a little nutmeg. But, the honey looks interesting.
Looking forward to trying this out. Looks fantastic!
My husband won the Chili cook off this year with wygu recipe that people loved at our Club ~ maybe he’ll use your recipe next year…this sounds pretty fabulous! If not may I will enter❣️
Cinnamon is the secret ingredient?? Not butternut squash??? Wow. I’m going to make it:). Thank you!
I add sweet potato along with some cocoa powder in mine for a different taste but definitely try the squash honey & cinnamon
Yum! Never thought about squash. I’ll have to try it. Very similar to mine!
Kaley’s Special Chili- take out the squash- Add sweet potato, black beans and corn! Everything else is pretty much the same 🙂
Sounds interesting! I will definitely try it! I never heard of using butternut squash or cinnamon in chili, but love them both!!
Sounds like a contender….I’ll give it a try. We too have a yearly chili cookoff (trophy to the winner!) here in Monterey. Happy Holidays!
Sounds excellent. Will try it but will have to skip the cinnamon. my daughter and I are allergic to it. 🙁
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!
Looks delish!!
Uh, hi this is totally unrelated. I need help with dining room decor to lighten the room up. I have grey walls and a brownish grey wash dining table with semi-matching chairs. We have a small fiddle fig plant. I don’t know what else to put haha. I need your help!
I use whatever is in my fridge – mushrooms, teeny chopped carrots, peppers, celery, broccoli or cauliflower.
Will definitely add the honey, cinnamon, squash or sweet potatoes too.
Jasmine! This is delicious and so easy. Thank you for the recipe.