Slow Cooker Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili! Vegan and Gluten-Free, perfect for cold nights. Put it on in the morning and dinner is ready a few hours later!

Guess the temperature. It’s a silly little game that BL and I play almost daily since moving to the Arctic Circle Midwest from sunny California. It’s a nice reminder that in my eight short years of being on the west coast, I have zero clue of what cold weather feels like.

Walking to brunch yesterday may have been my ultimate fail. Bundled up in my heavy-duty puffer coat, mittens and scarf, I swore temperatures couldn’t have been above 30 degrees.
52. It was 52 degrees outside and I was still a bit chilly in my coat made for negative degree weather. Um, hi, I’ll be hibernating until Spring, returning only when the groundhog says it’s safe to do so.

In previous winters, I only pulled out my slow-cooker a handful of times but now that the thought of raw salad is almost unbearable, I’m putting it to good use.

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

Since soup season is in full swing, I wanted to adapt my favorite chili recipe for the crockpot. It’s vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free and super-easy to make. It’s hearty, comforting and the only remedy for days when I’m too cold to venture outdoors.

For an extra layer of flavor, I lightly saute the onion, garlic, peppers and squash before adding to the soup. This step caramelizes the onion and produces a lightly browned crust to the squash and peppers. But, I totally understand if that two step process seems daunting on busy days; in that case- just load everything in at once and cook until tender.

Once the beans and cooked vegetables are in, pour over Pacific Foods low-sodium organic vegetable broth. I’ve mentioned before how much I love this broth, and it’s my secret weapon in soups, chilis and creamy sauces. It’s hard to find a vegetable broth that tastes delicious, is organic, low-sodium and doesn’t contain added fillers or MSG. Pacific meets all my requirements and it’s why I continue to both use it and promote it.

Of course, no chili is complete without toppings. I seriously think that’s my favorite part about chili- an excuse to pile on chopped avocado. Personally, I think the combo of spicy chili and creamy avocado tastes best, but go with whatever your heart desires.

So, to recap. Freezing temps = warm bowls of homemade, meatless chili. Preferably in the slow-cooker so you can spend more time cuddled on the couch under a pile of blankets.
Stay warm, friends!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking! 

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Disclaimer: I am a Pacific Foods Partner. Thanks for supporting brands that make DK possible. I only promote and support brands that I use and love.