This Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chili Recipe is a healthy and quick weeknight dinner idea. It is low in fat and ready in under 45 minutes. And it’s absolutely delicious!
BUTTERNUT SQUASH CHILI RECIPE
This butternut squash chili is a true winter warmer – spicy, hearty and filling. And it doesn’t need to cook for very long so it makes a great weeknight dinner idea too. Roasting the squash separately rather than cooking it in the chilli really brings out all the sweet honey notes in this delicious vegetable. Which offsets the sharp flavour of the tomato sauce. This aromatic chili with butternut squash is a combination of spicy, sweet and sour flavours, which work together really well.
If you are looking for more easy butternut squash recipes check out this Mediterranean Butternut Squash Casserole Recipe (Vegan). It’s a fuss free one pot dish equally delicious as a healthy family dinner or party food idea. Another easy meal idea you might like is this Butternut Squash Pasta with Arugula recipe.
HEALTHY GLUTEN FREE CHILI RECIPE
This easy butternut squash chili recipe is gluten free and can also be enjoyed vegan. It is gluten free simply because I haven’t used any flour to thicken the sauce. Instead I mashed up the kidney beans a little (using a potato masher), which produced a nice thick sauce so the flour wasn’t needed. (See Instructions below). The recipe is vegan unless you serve it with yogurt, sour cream or Skyr.
What is Skyr?
Well, if you live in Iceland you are probably very familiar with Skyr, but here in the UK it is quite a new product. (Unless I’ve not been paying proper attention and only noticed it a few months ago). But it’s available absolutely everywhere.
According to various online sources I’ve consulted Skyr is a cultured dairy product which has been made in Iceland for hundreds of years (Iceland’s best kept secret?). It is fat free (or very low-fat), full of protein and calcium, and made with reduced sugar. I read all this on the package in the shop, got excited and bought it immediately. Well, when I tasted it at home I got super excited because it tasted great and had a wonderfully rich and creamy texture (with 0 fat!). A bit like Greek yogurt, thick and creamy, but without the fat. A bit like quark, too, but not as acidic. Better. I use it all the time now!
No, I am not being paid to be this excited about a product, I just really like it:)
Serve this vegetarian butternut squash chili with chopped avocado and lemon zest (highly recommended!), with rice or pita bread, or simply on its own. Adjust the amount of the chilli powder to suit your taste. It tastes even better the next day so make a big batch to enjoy later!
As always, I’d love to know your opinions, so if you make this recipe do get in touch:)
This Butternut Squash Vegetarian Chilli is a healthy and quick weeknight dinner idea. It is low in fat, can be enjoyed vegan and ready in under 45 minutes.
- 600 g butternut squash peeled, cubed
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 celery stalk finely chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 red bell pepper roughly chopped
- 1 green bell pepper roughly chopped
- 1 tin kidney beans drained, rinsed
- 1 and 1/2 tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon each: fine sea salt cumin, smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon each: chili powder and allspice powder
- 3 tablespoons each: white wine and olive oil plus more oil for drizzling the squash
- 4-5 tablespoons coriander finely chopped
- Serving suggestions: rice pita bread, chopped avocado, sour cream, yogurt, Skyr, coriander, lemon zest
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Preheat the oven to 400 F/ 200 C/ gas mark 6. Tip the butternut squash pieces onto a good size baking tray, sprinkle with salt, drizzle with a little oil and bake for 30-35 minutes (until tender and lightly browned).
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In a large pot heat up the oil, add the bay leaf, garlic, onion and celery and fry over a medium heat for 2 minutes stirring often. Add the wine and cook for further 2 minutes. Add the beans and using a potato masher mash them up a little (leave some beans whole - you can omit this step if you like, I like my chilli quite thick). Add the peppers, tomatoes, all the spices, stir, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
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Remove from the heat, fold in the butternut squash and coriander. Adjust the seasoning as necessary and serve.
Pin this Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chili Recipe for later!
MORE EASY, HEALTHY MEAL IDEAS
Here you will find all my easy meal recipe ideas in one place. Or you can browse the different categories: chicken, turkey, fish and vegetarian/vegan. The categories also include gluten free and dairy free options.
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RECIPE LINK PARTIES
I am sharing this healthy vegan chili recipe with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday. Also sharing with Cook Once Eat Twice, Meat Free Mondays, Fiesta Friday and Saucy Saturdays.
Ooh, yum! I love a good chilli – so warming in the winter 🙂
Thanks! One of the best comfort foods out there:)
I love chilli, roasted butternut squash and avocado: I must try your recipe! Adding it to my ‘try this’ board on Pinterest right now 🙂 Thanks for joining in with #FreeFromFridays again lovely x
Thanks Mel! Hope it turns out ok for you if you do decide to make it:)
This looks so good Monika, particularly for those chilly days we’ve had! Hubby & I both love butternut squash so I can imagine it’d be a hit here. And I love how you’ve managed to get it so beautifully thick without calling on flour – inspired 🙂 I’ve not come across Skyr before – I’ll have to have a look for it when I’m next in the supermarket and then give it a try.
Angela x
Thank you Angela! Glad you like the recipe. I get my Skyr from Lidl, it’s the cheapest there, but big supermarkets sell it now too. Thanks for stopping by:)
Oooh I have a butternut squash in the cupboard – this would make a fab dinner & I love the idea of mashing the beans to make the sauce v clever! Have bookmarked this for the week!
Thanks! Do let me know how it turned out if you decide to make it:)
What a beautiful chili! I’ve heard of Skyr but haven’t ever used it. I’ll be giving it a try!
Thank you Julie! I am sure you’ll like Skyr:)
I love squash and love finding new ways to use it. This chilli sounds lovely x #CookBlogShare
Thanks Kirsty! I am the same, always looking for new ways to cook it.
Chopped avocado and lemon zest for me please! I love the look of this. All the ingredients sound delicious and I can’t wait to try skyr now – your enthusiasm is catching! Thanks for linking up with #CookBlogShare
So glad you like the recipe Mandy! Do try Skyr, I am sure you’ll like it:)
Oh wow, Monika – this looks so lovely. I can just imagine it must taste amazing! I have to say I had never heard of Skry…I will have to look out for that! Eb x
Thanks Eb! You can get Skyr in Lidl (best price) and the big supermarkets too.
I have just started eating butternut squash and I love it. This looks yummy #cookblogshare
Thank you! I find the more I cook with it the more I like it. I think I am a bit addicted to butternut squash:)
This looks beautiful Monika! Such a great picture too – It’s making me quite hungry. I love the sound of Skyr. I’ve heard of it but haven’t tried it yet so next time I see it I’ll definitely get some to try. Thank you so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice!
It’s a pleasure, Corina, and thank you for visiting! Do try Skyr, it’s soo good!