Pumpkin Apple Pulled Pork Chili has slow cooked tender pork, apples, and subtle pumpkin flavor to combine sweet, savory, and spicy. This bold flavored pork chili makes an over-the-top, extraordinary dish topped with chopped fresh apples, cilantro, cheddar, and sour cream.
Since today is Halloween, Nolan, my 9 year old, set his alarm at 6:00 AM. If you feel like this is an aggressive time to prepare for trick or treating, you are correct. But Nolan wanted to ensure seeing his sister, Clara, before she left for middle school. Otherwise he’d be abandoned to share Halloween excitement with aloof parents and unaware younger siblings. Chances are his enthusiasm wouldn’t be mirrored back quite the same by us.
If childhood holiday fervor operates on a bell curve, Nolan has hit that magical apex. His younger brothers don’t anticipate holidays yet (largely due to their obliviousness to months, seasons, or time). Plus they haven’t lived through enough of them to have all that prospective fun cemented in their memories.
His older sister still looks forward to holidays, but the excitement has dulled and requires a little more coaxing. Being that she’s 11, I suppose the magic is bound to fade. If I could, I’d make that disillusionment stop because I remember when holidays lost that lure for me. I desperately wanted to turn back to those times of butterflies in your stomach from anticipation.
Frankly, I still do because holidays just seem to turn adults into curmudgeons. And yes, that’s me (the pot) calling the kettle black because I’m right there with all those Debbie Downers. Holidays always go hand in hand with a lot of extra “to dos” and work for me. No longer do I the payoff of a pillow sack filled with candy or a big pile of presents left from a jolly man in a red suit.
Something else makes me work towards that end game now, though. Holidays always culminate with gatherings, eating, and drinking in excess.
This past weekend we mixed both the kid’s and adult’s version of a holiday-good-time. Every year my parents, sisters, and all the families gather for a Halloween camping weekend at our local state park, Indiana Dunes. The kids play all weekend with their cousins and then trick or treat at decorated campsites. The adults get in their fun by sitting around a fire, having cocktails, and stuffing our faces with great food.
HOW TO MAKE Pumpkin Apple Pulled PORK CHILI…
While all the kids gathered candy for us to raid later, the adults enjoyed this Pumpkin Apple Pulled Pork Chili. This is not your average humdrum chili recipe, and if you had your sights set on winning chili contest hardware, this would be shoe-in. Just sayin’…
Don’t forget to serve it with the fresh apples, cheddar, cilantro, and sour cream. The brightness of the toppings works perfectly with the smokey, bold flavors of the chili. I served my Pumpkin Apple Pulled Pork Chili with this cornbread recipe, but feel free to skip the cornbread and loot leftover Halloween candy instead. Consider it payback for homemade Halloween costumes, class party favors, and escorting dressed up children in the bitter cold.
This post contains affiliate links. My opinions are always my own. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I make a small commission – at no cost to you – which helps justify to my family all the time I spend on the computer.
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Pumpkin Apple Pulled Pork Chili
Pumpkin Apple Pulled Pork Chili has slow cooked tender pork, apples, and subtle pumpkin flavor to combine sweet, savory, and spicy. Win any chili cook off contest with this recipe!
Pork Rub:
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 2 – 2 1/2 pounds pork butt
Chili:
- 2 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil, (divided)
- 2 peppers (I used 1 red, 1 yellow), (chopped)
- 2 onions, (chopped)
- 4 garlic cloves, (chopped)
- 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo**, (chopped)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4-1/2 tsp. ground cayenne pepper**
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 12 ounces beer*
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 14 oz. cans diced fire roasted tomatoes
- 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
- 3 sweet apples (such as Golden Delicious or Gala), (cored and chopped (not peeled))
- 2 14 oz. cans dark red kidney beans, (drained and rinsed)
Toppings: chopped fresh apples, cilantro, sour cream, and cheddar cheese
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For pork rub, mix all seasonings together in a small bowl. Rub mixed seasonings all over pork and set aside. In a dutch oven or large pot, heat 1 1/2 tbsp. oil until hot over medium high heat. Add seasoned pork and sear each side until browned and crust forms, about 2 minutes / side. Remove browned pork to a plate to finish cooking later.
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Reduce heat to medium and add remaining tablespoon of oil. Saute onions and peppers for 5 minutes or until soft. Add garlic, chipotle peppers, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and chili powder. Saute for 1 minute longer.
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Add beer, apple cider, tomatoes, and salt to pot. Add pork back to pot and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 3 hours, or until pork is very tender. Remove pork to a plate using a slotted spoon and set aside.
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Add apples, pumpkin, and kidney beans to the pot and simmer for 1 more hour with lid removed so chili thickens and reduces. While it is simmering, shred pork and add back to the pot. Serve chili with suggested toppings.
Alternative Slow Cooker Instructions:
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Complete step one in large skillet. Transfer seared pork to a large slow cooker. Add peppers, onions, garlic, chipotle, seasonings, beer, cider, and tomatoes. DO NOT ADD PUMPKIN, BEANS, OR APPLES YET. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or until pork is very tender. Remove pork to a plate.
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Remove lid and increase slow cooker heat to high. Add pumpkin, beans, and apples. Simmer for 1 more hour, or until thickened. While it is simmering, add shredded pork back to pot. Serve with suggested toppings.
*For gluten free chili, use a gluten free beer, such as Redbridge Lager
**Use lesser amount if prefer not as spicy.
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Chili Dog Tater Tot Casserole from Countryside Cravings
Baked Chili Cheese Fries with Bacon and Ranch from Baked Bree
Chili Cheese Baked Potato Casserole from Eat Cake For Dinner
This post contains affiliate links. My opinions are always my own. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I make a small commission – at no cost to you – which helps justify to my family all the time I spend on the computer.
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