Estate Dinners

Chunky Pork, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

Name: Chunky Pork, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, cut into ½-inch chunks; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and diced into ½-inch chunks, about 2 cups; 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained; 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes; 1 (12-ounce) bottle chili sauce; 2 tablespoons chili powder (or more if you like); ½ small chipotle chili in adobo sauce, seeded and minced, about 1 teaspoon; 1 cinnamon stick; Fresh chopped cilantro; Grated sharp cheddar cheese; Fresh avocado, diced; Sour cream

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The Strategy:

This slow-cooked chili is packed with tender pork, sweet butternut squash, and black beans, seasoned with chipotle and a hint of cinnamon. Let the ingredients simmer slowly to marry the complex sweet and spicy flavors, then ladle into bowls. Top with fresh cilantro, grated cheddar cheese, avocado, and sour cream.

Serves: 8 or more | Total Time: 25 minutes till it's ready

Ingredients

Chili Pork and Squash

2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, cut into ½-inch chunks
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and diced into ½-inch chunks, about 2 cups

Chili Base and Spices

1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (12-ounce) bottle chili sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder (or more if you like)
½ small chipotle chili in adobo sauce, seeded and minced, about 1 teaspoon
1 cinnamon stick

Toppings and Garnish

Fresh chopped cilantro
Grated sharp cheddar cheese
Fresh avocado, diced
Sour cream

Raw cooking ingredients for Chunky Pork, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili arranged beautifully on a clean kitchen counter.

Instructions

Season the pork with salt and pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium high heat.
Add the pork and brown on all sides, about 5 to 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the pork cubes and place into the bowl of a slow cooker. Skip this step if you are using leftover grilled pork. Simply cube the leftover meat and place it into the slow cooker.
Place the squash into the cooker.
Pour in the black beans, tomatoes and chili sauce.
Stir in the chili powder and chipotle chili. Bury the cinnamon stick.
Set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on the low setting for 8 hours. Taste and adjust seasonings. Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro, grated cheese, diced avocado and sour cream.

Home cook prepared steps for assembling and cooking Chunky Pork, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili.

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Sunday Swaps

Use this recipe as a guideline to make your own favorite chili with whatever you have on hand and whatever left overs you might have cooked. Use roasted chicken breast with navy beans and roasted peppers, or barbecued beef with red kidney beans and grilled onions. Share your chili creations with fellow chili lovers online!

World's Best Cooking Tools A slow cooker is absolutely essential in this fast paced world. My favorite features a removable insert for easy cleaning, as well as multiple temperature controls and timers. The idea behind this ultimate cooking tool is, after all, the ability to turn it on, and safely be somewhere else for half the day. An ideal slow cooker allows for no less than 6 quarts of deliciousness. I hope you use your slow cooker as much as I use mine!

The Heart of the Table

This steaming bowl of chili brings a colorful, rustic warmth to the table, making everyone feel cozy and nurtured. The sweet and spicy aroma of chipotle and cinnamon draws guests close, creating a comforting retreat from a chilly day.

An appetizing, fresh serving of cooked Chunky Pork, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili displayed beautifully on a styled dining table.

The Art of the Host

a pre-seasoned double-burner cast-iron grill pan with high ridges
a set of organic, hand-glazed stoneware soup bowls in a soft sage green
a hand-carved, long-handled cherrywood stirring spoon
a large, hand-thrown ceramic serving platter with an organic rim
a heavy-gauge, polished stainless steel ladle with an ergonomic handle

Neighborly Grace

THE PRESENTATION: Ladle the thick chili into deep, colorful stoneware bowls, placing the garnishes (avocado, cheese, cilantro) in small matching bowls nearby for guests to customize.
THE POUR: Pair with a cold Mexican lager or a glass of chilled, hibiscus-spiced tea.
THE VIBE: Cozy Den. The warm glow of the fireplace and the rich, spiced aroma of the chili create a perfect setting for a casual, relaxing evening.

Chef’s Recommendations

Bread for the Bowl: Herby Buttermilk Bread
The Sweet After the Heat: Spanish Churros & Chocolate Sauce
The Cool, Crunchy Side: Street Corn Caesar Salad
Cooling After the Chipotle: Orange Creamsicle Sherbet

The Estate Table

Build tonight’s menu around this dish.

✦ Set the Table

Chunky Pork, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

Chunky Pork, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

The full recipe lives in the Vault

The Heart of the Table

The Art of the Host

Neighborly Grace

✨ The Gilded Swaps