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    YOU ARE HERE: Home » Recipes » Soups and Stews

    By Carol · Published: Mar 10, 2020 · Modified: Jul 14, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew

    Jump to Recipe
    5 from 3 votes
    8 hours 20 minutes

    Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew is hearty, flavorful, easy and best of all healthy.  You probably already have most of the ingredients on hand!

    Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew - Overhead hero shot in black bowls garnished with avocado, sour cream and lime

    The inspiration behind this recipe:

    With spring right around the corner and because I have an aversion to wasting food, I’m trying to use up things hiding in the freezer.  As the weather warms, we’ll want to get out and start grilling in addition to planting our garden.  We’re barely into March and we already have fresh perennial herbs like mint peeking up from the ground.

    A small package of cooked, smoked turkey from our Thanksgiving celebration I put in the freezer when we started to get “turkeyed out” was begging to get used.  We also had a small butternut squash from last year’s garden still hanging out in our pantry in addition to a TON of roasted and peeled Poblano peppers in our freezer.

    And what’s better than a slow cooker meal simmering away when you’re busy with indoor and outdoor spring cleaning?

    How to make Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew:

    • Finely chop the onion and place it in a bowl.
    • Add salt and let it sit while prepping and chopping the other ingredients.  The salt is necessary to give the onion a “head start” to soften it up as I have found it MAY not soften all the way in your slow cooker.  Just remember to taste the stew at the end before adding additional salt.
    • If you’re sensitive to salt, give the onion a brief saute in a little oil before placing in the slow cooker.
    • Place the onion and the accumulated liquid, Poblano peppers, red bell pepper, butternut squash and garlic in the slow cooker.

    Overhead shot of some of the ingredients for stew in slow cooker

    • Add the spices, chicken broth and both cans of tomatoes to the slow cooker.

    Overhead shot of more of the ingredients being added to the slow cooker

    • Stir all the ingredients together and let simmer away in your slow cooker.

    Overhead shot of ingredients for stew mixed together in slow cooker

    • Add the cooked turkey and black beans when you have an hour to go if cooking on HIGH or two hours to go if cooking on LOW.
    • Now, I know what you’re going to ask….

    Can I use raw turkey (or chicken) in this stew?

    • Yes.  Just place raw, cubed turkey in the slow cooker at the beginning so it has plenty of time to cook along with everything else.

    That’s it!  Spicy, hearty, healthy, delicious, easy!

    Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew - Overhead shot of finished stew in slow cooker

    Stir in chopped fresh cilantro and serve with diced avocado, sour cream and lime wedges.

    Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew - Overhead shot of two bowls of the stew garnished with avocado, cilantro and lime

    Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew - Straight-on shot of stew in black bowls on dark blue napkin garnished with lime, avocado and sour cream

    Serve this stew with:

    • Simply Pumpkin Muffins

    For more Southwestern-inspired soups and stews, be sure to try my:

    • Turkey, Black Bean and Quinoa Chili
    • Slow Cooker Chipotle Split Pea Soup with Ham
    • Skillet Turkey and Pinto Bean Chili with Pepperjack Biscuit Topping
    • Slow Cooker Colorado Green Chili
    • Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup with Ham
    • Beef and Chorizo Chili with Black Beans For A Crowd
    • Roasted Poblano, Corn and Potato Chowder with Bacon and Gouda Cheese
    • Chipotle Chicken and White Bean Chili
    Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew - Overhead hero shot in black bowls garnished with avocado, sour cream and lime

    Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew

    5 from 3 votes
    By: Carol | From A Chef's Kitchen
    Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Stew is hearty, flavorful, easy and best of all healthy!
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 8 hrs
    Total Time 8 hrs 20 mins
    Course Soups and Stews
    Cuisine Southwestern, Southwestern / Mexican
    Servings 8
    Calories 365 kcal

    Equipment

    • Wusthof Chef Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
    • Crockpot Slow Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 large onion - finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 3 Poblano peppers - seeded and finely chopped --OR-- 6 roasted and peeled poblano peppers, chopped
    • 1 large red bell pepper - seeded and finely chopped
    • 1 medium Butternut squash - peeled and cubed
    • 4 cloves garlic - chopped
    • 1 heaping tablespoon chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
    • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
    • 2 teaspoons dried oregano - preferably Mexican
    • 4 cups chicken broth
    • 1 can (15-ounce) crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
    • 1 can (10-ounce) diced tomatoes with green chiles - undrained
    • 1 ½ pounds turkey breast meat - cooked and shredded
    • 1 can (15-ounce) black beans - drained and rinsed
    • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
    • Freshly ground black pepper - to taste
    • Diced avocado
    • Lime wedges - for serving if desired
    • Sour cream - for serving if desired

    Instructions
     

    • Place finely chopped onion in a small bowl. Add the salt and let sit while prepping and chopping the remaining ingredients.
    • Place the onion along with any juices in the slow cooker.
    • Add poblano peppers, red bell pepper, butternut squash, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, chicken broth, crushed tomatoes and tomatoes with green chiles in the slow cooker and stir to combine.
    • Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
    • Add the cooked turkey meat and black beans and continue cooking on HIGH 1 more hour or LOW 2 more hours. (TOTAL COOK TIME: 4 hours on HIGH, 8 hours on LOW).
    • Stir in chopped cilantro, black pepper and salt if more salt is needed.
    • Serve garnished with diced avocado, lime wedges and sour cream.

    Notes

    If you wish to use raw turkey (or chicken), add at the beginning along with all the other ingredients and cook as directed.
    If you're sensitive to salt, give the onion a brief saute in a little oil before placing in the slow cooker.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 | Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 913mg | Potassium: 742mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 10912IU | Vitamin C: 84mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 2mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @fromachefskitchen.
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    Categories: Light and Healthy

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    Comments

    1. Kacey Perez says

      March 30, 2020 at 7:48 am

      This looks so delicious and so easy. Another great recipe from a great blog!

      Reply
      • Carol says

        March 30, 2020 at 8:20 am

        Thanks, Kacey!

        Reply

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