Delicious, comforting and gentle on the digestive system – this low FODMAP chili recipe is so good even FODMAP eaters will want to go back for seconds! Made in one pot, cooked in about 30 minutes and packed full of protein and fibre to keep your satisfied. | Bean Free + Paleo & Whole30 Friendly
I used to really dread trying to come up with and finding recipes suitable for a low FODMAP diet.
Anyone who’s ever attempted it for at least 10 minutes knows that there area lot of do’s and don’ts you need to constantly keep in mind….mostly don’ts.
No onions…no garlic…no flavour?!
Looking back, I’m actually quite grateful for that time. When you’re usual go-to’s are off limits you really have to get creative with finding new ways to excite your taste buds. All-in-all I can definitely say that cooking for someone on a low FODMAP diet has made me a better cook.
Which leads me to my new favourite chili that also just so happens to be FODMAP friendly. Who’d have guessed?!
Low FODMAP Chili with Pumpkin & Sausage
This chili is unique in a few different ways:
✔️It’s made without any high fodmap ingredients (typically found in more traditional chili recipes).
✔️It uses sausage instead of ground meat.
✔️One cup of pumpkin helps to thicken the sauce and adds a fun fall twist
Ingredients
The ingredients here can be broken up into two main categories: the spices and chili ingredients. When it comes to the prep, I recommend that you mix together the dry spices first in a small bowl. This way you can mix the spices together evenly to ensure that they are evenly distributed throughout the chili.
Spice Blend
Essentially this is just a FODMAP friendly version of taco seasoning.
- Ancho Chili Powder –
- Important Note: Make sure to use a ‘ground chili powder’ and not just ‘chilli powder’. Ground chili powder is made from one type of dried and ground chili (like ancho)‘Chili powder’ is usually made from a combination of different spices. Since most chili powder blends contain garlic powder – it’s not great here. Make sure to check the label of your chili power to ensure it’s safe for a low FODMAP diet.
- Ground Cumin
- Dried Oregano
- Ground Cinnamon
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
Veggies
- Celery –
- Celery is considered low FODMAP up to a point. It used to be considered low FODMAP full stop, but guidance has been updated to advise for caution in large amounts. According to Monash University (the leading researchers and educators behind the low-fodmap diet) you can safely consume about 5 cm of a celery stalk which is typically about 1/3 of a stalk. This recipe uses one stalk of celery, but it makes for 5 servings meaning that this should still be considered a low FODMAP ingredients in this context.
- Carrot
- Carrots are low FODMAP in any amount making them great here!
- Red Bell Pepper
- Red Bell Pepper is best here because it’s low FODMAP (as opposed to green bell pepper which do contain some fodmaps).
- Chili Pepper
- Serrano chilies and jalapenos are listed as low fodmap on the Monash App. Keep in mind that while some chili peppers may be FODMAP friendly, they can still trigger reactions in people with irritable bowel syndrome.
- Chives
- Chives are always a great addition to low FODMAP recipes that need a little hint of onion.
- Tomatoes
- Tinned tomatoes and other canned tomato products often contain higher amounts of fructose than fresh which is why it’s best to use fresh tomatoes here.
- Tomato Paste
- You can safely have up to two tablespoons tomato paste on a low fodmap diet. This recipe serves five which means each serving size has well under 2 tablespoons.
- Pumpkin Puree
- You can have 1/3 cup (75 grams) of pumpkin puree on a low FODMAP diet. This recipe uses 1 cup total. Each low-fodmap serving would contain less than 1/4 cup (45 grams) of pumpkin puree keeping it safe.
Remaining Ingredients
- Sausage
- Make sure to check the ingredients on your sausages to ensure they are FODMAP friendly.
- Soy Sauce/ Tamari or Coconut Aminos
- Soy sauce/Coconut aminos are used to pack in a bit more flavour and umami. I like to add a dash of soy sauce to low FODMAP recipes to pack in an extra punch. If you need to avoid soy – coconut aminos is a great substitute!
- Water ( of Low FODMAP Stock)
- Casa de Sante has an excellent low FODMAP vegetable stock if you can get it. I also have a recipe for a Roasted Low FODMAP Vegetable Stock (un roasted option available!) Otherwise, water works great too! I used water myself and did not feel like it needed anything extra. If you do use stock – you may need to decrease the amount of salt because 1 teaspoon salt might be too much with the soy and stock.
Serving Size & Suggestions
All together, you should end with about 4 1/2 cups (1100 grams) of chili. Recommend portion sizes is 3/4-1 full cup of chili. If you are new to the low FODMAP diet or you have a lot of trigger foods, you may want to stick to 3/4 cup, otherwise 1 cup should be fine.
Serve this over a bed of rice or quinoa. You also can’t go wrong with a handful of tortilla chips.
As for toppings – I like to enjoy my chili with a small amount of freshly chopped chives and cilantro (coriander) over the top. Green onion add a nice pop of onion-like flavour, but just make sure to use the green parts only as the white parts are high fodmap.
If you don’t need this to be dairy free you can top it off with a dollop of lactose-free sour cream and shredded cheese.
Low FODMAP Chili with Pumpkin & Sausage
Delicious, comforting and gentle on the digestive system - this low FODMAP chili is so good even FODMAP eaters will want to go back for seconds! Made in one pot, cooked in about 30 minutes and packed full of protein and fibre to keep your satisfied.
Ingredients
Spice Mix
- 1 tablespoon ground chili powder (see notes)
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Chili
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 large (65 g) celery stalks, chopped
- 1 large (80 g) carrot, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and diced
- 1 lb (450 g) sausages, casings removed (ensure low FODMAP)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup (12 g) fresh chives, chopped + more for serving
- 1 green chili (serrano, aneheim or jalapeno all work), deseeded (optional)
- 2 roma tomatoes (200 g) tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup (225 g) pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) gluten free soy sauce/tamari or coconut aminos for soy free
- 1 cup (240 ml) water or low fodmap stock
- Freshly ground black pepper, for serving
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the spice mixture: 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the celery, carrot and bell pepper along with a pinch of salt and cook about 5-7 minutes until soft.
- Add the sausage to the pot. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and cook until no longer pink, about 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in the chives, chili pepper, tomato paste and spice mixture. Cook about 2 minutes. Stir often to prevent burning.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, pumpkin puree, soy sauce/tamari (or coconut aminos for soy free option) and water. Bring the chili to a gentle simmer over a medium-high heat and let cook at least 15 minutes or until the chili has thickened into a thicker, creamier consistency. Make sure to stir every so often. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve topped with more fresh chives and/or cilantro over cooked rice, quinoa or tortilla chips.
Notes
- Make sure to use a 'ground chili powder' and not just 'chili powder'. Ground chili powder is made from one type of dried and ground chili. 'Chili powder' usually refers to spice mixes (often containing garlic). Make sure to check the label of your chili power to ensure it's safe for a low FODMAP diet.
- Feel free to use ground meat instead of sausage if that's easier (ground turkey, pork, beef and chicken all work)
- Leftover chili can be kept in the fridge for up to five days stored in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size:
3/4 cup or 220 grams Calories: 152Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 1113mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 3gHungry for More?
Take look at some of the other popular Low FODMAP Diet Dinners on A Saucy Kitchen!
Jim says
Hi! What type of sausage are we using here? Italian? Hot, sweet? Breakfast sausage? Thanks!
Sarah Nevins says
Hi Jim!
I just used plain British sausages (if you live in the UK the brand is Jolly Hog). I’m assuming you live in the US though based on the sausage varieties you’ve named. As an American who now lives in England it’s such a bummer than I can’t find good Italian sausages here!
British sausages in general are kind of just like plain sausages with basic herbs and seasonings (like sage, black pepper and onion). Since I wanted to make this recipe suitable for those on a low FODMAP diet I wanted to keep the seasoning fairly plain. The type I chose mostly just uses herbs, salt and pepper to keep it FODMAP friendly.
That being said recipes like this are usually pretty flexible. If there is a particular type of sausage you have in mind and you don’t have any dietary restrictions you should be able to use whatever kind you like!
Rachel says
One of my absolute favorite recipes ever – always a big hit when I make it. In fact – I just won my workplace’s chili cook off with this bad boy!
If anyone is having trouble finding fresh chives, I sometimes sub out for green onions with some dried chives sprinkled in when I can’t find chives at the store.
I make my own broth and use it here – if you have the time, it’s worth it! Using just water is totally fine if you’re in a time crunch, but if you have time to make a batch of veggie broth or have some stocked up – it really elevates the already delicious flavor.
Amazing recipe – I think it’s the spice blend that really makes it pop!
Sarah Nevins says
Hi Rachel! I’m so thrilled to hear that 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to come back to leave a review – it means a lot!
Alissa says
This was so yummy and flavorful. There was no amount listen for tomato paste on the ingredients but I added a heaping tablespoon.
Sarah Nevins says
Thanks Alissa – so glad you enjoyed it! Sorry about the tomato paste! I’ve just added it into the ingredient list – thanks for pointing that out to me!