Easy Butternut Squash & Black Bean Chili | Weeknight Comfort Food
Easy Butternut Squash & Black Bean Chili | Weeknight Comfort Food  
Podcast: Chewed UP
Published On: Fri Feb 27 2026
Description: It's the finale of Meat-Optional Week in the Chewed Up kitchen, and Carla Hall is serving up serious comfort food with a hearty Butternut Squash & Black Bean Chili with Polenta Rounds. Using pantry staples, warming spices, and clever cooking techniques, Carla shows how vegetables can deliver deep, satisfying flavor without relying on meat. Michael Symon, Clinton Kelly, and Carla dive into everything from chili science and cooking tips to gardening dreams, winter survival strategies, Instagram impulse buys, cold plunges, golf ambitions, and dream food destinations around the world. Along the way, Carla shares smart kitchen techniques — like seasoning vegetables before roasting, why bean "pot liquor" adds flavor, and when to add herbs for maximum impact. The result is a cozy, nourishing dish perfect for cold weather cooking. Equal parts cooking show and hangout session, this episode delivers laughs, practical cooking knowledge, and a reminder that comfort food doesn't need meat to feel indulgent. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Meat-Optional Week 01:20 – Carla introduces the butternut squash chili 03:50 – Pro tip: oil vegetables before roasting 04:30 – Toasting spices for deeper flavor 05:00 – Why Carla keeps the bean "pot liquor" 06:30 – When to add herbs for maximum flavor 08:00 – Winter gardening talk & seasonal debates 10:00 – Cold plunges and Instagram purchases 12:00 – Crafting hobbies and Bird Buddy stories 13:30 – Fan mail & kitchen chaos 15:00 – Learning golf (and failing at golf) 18:00 – Dream food travel destinations 20:00 – Road trip vs bus trip debate 24:00 – Frontgate sponsor moment 24:45 – Plating the chili & polenta rounds 25:30 – Final tasting and wrap-up 🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors FreshDirect → Fresh groceries delivered straight to your door. https://www.freshdirect.com Frontgate → Premium home, kitchen, and entertaining essentials — including Michael Symon's collection featured on the show. https://frontgate.com Produced by Simple Alien → https://www.simplealien.com/ Camera, Audio and Crew provided by TV Boy → https://tvboynyc.com/ 🍽️ About Chewed Up Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon are back in the kitchen with comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation — served loud. Episodes drop 3x a week: Monday – Appetizers Wednesday – Mains Friday – Desserts 👉 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a bite. Want to Watch? →⁠Spotify⁠⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/3Z9NDuHH7XP03FXQIhHlQ3) →⁠YouTube⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/@ChewedUpShow) Want to Listen? → ⁠Spotify⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/3Z9NDuHH7XP03FXQIhHlQ3) → ⁠Apple⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chewed-up/id1840993910) → ⁠Amazon⁠ (https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1fc5d229-459b-4334-8970-ce0d6f925982/chewed-up) → ⁠RedCircle (https://redcircle.com/shows/c42dbec1-e576-4927-acc7-f22e988c1a81) 🎁 Fan Giveaway Every episode we pick one lucky subscriber for a fan giveaway. This week's Giveaway: Caraway kitchen towels and potholders. Want in? 👉 Subscribe and sign up here: https://chewedupshow.com/fangiveaway Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy