Venison Chili Recipe (2024)

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I recently got my hands on some ground venison. If you’re unfamiliar, venison is basically deer meat! I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it, especially with the weather cooling down – make some Venison Chili!

This Venison Chili is insanely delicious – I don’t want to say it is the best one ever as I will admit I’ve not yet gotten the chance to try every Chili recipe out there ever, but I will say this is definitely the best Chili I’ve ever made or tasted! The fact that venison is very rich and earthy might have something to do with it.

Also, another great thing about this chili recipe is that it’s actually not that hard to make. The ingredients list might seem a little long but most of it is delicious spices that will create the best aromatic flavor for your chili!

Where to buy Venison

I actually know someone that hunts! So I got mine from them, but they do sell it often in grocery stores. If you can’t find any locally, you could try online meat ordering places! For example,Steaks and Game – they ship to anywhere in the US other than Alaska and Hawaii!

Customizations

There’s a couple of customizations you can make if you would prefer.

Beans

I am not the biggest fan of beans, so I actually do not add any beans in this. If you do not add beans, this recipe is also paleo and keto friendly. However, if you are not eating a paleo or keto diet and you want some beans in your chili, you can add 1 can red kidney beans, drained to the chili.

Ground Beef

I usually make this with ground venison, but it’s not always super easy to find. If you do not have venison, you can substitute with ground beef. The spice blend is so tasty – so it will also be delicious with ground beef!

Crockpot / Slow Cooker Version

If you want to go one step further on the ‘sit back and relax’ scale, you can also make this chili in the crockpot or slow cooker! I have the crockpot / slow cooker instructions listed below also!

Ingredients

  • 4tablespoonsolive oil, separated in to 2 tbsp
  • 1 largeonion,chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
  • 2green bell pepper, chopped
  • 4 tsp minced garlic
  • 2poundsground venison
  • 2(10 ounce) cansdiced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1(28 ounce) cantomato puree
  • 1/2 cup of water or beef broth
  • Spices:
    • 1/4cupchili powder
    • 2tablespoonscumin
    • 2tablespoons smoked paprika
    • 1tablespoondried oregano
    • 2teaspoonsdried thyme
    • 2teaspoonschipotle chili powder
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Venison Chili Recipe (1)

Stove Top Version

In a large soup pot, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions and bell peppers and saute for about 5 minutes.

Add another 2 tbsp, and add garlic, ground venison, and all the spices to the pot. Break apart the ground venison with a wooden spoon. If it is too ‘dry’ at this point add some water/beef broth. Sauté for about 10 minutes, or until the venison is browned.

Venison Chili Recipe (2)
Venison Chili Recipe (3)

Add the rest of the water or broth (if any is left), diced tomatoes (undrained), and tomato puree. Mix well.

Venison Chili Recipe (4)
Venison Chili Recipe (5)

Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and let it simmer covered about 15 minutes. Then uncover and let it continue simmering for 30 minutes.

Venison Chili Recipe (6)

Add shredded cheddar cheese and chopped scallions optionally!

Slow Cooker Version

In a large sauté pan, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions and bell peppers and saute for about 5 minutes.

Add another 2 tbsp, and add garlic, ground venison, and all the spices to the pot. Break apart the ground venison with a wooden spoon. If it is too ‘dry’ at this point add some water/beef broth. Sauté for about 10 minutes, or until the venison is browned.

Add the rest of the water or broth (if any is left), diced tomatoes (undrained), and tomato puree. Mix well and transfer to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.

Add shredded cheddar cheese and chopped scallions optionally when serving!

Venison Chili Recipe (7)
Venison Chili Recipe (8)
Venison Chili Recipe (9)
Venison Chili Recipe (10)

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time45 minutes

Total Time1 hour

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, separated in to 2 tbsp
  • 1 large onion, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
  • 2 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 4 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 pounds ground venison
  • 2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree
  • 1/2 cup of water or beef broth

Spices:

  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons cumin
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Stove Top Version

  1. In a large soup pot, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions and bell peppers and saute for about 5 minutes.
  2. Add another 2 tbsp, and add garlic, ground venison, and all the spices to the pot. Break apart the ground venison with a wooden spoon. If it is too ‘dry’ at this point add some water/beef broth. Sauté for about 10 minutes, or until the venison is browned.
  3. Add the rest of the water or broth (if any is left), diced tomatoes (undrained), and tomato puree. Mix well.
  4. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and let it simmer covered about 15 minutes. Then uncover and let it continue simmering for 30 minutes.
  5. Add shredded cheddar cheese and chopped scallions optionally!

Slow Cooker Version

  1. In a large sauté pan, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions and bell peppers and saute for about 5 minutes.
  2. Add another 2 tbsp, and add garlic, ground venison, and all the spices to the pot. Break apart the ground venison with a wooden spoon. If it is too ‘dry’ at this point add some water/beef broth. Sauté for about 10 minutes, or until the venison is browned.
  3. Add the rest of the water or broth (if any is left), diced tomatoes (undrained), and tomato puree. Mix well and transfer to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
  4. Add shredded cheddar cheese and chopped scallions optionally when serving!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 303Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 414mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 4gSugar: 4gProtein: 33g

The nutrition information for this recipe is an approximate total per serving. Please double check the nutrition information for your exact ingredients and brands for more precise nutrition information.

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Venison Chili Recipe (18)

Looking for more meaty recipes like this Venison chili? Check out all my meaty recipes here!

Venison Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make deer chili not taste gamey? ›

Add a little beef broth, tomato paste, and our Chili Seasoning to the stock pot with the strained veggies. Another way to reduce the gaminess out of the venison is to add a can of beer. You can use dark ale or light ale – whatever you prefer. The alcohol will cook off and make the flavor even richer.

Does venison chili taste gamey? ›

Brown venison and onion in a large dutch oven pot. Stir in Chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, & black pepper when venison is partially browned. (This will allow the meat to soak in the seasonings and give the chili a less “gamey” flavor)

How long does venison chili last in the fridge? ›

Storing and Preserving Venison Chili

Once made, it will keep for a week in the fridge, and, if you skip the beans, it freezes well. You can still freeze venison chili with beans in it, but the texture suffers a little.

What is deer chili made of? ›

Cook venison, beef, and pork in melted butter until completely browned. Add onion and jalapeño; cook until tender. Stir in chili powder, cayenne pepper, and cumin. Stir in the stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic, and beef bouillon.

What takes the gamey taste out of venison? ›

Soaking deer meat in milk or a marinade with acidic components like vinegar, wine, or citrus juice helps eliminate the gamey taste. Alternatively, brining the meat in a solution of water, salt, and sugar can also improve its flavor and tenderness.

What makes venison taste less gamey? ›

The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution. 2. Vinegar solution - 1 cup per quart of cold water. Use enough solution to cover the game completely.

How do you make ground venison taste like ground beef? ›

As a hunter, you can ask the process to mix in beef fat or pork fat, or none at all; often people will get some with added fat and some without. Beef fat works well with ground venison, and makes the flavor closer to ground beef.

How do you cook ground venison without gamey taste? ›

Spices may be used to cover up the 'gamey' flavors in venison. Experiment with herbs like rosemary, marjoram, thyme and sage.

How do you make ground venison taste better? ›

Pure ground venison cooks up great with a little cooking fat like pork lard. However, many people like to add fattier cuts of meat or pure animal fat to their ground venison to enhance the taste and spread their venison out into more meals.

Can I freeze deer chili? ›

Put the chili in freezer bags (or other airtight containers), date the bags, and lie flat in the freezer. It tastes just as good in three months as it does the day you make it.

Does canned venison go bad? ›

Canning your own venison provides your venison with a very long shelf life. Most canning experts say that canned venison is good for up to 2 years. Some even say that it can be stored this way for 4 years, however, 2 is still plenty.

Can I eat 5 day old chili? ›

Properly stored, cooked chili will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. How long can cooked chili be left at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; cooked chili should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.

Why is Cincinnati chili so good? ›

In the Cincinnati region, chili is done differently. In place of chunks of meat and sizeable beans, you'll get savory soupiness and creative accoutrements like spaghetti, hot dogs and mustard. In place of an overtly tomato-y base, you'll taste hints of cinnamon, cloves, allspice and maybe even chocolate.

What did cowboys eat chili? ›

Suppression only fueled this fire and in the 1800's chili was a staple food for cowboys, ruffians, and Adventurers on the Western Frontier. It was even served up in jails. Originally made of dried beef, fat and spices carried in saddlebags, then reconstituted over campfires. It was cheap and hearty and filling.

What is Bambi meat? ›

Bambi, beware. Venison is deer meat intended as food. Venison is derived from the medieval French word venesoun, which originally described the meat of any large animal, not just deer.

What is the best thing to soak deer meat in? ›

Soaking: The most common soaking liquids are buttermilk, saltwater, white milk, vinegar, lemon juice and lime juice. While some hunters swear by certain soaking methods to take the “gamey” flavor away or bleed the meat after processing, others don't find it all that helpful.

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