Venison Chili Recipe

The perfect cold-weather companion.

Venison Recipes

Serves 6-8

Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

1.5-2 hours

Total Time

About 2 hours

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil or Butter
• 2 lbs ground Venison (or 1.5 lbs venison + 0.5 lb ground pork or bacon)
• 1 large Yellow Onion, diced
• 1 Green Bell Pepper, diced
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp Chili Powder
• 1 tbsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Ground Cumin
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano
• 1 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional, for heat)
• 1 (6 oz) can Tomato Paste
• 1 (14.5 oz) can Diced Tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can Crushed Tomatoes
• 2 (15 oz) cans Kidney Beans, drained
• 1/2 cup Beer (dark or amber ale preferred)
• 1/2 cup Beef Broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 tbsp Brown Sugar or maple syrup

Optional Toppings
-Shredded cheese
-Sour cream
-Cilantro
-Cornbread
‎ ‎

Instructions

1. Heat oil or butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the venison and cook until slightly browned but still a little pink, breaking it apart as it cooks. Remove from pan and set aside.
2. Stir in diced onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook 5–7 minutes until softened.
3. Add back in ground venison, then add chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, black pepper, salt, and cayenne. Stir for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Mix in tomato paste. Add diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, drained beans, beer, broth, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir until fully combined.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 1.5–2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add additional beef broth as desired if you want a thinner chili. 
6. Ladle into bowls and load it up with your favorite toppings. This recipe pairs great with cornbread.

Behind the Bite: The Hunts That Made It Happen

A season told in five recipes.

Savoring the Season: Late Season Doe Hunting

Some seasons test you, and this past fall in Pennsylvania was definitely one of those seasons. I spent months chasing mature bucks, but as the season neared an end, I wanted to make the most of my season and still put some meat in the freezer. I’ve always loved late-season doe hunting. Most other hunters are out of the woods, tracks are easy to find with the snow typically on the ground, and if you can locate a solid food source, you’re pretty much in the game.

Using onX Hunt to e-scout, I started narrowing down potential areas where deer might be visiting often. I focused on terrain funnels and food sources. By this time of year, most of the bucks I had on camera had already shed, so for me, this hunt was about filling the freezer and ending the season on a solid note, and I was able to do just that. 

Freezer-Filling Features: What Helped the Most

Every time I go to recover game, whether I am 100% confident in my shot or not, I find the first blood and immediately turn on the Tracker tool. It’s a no-brainer in case anything goes wrong and can help you navigate an unfamiliar area or even retrace your steps if needed.